SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND REGENERATION AS A PRINCIPAL SUBJECT

The University's Environmental Policy makes a commitment to the dual ethos of sustainability and responsible global citizenship. One strand of achieving this commitment is to offer classes which allow students at the University of Strathclyde to gain an environmental understanding. This Principal Subject to be offered for the first time in 1999-2000 by the Department of Environmental Planning, enables students undertaking BA Business or BA Arts and Social Sciences to gain an in depth understanding of environmental issues, appraisal and regulation in order to be able to promote economic, social and environmental sustainability. It is relevant to students interested in the wider environmental context within which social, economic, political, business and individual decisions are made. Graduates with a degree that includes Sustainable Development & Regeneration will combine a respect for the environment with an understanding of the need for managed, sustainable growth.

What is Sustainable Development and Regeneration ?

Sustainable Development seeks to meet the needs of this generation without undermining the ability of future generations to supply their needs. This goal is twinned with Regeneration since this seeks to redress any previous problems and promote a future high quality of environment and life. In this sense the Principal Subject is focused on applied problem-solving and environmental management.

The Principal Subject examines the potential conflict between demands made by business and the economy for development and growth, and society's demands for a sustainable high quality and healthy environment. The curriculum embraces the sustainability debate, environmental measurement and management, development management and the responsibilities of business for achieving more sustainable ways of operating.

This is an emerging field but sustainable development is now central to all manner of government policy and as such is relevant to a large number of agencies and businesses.

The Principal Subject may be taken at Single or Joint Honours in the Strathclyde Business School, and at Joint Honours in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

STRUCTURE

Year 1: An introductory class, Sustainable Development 1, examines environmental understandings, the sustainability debate, principles and models of sustainable development. It outlines the implications of International Agreements such as Agenda 21 and Climatic Change and relates these to changes in governmental, business, development and individual practices.

Year 2: Students take 2 compulsory classes in Sustainable Development 2 and Business and Sustainability. In addition, they may take optional classes in Contemporary Society 2 and Environmental Planning Practice 2. The compulsory classes emphasise environmental management through applied environmental appraisal such as Environmental Audit and Environmental Impact Assessment. The notion of environmental responsibility and ethics is examined in the context of development pressures. The Business & Sustainability Class focuses on the increasing importance of environmental considerations and responsibilities in business decision making and operation.

Year 3: A compulsory class in Environmental Planning Practice 3 outlines the regulatory institutional context in which sustainable development occurs . Optional classes allow students to develop specialised knowledge in Development Processes, Planning Law, Urban and Rural issues and to apply this through optional projects in Policy Studies or Implementation studies.

Year 4: Honours students will develop specialised knowledge in the field of Regeneration. This comprises a compulsory class which sets the context of Public Policy and optional classes in the areas of Local Economic Development, Urban Regeneration, Resourcing Regeneration and Planning and Sustainable Development.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Graduates with a degree that includes Sustainable Development & Regeneration Studies combine a respect for the environment with an understanding of the need for managed, sustainable growth. This opens up careers in areas such as economic development, environmental appraisal, business and regional development. All these fields are to be found in both the public and the private agencies at the local, national and international levels.

For more information about Sustainable Development and Regeneration as a Principal Subject please contact:
The Undergraduate Course Secretary 0141 548 4044

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