ENS251 Systems thinking for sustainable development

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2015
Extent and Intensity
0/0. 2 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
Dominika Dzwonkovska (lecturer), Ing. Zbyněk Ulčák, Ph.D. (deputy)
Guaranteed by
doc. Mgr. Bohuslav Binka, Ph.D.
Department of Environmental Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Mgr. Zdeňka Lechnerová
Supplier department: Department of Environmental Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Tue 24. 3. 18:45–20:15 U32, Wed 25. 3. 17:00–18:30 U34, Thu 26. 3. 15:15–16:45 U32, Fri 27. 3. 9:45–11:15 U32
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 30 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/30, only registered: 0/30, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/30
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 20 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
Course objectives:
1.To foster awarness that sustainable development needs a holistic approach;
2.To convey basic information on Systems Thinking and its possible usage for solving sustainable development problems;
3.To present and teach participants how to use chosen Dynamic Modelling instruments for analysing sustainable development issues. Learning outcomes:
At the end of the course students will have a general knowledge on Systems Thinking and possibilities of using it for better understanding complexity of sustainable development issues. Students will know how to use selected Dynamic Modelling instruments for analysing sustainable development issues.
Syllabus
  • Course content:
  • 1.Introductory lecture on the chosen aspects of the following topics: course overview, general introduction to sustainable development and necessity of holistic approach, systems thinking; system dynamics approach and history; cognitive barriers; mental models; the fifth discipline by Peter Senge (around 4 hours)
  • 2.Causal Loop Diagrams: General theoretical introduction and practical workshop. (around 4 hours)
Teaching methods
The course will consist of lectures combined with structured discussions, class excercises and systems analysis work in small groups.
Assessment methods
The students will be evaluated on a pass-fail scale on the basis of attendance and successful completion of group systems analysis projects.
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught only once.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2012.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/spring2015/ENS251