Anthropological perspectives on sustainability development

Innovative Project idea

The proposed course introduces a novel integration of anthropological theory with the practical application of sustainability issues. The course combines traditional classroom learning with an excursion to organizations that deal with sustainability to provide students with a first-hand view of how sustainability is addressed in different socio-political contexts. By contrasting indigenous-led sustainability initiatives with global frameworks, the course highlights the relational nature of sustainability, emphasizing how global and local forces intersect. This relational understanding fosters critical thinking and moves beyond standard approaches to sustainability education, which often focus solely on environmental or economic aspects.
The course Anthropological Perspectives on Sustainable Development contains several innovative elements that distinguish it from conventional teaching formats. Interactive learning methods in the classroom, the integration of case studies from the field and an excursion make this course a model for engaging, research-based and experiential learning.

Added value for students and teaching

The course developed in the project will offer significant added value to students by providing an innovative learning experience that bridges theory, empirics, and practice. The content of the course is unique in its anthropological focus on sustainability, providing students with in-depth case studies and real-world applications of theoretical concepts. The course also uses a variety of
interactive teaching methods to make the learning process highly engaging and dynamic. Students will also benefit from actively participating in the process of developing and evaluating a university course, allowing them to gain valuable insights into educational innovation in sustainability studies (see 2.8, below).

In the fully developed BASUS program, the course will directly benefit the 25-30 students per year enrolled in the UZH track. Depending on the capacity of the teaching-learning arrangements, students from other programs may also be able to participate, further broadening the impact of this innovative course offering.