The Policies of Sustainability, 7.5 Credits

Contents

The aim is to provide an overview of the political and administrative context in which businesses act within with regard to sustainability policies. The aim is also to discuss if and how it is possible to govern the development toward sustainability in a public setting. Special attention will be paid to the roles played by different levels of government in implementing sustainability policies. The potential of various policy instruments such as command-and-control, market-based and information-based instruments will be analyzed. Finally, the module will include the presentation and analysis of a specific case. The case focuses on the implementation of sustainability policies.

Expected learning outcomes

• be able to identify societal institutions at global, national, regional and local level in forming public policy and show an understanding of their role for a given problem; • in general, identify the legal institutions at global, national, regional and local level and show an understanding of their role for a given problem; • identify the political and administrative and legal instruments at hand for implementing sustainable development; • be able to independently integrate knowledge about environmental law principles and public policy to analyze complex problems; • be able to analyze organizational responses to legislative efforts.

Form of instruction

After attending the course, students are expected to: • understand the role of societal institutions at global, national, regional and local level in forming public policy; • know about the political and administrative instruments at hand for implementing sustainable development; • be able to independently analyze specific cases and explain how they may be affected by public policy.

Examination modes

The examination will consist of a written exam complemented with minor written and oral exercises. Students are expected to attend other seminars and complete other compulsory assignments in order to pass the course. Students must attend seminars and case presentations in order to pass. The quality of written and oral presentations constitutes a portion of the grade. Individual as well as group assignments can be used as methods of examination. Material from guest lectures and cases may be used in the examination. The following grading system will be used: Pass with distinction (Väl godkänd, Vg, 75% or more), Pass (Godkänd, G, 50% or more) and Fail (Underkänd, U, less than 50%). To receive the grade Pass with distinction (Väl godkänd) on the course, the student must have achieved 75 % of the points awarded. Students who do not pass at the time of the normal written examination will be offered an opportunity to sit a further examination within 2-3 weeks. Other assignments upon which the student received the grade fail should be completed two weeks after the module or two weeks after the announcement of the grade if this is announced after the ending of the module. Beyond that, additional examination opportunities normally arise every academic year one-week prior to the start of the autumn term. When a student has failed an examination on two occasions, he or she has a right to have another grading teacher. A written request should be handed to the director of studies no later than two weeks before the next examination opportunity. Grades on the course are awarded when students have passed all examinations and compulsory course elements. Academic credit transfer At the completion of the course, the instructor in the course may provide the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) grade for exchange students who may request it, but only if all the course requirements have been completed

Other regulations

The course language will be English.