SLE742 - Systems Thinking for Sustainability and Resilience
Unit details
| Year | 2025 unit information |
|---|---|
| Enrolment modes: | Trimester 1: Burwood (Melbourne), Online |
| Credit point(s): | 1 |
| EFTSL value: | 0.125 |
| Unit Chair: | Trimester 1: Christie Lam |
| Prerequisite: | Nil |
| Corequisite: | Nil |
| Incompatible with: | Nil |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - on-campus unit enrolment: | 1 x 1 hour online lecture per week, 1 x 2 hour seminar per week. |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - online unit enrolment: | Online independent and collaborative learning including 1 x 1 hour online lecture per week, 1 x 1 hour online seminar per week. |
| 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
To deal with wicked problems linked to unsustainable resource use, pollution, and environmental degradation, sustainability practitioners need to effectively manage the complex interrelationships between humans and the environment in a climate-challenged world. Students will develop the ability to see the “big picture” and to think in terms of systems, characterising and quantifying the key components, linkages, and processes operating in social-ecological systems. Causal loop diagrams and systems dynamics models will be introduced as tools to crystallize components and interactions, project future dynamics, and assess the effectiveness of solutions for a range of sustainability issues. This unit is designed to equip students with systems and futures thinking skills they will need to deal with the uncertainties and dynamics underpinning complex and messy sustainability problems in local, regional, and global contexts. The unit focusses on system dynamics modelling, scenario framing, participatory techniques, and knowledge co-production and will provide students with critical skills to pursue careers in the sustainability industry.
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 | Explain several systems thinking methodologies and holistic strategic approaches to contemporary sustainability problems and demonstrate their application to student's discipline or profession. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO2 | Identify and analyse complex problems using futures thinking and holistic and strategic thinking. | GLO3: Digital literacy |
| ULO3 | Work in a team to tackle problem situations and propose implementable solutions using holistic and strategic planning concepts, methodologies and methods. | GLO2: Communication |
| ULO4 | Develop and justify innovative solutions for implementation in complex, uncertain and risky contexts. | GLO4: Critical thinking |
Assessment
| Assessment Description | Student output | Grading and weighting (% total mark for unit) | Indicative due week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment 1 Critique essay | Written critique, approximately 1,500 words | 30% | Week 5 |
| Assessment 2 Group oral presentation and individual report | Part A Oral group presentation | 40% (25%, 15%) (Part A, Part B) | Week 10 |
| Assessment 3 | Critical written task and recorded reflection | 30% | Week 12 |
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 SLE742 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.