ED2BGS: Global Perspectives in Education and Sustainability

Module code: ED2BGS

Module provider: Institute of Education

Credits: 20

Level: Level 2 (Intermediate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Mr David Kerr, email: d.kerr@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

The aim of this module is to enable students to understand the complex nature of education and sustainability globally. It will focus on the global context of aspects of the Education 2030 Agenda and Framework for Action agenda as part of UNESCO’s global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs, and particularly SDG4 on Education, will be highlighted through taught sessions in order for students to critically examine this UNESCO initiative and how successful it has been in achieving a new vision and direction for education across the globe by 2030. 

It’s purpose is to achieve this aim through students 

• Exploring debates in education and sustainability globally, focusing on key theoretical questions and major contemporary issues, particularly questions posed by citizenship and human rights issues, sustainable development, social and economic divisions movement of peoples, changing patterns of work and growth of new technologies. 
• Examining the impact of globalisation and sustainability in relation to national and transnational educational initiatives and policies, including the role of international, regional and national organisations. 
• Developing critical reflection on education and sustainability globally and its links with and impact on policy and practice. 
• Researching aspects of education, global development and sustainability of personal and/or professional importance. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to: 

1. Critically examine key developments and frameworks in the area of global education and sustainability and their implications for policy and practice
2. Understand the field’s multidisciplinary nature and interconnections with other areas of study such as: citizenship and human rights education, sustainable development, intercultural education, and development education
3. Reflect critically on a range of contemporary debates and issues concerning global education and sustainability
4. Critically consider the shifting goals of education in relation to initiatives such as UNESCO’s Education 2030 Agenda and Framework for Action as part of the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
5. Reflect upon the impact of globalisation and sustainability on educational goals and opportunities nationally, regionally and internationally
6. Critically reflect on key policies and initiatives such as the ‘Education 2030 Agenda and Framework for Action’ agenda as part of the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), their measurement and degree of success

Module content

• Contemporary issues in global developments in education and sustainability 
• Impact of globalisation and sustainability in relation to national, regional and transnational initiatives 
• Role of international, regional and national organisations 
• Interconnections with other areas of study 
• Models and frameworks in relation to global education 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Teaching will be predominantly done through face to face taught sessions with time allocated for students to reflect on session content and feed this forward in follow up sessions. 

Lectures, discussion groups and small group tasks 

Study hours

At least 18 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

 There will be an opportunity for students to do a formative essay plan for their assignment and receive feedback 

Reassessment

Additional costs