Duration
30h Th
Number of credits
| Master in global transition and sustainability management | 5 crédits | |||
| Extra courses intended for exchange students (Erasmus, ...) | 5 crédits |
Lecturer
Language(s) of instruction
English language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the first semester, review in January
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
Chapter I :
The Planetary Boundaries : Where is the limit ?
Chapter II:
Ecosystemic Services : why do human societies rely on them ?
Chapter III :
Ecosystems and systems dynamics: How do systems behave?
Chapter IV:
Robustness: learning from living organisms
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
The students will understand the physical limitations of a constrained system in which matter and energy are exchanged, transported, transformed.
They will become familiar with the model proposed by the Stockholm Institute for Resilience: the 9 Planetary Boundaries and the related metrics for each boundary.
They will consider this model as a frame to design the safe operating space for developing any activity.
They will have a systemic view of these boundaries, understanding that every human activity impacts several boundaries at the same time, and that those boundaries impact each other in response.
They will train to avoid simple answers addressing only one issue. A system is more than the sum of its parts.
They will build a comprehensive representation of the role of ecosystems to provide productive functions, but also regulation and cultural services that are essential for life and well-being.
They will learn how natural ecosystems cope with perturbation through various strategies, not only optimization. And how they may collapse if certain tipping points are overshot.
At the end of the course, they will be able to value the ecosystemic services, analyze a problematic situation and detect imbalances, reinforcing or balancing feedback loops, risks of collapses, and understand system behavior over time.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
The students are expected to get actively involved in the learning activities including table games, be able to work in groups, communicate with classmates, read in English and talk in public, share ideas and opinions with respect.
Due to the diversity of the profiles welcome in this program, they should be open-minded and able to collaborate with students from very different backgrounds.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
The course will be held every Wednesday morning at HEC business school during Q1, from 23[SUP]rd[/SUP] September to 16[SUP]th[/SUP]December.
We will alternate between theoretical lessons, serious games, contribution talks based on literacy survey, short videos and case studies by groups.
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
Face-to-face course
Further information:
All learning activities will be organized in face-to-face.
The attendance of the students is compulsory.
Course materials and recommended or required readings
Platform(s) used for course materials:
- eCampus
Further information:
- The slides and documents will be shared on eCampus platform
- Two highly recommended readings
( available at ULiege Library in several copies):
Tracts (N°50) - "Antidote to the cult of performance. Robustness from nature" by Hamant, Olivier (available on eCampus platform)
- MOOC ULiege - Durability and Transition - Ch 2.2 ( M. Dufrêne)
- MOOC Uliege - Durability and Transition - Ch 2.3.1 (G. Mahy)
- MOOC Uliege -Durability and Transition- Ch 2.4 ( S. Quoilin)
- Global biodiversity : IPBES - Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services https://www.ipbes.net/ ?
- Biodiversity in Wallonia : https://biodiversite.wallonie.be ?
- Cours « Ecologie Générale » ENVT2044-1 by profs A. Mathy and G. Mahy, ULiege (Gembloux Agro Bio tech)
- Rockström, J. et al.. 2009. Planetary boundaries:exploring the safe operating space for humanity. Ecology and Society14(2): 32. URL:http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol14/iss2/art32/
Continuous assessment
Further information:
- The assessment is continuous : no examination will be held during the end-of-year session.
- The global score is the average between two oral contributions prepared by groups during the courses. Half of the score is attributed by peers and half of it by the teacher.
- The presence to all activities is mandatory.
- In case of 1 unjustified absence, the penalty will be 4 points. In case of 2 unjustified absences, the penalty will be 8 points. From 3 unjustified absences and on, the global score will be 7/20, whatever the other contributions.
- The penalties are carried over in case of second session.
Session 2:
In case of failure at the 1[SUP]st[/SUP] session ( global score <10/20), the student will be invited to present again the two oral contributions individually, during the exam session, in front of the teacher. The score will be given by the teacher alone, including the absences penalties.
Work placement(s)
Organisational remarks and main changes to the course
Contacts
Catherine Henrist, associate professor
catherine.henrist@uliege.be
The official channel for communication will be by email, only on the ULiege email addresses of the students, and through eCampus platform.
Association of one or more MOOCs
There is no MOOC associated with this course.
Further information:
recommended but not compulsary:
https://www.fun-mooc.fr/fr/cours/durabilite-et-transition/