Learning objectives  

The aim of the course is to provide enhanced knowledge about how equal opportunities, sustainability and ethics can be integrated in the first, second and third cycles of science studies in higher education. The overall aim is that course participants shall be able to teach about equal opportunities, sustainability and ethics in a subject context and thereby prepare students to be involved in, and contribute to, an informed democratic society.

Knowledge and understanding

On completion of the course, the student shall be able to:

• Provide examples of their own subject’s importance for environmental, economic and social sustainability.
• Account for how a sustainability perspective promotes quality in the education and employability of students.
• Account for conditions of and obstacles to equal opportunities in education and working life, and provide examples of how awareness of equal opportunities can be promoted.
• Account for how awareness of gender and cultural and ethnic diversity affects the subject, education and research.
• Account for current ethical issues within their own subject and provide examples of arguments for different standpoints.
• Provide examples of how scientific literacy is manifested in their own subject.
• Explain how academic reflection can support students’ learning.

Competence and skills

On completion of the course, the student shall be able to

• Discuss and problematise how aspects related to sustainability, equal opportunities and ethics can be integrated in science studies.
• Comment constructively on other students’ planned teaching components.

Judgement and approach

On completion of the course, the student shall be able to:

• Discuss the importance of environmental, economic and social sustainability perspectives for their own subject and its development.
• Discuss the importance of equal opportunities, gender and diversity perspectives for education and working life, and for the quality of scientific research and development.
• Discuss a gender and diversity perspective on science subjects and how this can further the quality development of the students’ learning.
• Discuss the importance of ethical considerations for research and the application of their own subject in different contexts.
• Reflect on the importance of subject-integrated teaching about equal opportunities, sustainability and ethics for students’ development of scientific literacy.
• Reflect on and identify their own needs for further knowledge connected with the overall aim of the course.

Course content

The following themes will be covered, focusing on the students’ learning:

• Environmental, economic and social sustainability
• Equal opportunities, gender equality and diversity perspectives
• Ethics
• Generic skills
• Scientific literacy
• Academic reflection and peer review

Course design

The course, conducted in the form of workshops, is based on the students’ active participation and interaction. There will be six workshops covering the themes outlined in the course content. The students will also carry out a teaching and learning development project, individually or in a group. Peer feedback will be given on two scheduled occasions. In addition to the scheduled course sessions, the students will work individually on assignments, project work and feedback.

Assessment

Formative assessment is based on active participation in all the workshops. Summative assessment is anchored in the learning outcomes and is based on a written project report (individual or in a group), feedback on the reports of others and an individual written reflection on their own learning during the course.

Grades

The grades awarded are Fail and Pass. A grade of Pass for the course requires active presence at all scheduled course sessions, as well as a Pass on the project report, written reflection and feedback on the other participants’ project reports.

Language of instruction

The course is conducted in English.

Entry requirements

The introduction to teaching and learning in higher education is recommended.

Further information

Credits for this course cannot be counted together with credits for the course “Education for Scientific Literacy – Sustainability, Equality and Ethics (short version)”.