Environment, Development and Livelihoods
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| GEOG3011 | Geography | 3 | 20 | Autumn UK |
- Code
- GEOG3011
- School
- Geography
- Level
- 3
- Credits
- 20
- Semesters
- Autumn UK
Summary
This module investigates key linkages between development, livelihood & environmental issues in the global South with particular reference to competition & conflict over environmental resources. Attention is placed on exploring these from the perspectives of different income, gender & community groups & contrasting their everyday realities with key development concepts.
The module emphasises the importance of livelihood concerns to an understanding of the motivations of those participating in environmental management. As teaching is strongly research-led, a significant proportion of the case studies given in lectures are centred on India.
Target Students
Final Year School of Geography students: BA/BSc Geography (L700, F800) Geography with Business (L7N1) who have successfully completed GEOG1008 Exploring Human Geography OR students on F759 (2+2 programme) and Masters in Social Science Research (Geography) students where the module was not taken at UG level (subject to timetabling considerations and pathway lead approval).
Classes
Teaching will take place through a mixture of lectures, seminars and workshops.
Assessment
- 20% Group Coursework: Presentation.
- 80% Electronic Exam (2-hour): Electronic exam
Assessed by end of autumn semester
Educational Aims
The aims of this module are to:Enhance understanding of the interactions between livelihoods and environmental issues in the global South from the perspectives of people from different income, gender and community groups.Take a political ecology approach to highlight variations in livelihood security by gender, community socio-economic status and dependence on natural resources. Particular emphasis is placed on issues of competition and conflict surrounding (a) access to environmental resources for livelihood purposes, and (b) efforts to improve environmental quality.Enhance understandings of how the 'messy realities' underlying key development concepts and aggregate statistics are experienced by different socio-economic, gender and community groups through participation in group-based exercises.Heighten appreciation of environment and livelihood interactions and how these are experienced by different socio-economic and gender groups in a range of geographical contexts.Emphasise the diverse economic, socio-cultural linkages between environmental problems, livelihoods and development and foster an appreciation of the complexity of environmental issues at a range of scales and in different geographical contexts.Learning Outcomes
a. Knowledge and understanding
* Demonstrate a comprehension of the nature of different livelihood strategies within the global South and their inter-relations with the natural and built environment.
* Demonstrate comprehension of the reciprocal relationships between society and the natural environments, in the global South.
* Understand the interplay of environmental, development and livelihood issues from the perspectives of a range of different stakeholders.
b. Intellectual Skills
* lllustrate and discuss the contested and provisional nature of development-related knowledge and concepts in different cultural contexts.
* Identify, formulate and evaluate questions or problems.
* Synthesise information from relevant literature and datasets and recognise relevance.
* Demonstrate skills of critical thinking and reasoning when evaluating evidence from relevant literature and datasets.
* Demonstrate an appreciation of the complexity and diversity of situations, events and past approaches to development.
c. Professional Practical Skills
* Recognising ethical issues involved in debates and enquiries, especially with respect to livelihood strategies and environmental issues in the global South.
* Development of professional and digital competencies, especially in relation to the group-based presentation which will involve critical analysis of aggregate statistics and take the form of a presentation.
d. Transferable Skills
* Demonstrate an ability to develop cross-cultural and interdisciplinary perspectives.
* Undertake independent, self-directed study/learning (including time management) to achieve consistent, proficient and sustained attainment.
* Demonstrate an ability to work as part of a team.
* Enhance presentation skills.