Course Title: Sustainable Regional Development

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Sustainable Regional Development

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code	Campus	Career	School	Learning Mode	Teaching Period(s)
ENVI1151	City Campus	Postgraduate	330H Social Science & Planning	Internet	Sem 1 2006
ENVI1151	City Campus	Postgraduate	365H Global, Urban and Social Studies	Internet	Summer2007, Sem 1 2011

Course Coordinator: Myles Graham

Course Coordinator Phone: (please contact by email)

Course Coordinator Email: myles.graham@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Availability: By appointment

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

None specified.

Course Description

Sustainability has become a catch-cry in public policy making throughout the developed world. At its broadest level, sustainable development recognises that the earth has finite carrying capacities and that, in some parts, human action means the world is moving beyond the limits of this capacity (for example reduction of the ozone layer and increased global warming). The notion of sustainable regional development recognises that development has impacts across wider geographic (e.g. western Victoria), as well as economic areas (e.g. tourism). This course will provide you with key concepts and strategies for creating sustainable regional development. It will provide you with insights and skills to work in private and public sector organisations where sustainability in regional development is a desired outcome.

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

Upon completing this course you will be able to present a report on sustainable development issues to local and regional government organisations that will cause them to reconsider their current policies and programs impacting on sustainable regional development. The report will be viewed as a competent, professional contribution informing the organisation’s strategic choices.
Specifically, at the conclusion of this course you will:
• know how the three legs of sustainability; social, economic and environmental, support each other to define sustainable regional development;
• have a good understanding of how private and public sector organisations contribute to sustainable regional development practice;
• appreciate the investment requirements necessary for sustainability to be achieved;
• realise what needs to happen if you are to take a leadership role in sustainable regional development in your organisation; and,
• have outlined an action plan for your case study organisation’s strategy for sustainable regional development.

Overview of Learning Activities

Your learning experience for this course consists of the following components:
1. A Study Guide which includes an introductory overview of key literature and debates. Each topic includes reference to a number of readings. Additional references are also provided for students wishing to follow particular themes in more detail. At various stages of each topic, a series of questions for reflection is also included.
2. One course text (available as e-book) and online readings in PDF format. These are designed to provide core reading for each course theme.
3. Assessment tasks designed to provide you with the opportunity to demonstrate your understanding of key themes and debates and apply them in a real-world setting.
4. An electronic discussion board.

Overview of Learning Resources

The Study Guide directs you to key articles available online in .pdf format and in the two course texts. The Course is structured to assist you complete the assessment requirements. As graduate students you are also encouraged to read widely and to bring additional resources and perspectives on the subject to the attention of your colleagues and teaching staff. This is one of the hallmarks of high-quality academic work.

Overview of Assessment

The assessment tasks provide an opportunity for you to demonstrate a sound understanding of sustainable regional development principles and processes, and apply them at a practical level. Assessment comprises an essay, a real-world case study, the application of sustainable regional development principles to this case study, and the participation at discussions on the discussion board.