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Back to Beyond the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Addressing Sustainability and Development

Learner Reviews & Feedback for Beyond the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Addressing Sustainability and Development by University of Michigan

4.7
stars
691 ratings

About the Course

We’re excited you’re here! This course, “Beyond the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Addressing Sustainability and Development,” is the first course in the Sustainability and Development MasterTrack® Certificate, but you can also take this course as a stand-alone learning opportunity. Sustainability and development pose unprecedented challenges as human societies grow and seek to ensure future wellbeing and prosperity. In this course, we’ll focus on addressing the twin challenges of sustainability and development with actionable knowledge for innovating solutions to the world’s most pressing problems like climate change, poverty and inequality, and biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation. Rather than sustainability being a qualifier for development (e.g. sustainable development), we conceptualize Sustainability and Development as co-equal fields of inquiry and action that seek to build bridges between the natural, social and applied sciences and the humanities. When sustainability and development are placed on an equal footing, it requires us to think more explicitly about the trade-offs, co-benefits and synergies between them, which we will be exploring in depth in each week. Throughout the course, you will be introduced to the theoretical currents in Sustainability and Development, and will garner an in-depth understanding of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We will also consider the methods and skills necessary for designing innovative solutions to sustainability and development problems through the emerging field of Sustainability Science. In this course, we will explore three of the most pressing challenges undergirding the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) including climate change, poverty and inequality, and ecosystem degradation and biodiversity loss, with case studies to guide and challenge our thinking. In the final week of the course, we will discuss the trade-offs, co-benefits and synergies between these challenges, especially as they relate to designing innovative solutions for achieving our sustainability and development goals. By the end of this course, you will be able to: 1. Understand and explain the world’s most pressing problems with a specific focus on poverty & inequality, ecosystem degradation and biodiversity loss, and climate change. 2. Critically analyze the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their relationship to the world’s most pressing problems. 3. Use frameworks and evidence necessary to develop solutions. 4. Assess relevant solutions that would help realize the SDGs and at the same time solve the pressing problems. 5. Apply skills learned to implement solutions....

Top reviews

SS

Jun 24, 2020

A well designed course on sustainable, environment and the future. Highly recommended and thank you the Michigan University and the Team.

PS

Aug 29, 2020

Very nice and informative course with various examples with research from around the world. Thank you University of Michigan for the course.

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51 - 75 of 144 Reviews for Beyond the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Addressing Sustainability and Development

By Abhisek G

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Jun 8, 2020

It is an excellent course and highly informative and effective for the sustainability studies

By Simona M T

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Jul 9, 2020

It is a very useful course for those interested in understanding what Sustainability means.

By Gabriela C

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Aug 19, 2020

A clear overview of the current knowledge of sustainability science and how it is applied.

By Anand S

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Oct 9, 2020

very informative course on interdependence of different programs in achieving SDGs

By Jesus V S

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Oct 1, 2022

Estuvo muy interesantes los materiales que estuvo a mi disposicion con el curso.

By So C K

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Jul 19, 2020

The course is very useful to me, I learn concepts of SDGs ,esp Goal 1,5,10,14,15

By Raskendra B

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Nov 3, 2022

the best ever course i have done on online platform, thanks to the teachers.

By Ratin R

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Jul 25, 2020

That course was really effective for me as a student of Development Studies

By SAIRA I

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May 6, 2020

A valuable coarse content regarding the sustainable development goals.

By Gianella J Z H

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May 8, 2023

Buen curso para aprender acerca del medio ambiente y como cuidarlo.

By Pulugu M R

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Aug 30, 2020

It is really helpful for me as it helped me to understand better

By Janhavi R B

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May 19, 2025

A very good course, focusing mainly on sustainable knowlegde

By Samuel C M

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Nov 8, 2025

esta muy interesante este curso me sirvio de mucho gracias

By Gabriel A

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Jun 29, 2020

Very informative and flexible to accommodate my schedule.

By Marcus

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Nov 29, 2021

A good introduction to sustainable development thought

By RODRIGO E P M

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Aug 3, 2020

A perfect course to start in this world of knowledge.

By Ivy J N

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Dec 5, 2020

Very interesting! Can make you change your mind set

By NAGLAA A M A

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May 14, 2023

It was so easy and so useful to my understanding

By Harshit H

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Sep 20, 2022

Got to know about Sustainable Development.

By Emre Y

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Dec 18, 2020

Thanks. It is perfect course for everyone

By Chukwudi A

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Dec 7, 2021

Quite impressive and highly educational

By Bernadette A

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Aug 31, 2020

This course was very enjoyable to learn.

By Susana H

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Mar 2, 2022

Extremely important tools for anyone

By Md. M I

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Jul 5, 2020

That's an amazing course I have done

By Amey K S

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Feb 10, 2026

I strongly recommend this course.