【Course description】

Sustainability is the most pressing topic for humanity. Many changes lead us to the necessity to create and develop the conditions for the well-being of society and ourselves in such an uncertain world today. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), expected to be achieved by the year 2030, show that the 17 goals are about more than our planet’s ecosystem because many global and local issues are interrelated to each other. They also determine global and local cooperation for sustainable futures throughout the world. For example, how can a nation achieve its economic growth, natural conservation, and sound society? Putting all available resources into economic development may victimize the other two. If using up all resources within our time, how will the next generations ensure the ability to achieve what they will need? The solutions could be found by combinations and collaborations across every academic discipline.

This interdisciplinary course is required for all the SPSF first-year students. The six departments provide the lectures related to each discipline and sustainability in the 2nd period, and the SPSF coordinator shares the latest studies about sustainability and develops the lecture contents from the departments in the 3rd period. The students learn about the issues from the discipline by each department’s lectures and discussions as well as connect the contents from a comprehensive perspective of sustainability. Each class usually requires the student’s feedback comments, called “Reaction Paper,” on its lecture and/or discussions. The course deals with the basics of sustainability study and academic discipline towards sustainable futures. The course ends with preparations for further studies in the disciplines and possible actions for sustainable futures, to be considered at the THIRD YEAR SEMINAR FOR SUSTAINABLE FUTURES.

SPSF First Year Student Interview: https://youtu.be/6qP1rcT8XGw