Welcome to SD1000
Why do we need
sustainable
development?
Rehema White
SD1000 coordinator
School of Geography and
Sustainable Development
Contents
1. Introducing ourselves
2. Overview of the SD degree
3. SD1000 logistics
4. Navigating the SD1000 module and
University software
5. Next week’s plans
Andy Goldsworthy 2025
Dr Rehema White
Dr Antje Brown
Dr Ife Okafor-
Yarwood
Dr Mary Abed al Ahad
Dr Antonis Vradis
Who are you?
News and views
News and views
Interconnected global challenges
[Link] [Link]
biodiversity-crisis-in-numbers-a-visual-guide-aoe en/[Link] [Link]
inequality-according-to-oxfam-s-latest-report/
Interconnected global challenges: DESPAIR
[Link] [Link]
biodiversity-crisis-in-numbers-a-visual-guide-aoe en/[Link] [Link]
inequality-according-to-oxfam-s-latest-report/
HOPE: Local and global regeneration and
development
Why is Sustainable Development so important?
● Understanding - causes of crises
● Managing – co-designing solutions
● Predicting – forecasting
● Negotiating – co-producing aspirations action plans
for the future; philosophy and pragmatism
● Planning – policy and practice, targets and indicators
• Knowledge - Producing, exchanging and implementing
knowledge.
• Process of learning - Ways of thinking, ways of doing,
ways of being
Aims of SD Programme
● Enable students to critically interrogate the principles and practices of
sustainable development.
● Enable students to contribute to the evolution of innovative, interdisciplinary
thinking and action necessary to move towards more sustainable futures.
● Our BSc/MA degree programme is Scotland's flagship higher education
degree programme on sustainability
What is ESD?
• Education for Sustainable Development
(ESD) is a critical change pedagogy:
• embedded in theory, yet promoting
active practices for transformative
learning and normative outcomes.
• Not merely about sustainability,
• nor only focused on the environment -
• a new radical consciousness in the
search for social justice and
sustainability.
• A whole institution venture, requiring
learning across formal and non-formal
educational contexts.
Andy Goldsworthy 2025
Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
• Not only regarding the Environment! Not just about sustainability….
• UNESCO has moved beyond the use of environmental education as a term to focus on
Education for Sustainable Development (ESD).
• Many different definitions and conceptualisations of sustainable development and ESD have
been proposed, and there is vigorous debate about their relative merits.
• Encompassing a rich variety of practices, ESD is a holistic approach to critically examining
‘the kind of society and planet that we would like and that can endure through time.’
McCowan, T. (2023) [Link]
ESD is learning FOR sustainable development
Normative Systems
Thinking Object Based Flexible
Learning Assessment
Self-
Awareness Anticipatory Enquiry-
Problem Learning
Solving Based
Landscapes
Learning
Collaborative Critical Jigsaw Work-Based
Thinking Classroom Learning
Strategic
Sources: Advance HE/QAA (2021). Education for Sustainable Development Guidance. [Link] and
[Link] ; CoDesignS ESD Toolkit – CC BY NC ND 2.0 [Link]
Topics - SDGs
Outcomes - competencies
Normative Systems
Thinking
Self-
Awareness Anticipatory
Problem
Solving
Collaborative Critical
Thinking
Strategic
SD1000
Weeks Topic Lecturers
0-1 1: Introduction & understanding of SD Dr Rehema White
1-3 2: Political dimensions of SD Dr Antje Brown
4-5 3: Global Oceans Governance and SD Dr Ife Okafor-Yarwood
6 Independent learning week
7-8 4: Population dimensions and SD Dr Mary Abed Al Ahad
9-10 5: Urban dimensions and SD Dr Antonis Vradis
11 Summary week All
All lectures 09:00-10:00 in Younger Hall.
All tutorial details and assessment information in the handbook on Moodle.
SGSD Tutorials
• Sign-up to a tutorial slot via MySaint or link on Moodle
• Tutorial groups will be capped.
• Please take your time to select the correct slot that fits your timetable, as
opportunities to change tutorial slot will be limited.
• If your personal circumstances change and this affects your ability to
participate in tutorials, please contact gsdteachadmin@[Link] as
soon as possible.
Assessment
• Assessment 1: 25% Critical Review. Deadline is Week 5, Wed
15th October, time: noon (12 o’clock, midday). Maximum Word Limit:
1200.
• Assessment 2: 25% Essay (Op-ed). Deadline is Week 9 Wed
12th November, time: noon. Maximum Word Limit: 1500.
• Assessment 3: 50% End of Semester Essays (2 essays worth 25%
each). Deadline is Week 13 Tuesday 9th December, time: noon.
Maximum Word Limit PER ESSAY: 1000.
• See SD1000 Module Handbook for details of assessment and support
Navigating SD1000
• All announcements, handbooks, lecture materials and links to
resources (e.g. online reading list) are available via Moodle
• All assessments are submitted via MMS
• We will cover assessments and MMS on week 2
If you need support
● Student Services: [Link]
● School Welfare Officer: gsdwellbeing@[Link]
Questions about the module?
1. Always check Moodle first:
i. Look at SD1000 handbook
ii. Look at SGSD handbook (via virtual
office)
iii. Check Announcements
2. If Moodle doesn’t help: email
gsdteachadmin@[Link]
3. Drop into Dr Rehema White’s office hours –
sign-up on book me at end of email.
Hope – and Systems
Threading the system back together
SD4110 class, University of St Andrews, 2025
1. Join our Steering Group which
drives Transition forwards
2. Take on an internship or research
project
3. Sign up to our newsletter
3. Get involved in regular volunteer
sessions
4. If you are part of another
organisation, group, or society, why
not collaborate with us on projects
and events
5. Utilise our services like The Tree,
Bike Pool or Tool Share
6. Attend our events
Dr Lydia Cole – working
in an interdisciplinary
team to geolocate and
survey peat-forming
ecosystems in the
lowland Peruvian
Amazon, and explore the
values these ecosystems
hold for local
communities and global
carbon flows
©
SGSD Student Environmental Sustainability-
related opportunities
School initiatives…
• Student Union’s Environment Subcommittee School Sustainability Representative
• SGSD Student Environment Team (SET) (all welcome to join!)
…deadlines for applying – Friday 19th September
University initiatives…
• Sustainability in St Andrews
• Transition
• Environment Team
• Environment Subcommittee
• Bike fixing with the Bike Pool, Ecoanxiety cafes, StAndReuse for finding pre-loved
clothes, home- and kitchen-ware, books, electricals
• Instagram @ustasustainable (+ on Facebook and X)
Student Environment Team (SET)
Do you want to help our School and the University achieve their sustainability
goals? Do you want to join a creative team that designs and actions solutions?
Yes! Apply here to join the Undergraduate Our Focal Topics :
and Masters Student Environment Team • Resource use in a circular
(SET)! economy
• Sustainable travel
• Energy use
Please apply by • Biodiversity
19th Sep loss
We would also like to work on
themes that are important to you
Time Commitment (approx.): 1-hour
[Link] meeting & 2-3 hours of work / month
If you have any questions about joining the SET, contact the SGSD Sustainability Officer, Lydia Cole (lesc1) or visit the SGSD´s
Sustainability webpage for more information on our work
Next week
● Reminder: sign-up for tutorial
groups
• Week 1
● Tuesday 16th Sept : Full module
introduction (more info on the
module)
● Dr Antje Brown – political
dimensions
• Week 2
