Educational offer - University of Padova

Information on the course unit

Degree course	Second cycle degree in SUSTAINABLE TERRITORIAL DEVELOPMENT IA2447, Degree course structure A.Y. 2018/19, A.Y. 2018/19	bring this page with you
Number of ECTS credits allocated	6.0
Type of assessment	Mark
Course unit English denomination	GLOBAL CHANGE, ECO-SYSTEMS AND SUSTAINABILITY
Website of the academic structure	https://www.dissgea.unipd.it/
Department of reference	Department of Historical and Geographic Sciences and the Ancient World
Mandatory attendance	No
Language of instruction	English
Branch	Univ. of Leuven
Single Course unit	The Course unit CANNOT be attended under the option Single Course unit attendance
Optional Course unit	The Course unit is available ONLY for students enrolled in SUSTAINABLE TERRITORIAL DEVELOPMENT

Syllabus

Examination methods:	There is a wide range of assessment approaches. Such approaches concern formative as well as summative goals. This is in line with the targeted learning outcomes focusing on knowledge and insights, skills and application abilities and communication in a balanced way. The variety of assessment approaches is also due to the fact that courses are offered in combinations with different study programmes belonging to different Universities. The first group of exams is written and they are usually written essays. This type of assessment allows for a more creative and research-oriented approach. When the essay reflects the students’ own research, s/he must show the ability to clearly formulate the research question(s), to organize and conduct a research, to apply proper methods, to be able to collect data in the field and to analyze those data. Next, students need to be able to discuss the results and to place them within the broader scientific debate. Furthermore, the structure and the writing of the essay have to comply with proper and academic writing rules. In many cases process evaluation, peer assessment and/or a presentation are linked with the writing of the essay. The second group of exams is implemented in oral ways. In this way, they can be individualized and are more interactive. Many courses have a policy of oral exams as standardized procedure (questions, presentation, peer/ self-assessment). This allows students to express themselves in an active and dialogical way. Oral exams are especially suited for testing understanding/insights and application of knowledge as they encourage students to produce clear communication and to manifest their personal attitudes. As for essays, an integrative oral assessment allows for a more creative and research-oriented approach. Intermediate assessments are generally used in a formative way in order to provide students with timely feedback, while final assessments are used in a summative way. Peers assessment results can influence the final mark of an individual.
Course unit contents:	- Current day impact on ecosystems and the Planetary Boundary framework. - The value of nature (ecological, economic, cultural and social benefits of nature). - Global warming. - Landscape alteration and ecological restoration – ecosystem engineering. - Disruption of mutualisms and the pollinator crisis. - Land sharing vs. land sparing. - Ecological intensification and organic agriculture. - Crop wild relatives. - Fisheries. - Sustainable aquaculture. The practicals part will consist of a series of seminars that will be taught by invited experts in the field of global change biology. The topics of the seminars will reflect contemporary issues in fundamental and applied research in global change biology.
Textbooks (and optional supplementary readings)