Print Syllabus

Syllabus

MX0157 Engaging critically with environmental governance practices, 15.0 Credits

Att förstå samhällets miljöstyrning utifrån ett kritiskt konstruktivt förhållningssätt

Subjects

Environmental Science

Education cycle

Master’s level

Modules

Title	Credits	Code
Theorising environmental governance in practice	6.0	0004
Designing and executing a research project	6.0	0005
Communicating and deliberating with practitioners	3.0	0006

Advanced study in the main field

Second cycle, has only first-cycle course/s as entry requirements
Master’s level (A1N)

Grading scale

Language

English

Prior knowledge

Knowledge equivalent to English 6 from upper secondary school.

Knowledge equivalent to 180 credits including specialised studies comprising 90 credits within a single subject (e.g. Biology or Economics) within one of the following disciplinary domains:

- natural science

- technology

- social sciences. (e.g. sociology, psychology, economics, political science, human geography, media)

Objectives

Communication is crucial for environmental governance practices. These practices include, among others, managing natural resources, organising collective action, coordinating multi-stakeholder initiatives, and creating arenas for public deliberation. The aim of this course is to develop in depth insights into how environmental governance is carried out in practice. In order to understand environmental governance students critically engage with ongoing governance practices, i.e. they carry out a theoretically based investigation for assessing and suggesting improvements to their case, while interacting with environmental governance actors such as citizens, professionals and organisations. In this course, students will develop their knowledge on a number of social constructionist theories. They will also improve their facilitation skills and refine their ability to collect and analyse empirical data in a way that is useful for both research and practice.

After completion of the course the student will be able to:

• describe different theoretical perspectives suitable to critically understand environmental governance in practice;

• describe qualitative research methods that can be used to investigate and assess an ongoing environmental governance practice;

• apply different theoretical perspectives to critically reflect on and contribute to an ongoing environmental governance practice;

• prepare and facilitate activities where they can learn together with other actors, and jointly reflect on results and potential implications of an investigative project.

Content

Subject-related content

The course has two main components; a theoretical and an experiential/practical component. In the theoretical component, theories relevant to environmental governance, for example social practice, discourses, symbolic interactionism, power or framing, are presented, discussed and applied through lectures, literature studies, seminars and experience-based workshops. Qualitative research methods for example interviews, focus groups and participant observations, including analysis of empirical material through coding are also presented and discussed. The theoretical component of the course is finished with an assessment of the students’ understanding. Active participation in the workshops of the theoretical component is mandatory.

In the experiential/practical component, students conduct an investigative project of an ongoing environmental governance practice or case (e.g. the municipal management of water bodies, the coordination of actions by grassroots organisations, or the mediation of conflicts between multiple stakeholders) from Sweden or other countries. As part of their investigative project, students critically engage with their selected case: they apply the introduced research methods and theories to collect and analyse empirical data; they report on the results of the investigative project and present them to relevant actors in a learning activity (e.g. workshop, seminar or webinar) that students design and facilitate. It is expected that the results of the investigative project will include some kind of assessment of the studied practice as well as suggestions for improving it. Throughout the process of the investigative project, students interact with governance actors involved in their case. Active participation in all activities of the investigative project is mandatory.

Teaching formats

To further student learning and promote discussion, a variety of methods are used:
Lectures, literature studies, written assignments, project work, seminars, workshops, study trip, proficiency training, presentations.

The course focuses on the following generic competencies:
Critical thinking, oral communication, written communication, teamwork, ability to work autonomously, plan and manage time.

The following components are mandatory:
See course schedule.

Collaboration with the surrounding community takes place through:
Project work, workshops, study trip.

Grading form

The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.

Formats and requirements for examination

• Passed written or oral exam(s)
• Active participation in mandatory activities
• Active participation in project work
• Passed written and oral presentation of project work

For further information, please refer to the course schedule.

• If a student has failed an examination, the examiner has the right to issue supplementary assignments. This applies if it is possible and there are grounds to do so.

• The examiner can provide an adapted assessment to students entitled to study support for students with disabilities following a decision by the university. Examiners may also issue an adapted examination or provide an alternative way for the students to take the exam.

• If this syllabus is withdrawn, SLU may introduce transitional provisions for examining students admitted based on this syllabus and who have not yet passed the course.

• For the assessment of an independent project (degree project), the examiner may also allow a student to add supplemental information after the deadline for submission. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.

Other information

• The right to participate in teaching and/or supervision only applies for the course instance the student was admitted to and registered on.

• If there are special reasons, students are entitled to participate in components with compulsory attendance when the course is given again. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.

Responsible department

Department of Urban and Rural Development