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The Master Course is a collaboration with the University of Exeter and Makerere University, and offers novel opportunities for interactive, cross-cultural student learning and collaboration, alongside lectures by international expert scholars in the fields of climate justice, transformative and place-based adaptation, climate resilient development, wellbeing, and disability. The course is open for all Master Students and will be conducted entirely in English.
Climate disruption poses major risks to human health and livelihoods, in ways that are compounding and creating new forms of health inequality, particularly at the intersections of poverty, ethnicity, race, gender, age, disability and nationality. Disabled people – comprising 15% of the global population – are disproportionately exposed to such risks, experiencing higher mortality and morbidity during extreme weather events and fewer opportunities to participate in climate action. Beyond the moral imperative to ‘leave no-one behind’, as foregrounded by the UN Sustainable Development Goals, an inaccessible response to the climate crisis will limit the proportion of the population who can inform, contribute to and progress the transformations required.
The module introduces core concepts of disability, social justice and climate-resilient development. It integrates conceptual, applied and research-led learning activities to explore how insights from critical disability studies can inform societal transformations towards climate resilient development and a liveable future for all. Through the module, you will develop a critical understanding of disability and social justice in the global context of accelerating climate disruption. The module aims to equip individuals with advanced knowledge, understanding and skills to understand and address the climate emergency in ways that protect health and reduce wider social inequalities.ECTS: 5
Responsible Faculty: Faculty of landscape and society
Teaching Language: English
Teaching Method: Hybrid – physical and digital global classroom on ZOOM with students from University of Exeter (UK) and Makerere University (Uganda).
Workload: Total of 125 hours; 5 live online seminar sessions, group work, and independent study time
Course Frequency: Special Curriculum, only in spring 2024
Assessment Method: 1) Group assignment (60%, A-F grade). The groups will be put together by students from each of the three collaborating universities. They will work together on one case from one of the three sites. A short written report will be delivered approximately 1500 words. The results will be presented orally by the end of the course, including visual aids. 2) Individual summative reflection notes based on their own experiences of the module and how it has shaped their understandings of the contextual complexities of– disability, social justice and climate resilient development. Approximately 2000 words (40%, A-F grade).At the outset, cross-cultural student working groups will be established, with groups supported to examine and reflect on how different socio-cultural-spatial contexts shape diverse perspectives of – and responses to – varied facets of disability, climate justice and climate change. Through the module, we will share both topic-relevant knowledge and methodological tools to equip each student working group to explore and reflect on one of these facets in detail in the form of an in-depth case study. You will have the opportunity to share and discuss your insights in group presentations during our final session together.
Delivery is via five focused online live Zoom seminar sessions. The live sessions will be delivered in collaboration with MSc groups at the University of Exeter, UK, and Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda. This will create novel opportunities for interactive, cross-cultural student learning and collaboration, alongside lectures by international expert scholars in the fields of climate justice, transformative and place-based adaptation, climate resilient development, wellbeing, and disability.Live, interactive seminar sessions will be run on the five dedicated module weeks in collaboration with the Norwegian University of Life Sciences and Makerere University. These seminars will take place online over Zoom from 10am until 3.30pm CET (including regular screen breaks) on the following five dates:
• Week 1: Thursday 1st February 2024
• Week 2: Thursday 8th February 2024
• Week 3: Thursday 22nd February 2024
• Week 4: Thursday 7th March 2024
• Week 5: Thursday 21st March 2024Module-specific skills and knowledge:
• Demonstrate critical appraisal of the contemporary theories and concepts that underpin disability, social justice and climate resilient development.• Explain, using pertinent global examples, key political, economic and social considerations for embedding disability and social justice in climate resilient development.
Discipline-specific skills and knowledge:
• Critical analyse and reflect on how different socio-cultural contexts and individual experiences shape perspectives of – and responses to – varied facets of disability, social justice and climate disruption.
Personal and key transferable/employment skills and knowledge:• Communicate key concepts and reflections clearly and competently in a range of formats.
Dr Sarah Bell, University of Exeter
Dr David Mfitumukiza, Makerere University
Prof Siri Eriksen, NMBU
Prof Ruth Kjærsti Raanaas, NMBU
Pauline Rutten, NMBU