Empowerment for Sustainability

This course aims to foster a multifaceted understanding of empowerment for sustainability, and to equip you to walk your talk of sustainability. Firstly, it engages you to explore conceptually the complex nature of (un)sustainability and empowerment, and to distinguish paradigms, worldviews and mindsets impacting society and the environment. Secondly, it exposes you to your own agency and it supports you to uncover your potential through which you can contribute to sustainability endeavors within your sphere of influence. Thirdly, it enables you to cultivate qualities and capacities (competencies) for actively participating into the quest for sustainability and navigating its complexities, such as reflexivity, perspective-taking, worldview communication, emotional awareness, self-sustainability and mindfulness. This course integrates theory, reflexive thinking and actions.
Given the interactive character of the course, participation to all classes/course activities is requested.

After successful completion of this course students are expected to be able to:

• Explain and personalize theories and concepts related to (un)sustainability, modernity, post- and trans-modernity paradigms and worldviews, empowerment and agency related competencies
• Understand their own agency and own competencies by creating and implementing a personal real life sustainability project of their own choice, within their own sphere of influence
• Share and discuss their own personal real life sustainability project, related outcomes and learning process with clarity, inspiration and sense of ownership of own project

Assumed Knowledge:
Basic knowledge in a social science field and in environmental and sustainability science