Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Environment and Sustainable Development: Lessons from MENA

4 credits

The course is offered by the Faculty of Social Sciences as an interdisciplinary single–subject course at the doctoral studies level. The language of instruction is English.

About the course

Course period: 4 December 2024 - 15 January 2025
Application deadline: 4 November 2024

Click here to apply.

Overview of the course

This course covers the environmental impact of natural resources management and its political, social, and economic dimensions. The main objective is to understand land and water management and their environmental impacts in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) through a holistic and sustainable perspective. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the context of water, food, and energy nexus within the major river basins and countries in the MENA region are discussed.

The course, through group and individual course work, enables the students to critically examine the environment and sustainable development connected to problems related to natural resources, and socio-political and economic situations. The student will acquire knowledge to evaluate water and land resource management alternatives in view of SDGs and environmental effects. The course work also prepares the students for applying this knowledge in a variety of different professional contexts; such as policymakers, trainers, or practitioners, in government agencies, private firms, or NGOs.

The teaching consists of lectures, seminars, and individual/group supervision covering key issues in environmental sustainability concerning water, land use, management, politics, economy, and related issues.