MAE341 - Global Challenges in Business and Policy: Food, Water and Climate
Unit details
| Year | 2025 unit information |
|---|---|
| Enrolment modes: | Trimester 2: Burwood (Melbourne), Online |
| Credit point(s): | 1 |
| EFTSL value: | 0.125 |
| Unit Chair: | Trimester 2: Pallavi Shukla |
| Previously: | MAB341 Global Challenges: Food, Water and Climate |
| Prerequisite: | Nil |
| Corequisite: | Nil |
| Incompatible with: | MAB341 |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - on-campus unit enrolment: | 1 x 1.5 hour on-campus lecture (recordings provided) each week and 1 x 1.5 hour on-campus seminar (recordings provided) each week |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - online unit enrolment: | 1 x 1.5 hour recorded lecture provided each week and 1 x 1.5 hour online seminar in weeks 3, 7, and 11 |
| Typical study commitment: | Students will on average spend 150 hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit. This will include educator guided online learning activities within the unit site. |
Content
This unit will take a deep dive into the key issues facing our world – food, water, and climate crises. We will use real-world examples to understand why some sustainability policies work while others fail. We will discuss the challenges of trying to encourage economic development while reducing environmental damage caused by economic activities. We will debate the roles of governments, markets, and citizens in supporting environmental sustainability and the challenges of adopting sustainable practices in poor and developing communities. Our discussions will often focus on explaining the economic concepts and analytical underpinnings of the problems of sustainability and development. Students will have the opportunity to examine topical issues such as GMOs, obesity and malnutrition, environmental justice, international trade, nuclear energy, and carbon markets, among others.
Learning Outcomes
| ULO | These are the Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOs) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: | Alignment to Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) |
|---|---|---|
| ULO1 | Apply underlying principles behind sustainable development and natural resource management into the discussions on global food and agriculture challenges. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO2 | Present a coherent and justified commentary on prevailing global challenges in sustainable development to stakeholders. | GLO2: Communication |
| ULO3 | Source, sort and report relevant information and statistics on key issues facing the world related to agriculture, food, and water security. | GLO3: Digital Literacy |
| ULO4 | Critically comment on ongoing policy discourse aimed at reducing poverty and minimizing environmental degradation, the role of markets in supporting or impeding sustainability, and the challenges of adopting sustainable practices in developing communities. | GLO8: Global Citizenship |
Assessment
| Assessment Description | Student output | Grading and weighting (% total mark for unit) | Indicative due week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment 1: (Individual) Video recording | 5 minute presentation; and a two-page handout | 20% | Week 4 |
| Assessment 2: (Individual) Report (Business) | 1500 words max | 30% | Week 10 |
| End-of-unit assessment task: Written | 2000 words | 50% | End-of-unit assessment period |
The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.
Learning resource
The texts and reading list for MAE341 can be found via the University Library.
Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.
Unit Fee Information
Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study and their study discipline, and your study load.
Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current Students website.