Module: Global Sustainable Development Challenges

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Global Sustainable Development Challenges
Module Code	MEC1068 (ITS: MM550)
Faculty	Mechanical & Manufacturing Eng	School	Engineering & Computing
NFQ level	9	Credit Rating	7.5

Description

On 25 September 2015, the UN General Assembly adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (UN, 2015). At the core of the 2030 Agenda are 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) whose aim is to secure a sustainable, peaceful, prosperous and equitable life on earth for everyone now and in the future. The goals cover global challenges that are crucial for the survival of humanity. They set environmental limits and set critical thresholds for the use of natural resources. The goals recognize that ending poverty must go hand-in-hand with strategies that build economic development. They address a range of social needs including education, health, social protection and job opportunities while tackling climate change and environmental protection. The SDGs address key systemic barriers to sustainable development such as inequality, unsustainable consumption patterns, weak institutional capacity and environmental degradation. The aim of this module is to help students to understand the interlinkages among the goals, to understand the importance of the 5 P’s, (people, planet, profit, peace and prosperity) in achieving the goals to acquire knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, and to become responsible global citizens

Learning Outcomes

1. Analyse the history and background (including the politics) to sustainable development and the linkages to the UN SDGs
2. Assess the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals
3. Evaluate the major contemporary global challenges and their linkages with environmental, social, economic, peace and prosperity issues
4. Examine the main trade-offs, conceptual and practical challenges associated with the SDGs
5. Justify the major alternative approaches (such as de-growth) to sustainable development
6. Apply problem-solving techniques to a complex sustainability problem and propose viable, inclusive and equitable solution options that promote sustainable development

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	24	Two hours per week (can be online)
Report	55	Preparation for report assignment
Debate	55	Completion of online discussion fora activities
Independent Study	54	Assignment preparation, study for Loop Quiz
Total Workload: 188

Section Breakdown
CRN	20397	Part of Term	Semester 2
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Éadaoin Carthy	Module Teacher

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Completion of online activity	Online Debate	10%	n/a
Project	Select and study 5 global challenges and examine the synergies and trade-offs that exist and propose solutions taking a systems approach	50%	n/a
Reflective journal	Two reflections on what SDGs mean to the student as a global citizen 1) at start of the course 2) at the end of the course	20%	n/a
Loop Quiz	MCQ on the SDGs and sustainable develpment	20%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

History and Background to sustainable development
What is sustainable development? What are the UN Sustainable Development Goals? How were they developed and why? Can they be achieved?

The 17 UN SDGs
What does each of the SDG mean and what is involved in achieving them? What interlinkages are among the goals?

Global Challenges
Overconsumption , Overpopulation, Biodiversity loss, Deforestation, Desertification, Global warming/climate change, Habitat destruction,

Holocene extinction

Alternative approaches to Sustainable Development Goals
De-growth; donought economics, sustainable development index, circular economy

Indicative Reading List

Books:

M. Antonelli and G. Della Vecchia: 2022, Civil and Environmental Engineering for the Sustainable Development Goals: Emerging Issues, Springer International Publishing, 978-3-030-995
UNESCO: 2017, , Education for Sustainable Development goals, 978-92-3-1002

Articles:
None

Other Resources

Website: UNESCO and Sustainable Development Goals, http://en.unesco.org/ sdgs
Website: The Story of Stuff: An online resource that investigates the humanity’s unsustainable use of materials, http://storyofstuff.org