Please note! Course description is confirmed for two academic years, which means that in general, e.g. Learning outcomes, assessment methods and key content stays unchanged. However, via course syllabus, it is possible to specify or change the course execution in each realization of the course, such as how the contact sessions are organized, assessment methods weighted or materials used.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Students who successfully complete this course should be able to:
Discuss concepts, models and methods of futures inquiry particularly as applied in sustainability transitions.
Apply theoretical understanding in analyzing and planning a given sustainability transition situation.
Communicate verbally, visually and in writing, and reflect critically on their own role within a multidisciplinary group and relevant professional contexts.

Credits: 5

Schedule: 15.09.2021 - 20.10.2021

Teacher in charge (valid for whole curriculum period):

Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Idil Gaziulusoy, Naoko Nakagawa

Contact information for the course (applies in this implementation):

CEFR level (valid for whole curriculum period):

Language of instruction and studies (applies in this implementation):

Teaching language: English. Languages of study attainment: English

CONTENT, ASSESSMENT AND WORKLOAD

Content
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    The Sustainabililty Transitions and Futures course builds on theories and practices of socio-technical and socio-ecological transformations for sustainability. These include theories of transition management, resilience and social practice, typologies and processes of sustainability transformations at micro, meso and macro organisational, spatial and temporal scales, as well as methods of futures and participatory inquiry in the context of sustainability transitions. The students work on developing strategies for sustainable (socially, ecologically and economically resilient) and just futures through analysis of a given transition situation. Students will apply their learning by developing a project outline as a group and reflect on the roles and expected inputs of the relevant actors (architects, urban planners, designers, researchers, policy makers, public, private and civil society actors, etc.) in context.

    Activities and teaching methods in support of learning:
    Lectures and guest lectures
    Class discussions and seminars
    Excursions/trips/excercises/workshops in- or outside of class
    Group work

Assessment Methods and Criteria
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Assessment is done continuously by:
    Participation in contact teaching sessions
    Group work, group presentations and final documentation
    Contribution to group work and completion of assignments
    Completion of a short individual reflect

Workload
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    5 ECTS = 135 hours.

    - Contact teaching (lectures, workshops, tutoring, presentations, etc.) 45h
    - Individual and group work (in contact teaching sessions and independently) 55h
    - Reflection and thinking 15h
    - Preparing group presentations and documentation 20h
    - 85% attendance

DETAILS

Study Material
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    As sustainability transitions and futures is a dynamic and fast developing field, the resources provided will change every year. Students will be provided with reading materials through MyCourses. 

Substitutes for Courses
Prerequisites
SDG: Sustainable Development Goals

    9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

    10 Reduced Inequality

    11 Sustainable Cities and Communities

    12 Responsible Production and Consumption

    13 Climate Action

    17 Partnerships for the Goals

FURTHER INFORMATION

Further Information
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    This course is delivered with Eeva Berglund. She is the second teacher in charge. 

    Teaching Period:

    2020-2021 Autumn I

    2021-2022 Autumn I

    Course Homepage: https://mycourses.aalto.fi/course/search.php?search=MUO-E8031

    Registration for Courses: Sisu replaces Oodi on 9 August, 2021. Priority order to courses is according to the order of priority decided by the Academic committee for School of Arts, Design and Architecture: https://www.aalto.fi/en/services/registering-to-courses-and-the-order-of-priority-in-aalto-arts

    All interested students who meet the prerequisite requirmeent can register through WebOodi regardless of their programme.

    The order of priority for admitting students:
    Creative Sustainability major students;
    Creative Sustainability minor students;
    Department of Design masters students (taken in in the order of registration);
    Students for whom the course is part of his/her major's or programme's alternative studies and has been scheduled in the student's PSP (HOPS) for the current academic year;
    All other master students.

    Maximum number of students: 30
    Minimum number of students: 15