GEOG 7014 - Sustainable Cities: Planning for Climate Change

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2024

Increasingly both the developed and developing world are acknowledging significant challenges to environmental sustainability at the global, regional and local scales. Human-induced climate change is one driver of this concern, but others include concerns with water quality and availability, the impact of air pollution on human health and the loss of valuable agricultural land. The challenges are further exacerbated by the need to consider cultural, social and economic sustainability, alongside the more commonly discussed environmental issues. Cities lie at the forefront of sustainability challenges: the majority of the world's population lives in an urban area, and cities are the focus of the overwhelming majority of economic activity and resource consumption. This course examines issues of environmental sustainability in cities and the ways in which governments and communities can plan and act to achieve more sustainable outcomes. The course examines issues around urban design, transport planning and provision, planning regulations, housing supply, economic structure and waste management and handling.

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Course Details

Course Code	GEOG 7014
Course	Sustainable Cities: Planning for Climate Change
Coordinating Unit	Geography, Environment and Population
Term	Semester 2
Level	Postgraduate Coursework
Location/s	North Terrace Campus
Units	6
Contact	Up to 4 hours per week
Available for Study Abroad and Exchange	N
Prerequisites	Completed degree (72 units)
Incompatible	GEOG 5091, GEOG 5092, GEOG 7013
Assessment	Two tutorial presentations on key topic 40%, review essay 40%, online module 20%

Course Staff

Course Coordinator: Dr George Tan

Course Timetable

The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

Course Learning Outcomes

At the successful completion of this course students will be able to:

1 Identify and understand the major challenges to urban sustainability
2 Describe the major tools used to manage sustainability in cities, including hard and soft
infrastructure
3 Demonstrate familiarity with the core concepts in urban sustainability debates
4 Demonstrate knowledge of key sources in the urban sustainability literature
5 Gain the ability to search and analyse critical source of information on cities and their
environmental performance
6 Gain the ability to communicate effectively on the issue of urban sustainability

University Graduate Attributes

This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

University Graduate Attribute	Course Learning Outcome(s)
Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.	1,2,3,4,5,6
Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.	1,2,3,4,5,6
Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.	1,2,3,4,5,6
Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.	6
Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.	1,5
Attribute 6: Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural competency Graduates have an understanding of, and respect for, Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander values, culture and knowledge.	1
Attribute 7: Digital capabilities Graduates are well prepared for living, learning and working in a digital society.	4,5,6
Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.	1,4,5

Learning & Teaching Activities

Learning & Teaching Modes

Teaching and Learning Modes in this course include:
- Face-to-face/online lectures
- Small Group Discovery Experience - Preparation and engagement
- Assignment Preparation

Workload

The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

The total workload for this course is 156 hours or an average of 12 hours per week for the semester.

Learning Activities Summary

Week Topic
Week 1 Introduction and overview
Week 2 Resilience assessment
Week 3 Urban green space and biodiversity
Week 4 Urban Agriculture and the Peri-Urban Fringe
Week 5 Waste management and the circular economy
Week 6 Cities and migration
Week 7 Tourism (gentrification) in Port Adelaide
Week 8 Fireside chat with industry experts
Week 9 Climate change and managing risk
Week 10 Housing and sustainability
Week 11 Study week - assignment preparation
Week 12 Student presentations (group work, summative).

The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
Assessment must maintain academic standards.

Assessment Summary

Students will be required to undertake the following: -

1. Essay = 30%
2. Presentation= 20%
3. Essay = 30%
4. Online discussion board =10%
4. Attendance= 10%

Assessment Detail

This information will be provided in the course profile in the MYUI web site for this course

Submission

Submission Format
Students will submit their assignments electronically on MyUni. The assignments are linked to TURNITIN which checks for plagiarism from sources and copying from other students.

Extensions
Your tutor may award you an extension, if you cannot complete the assignment by the specified due date on genuine medical, compassionate or other ‘reasonable grounds’ (please see
http://www.adelaide.edu.au/student/exams/ for details) supported by appropriate documentation. No submission is accepted after the deadline unless you provide appropriate evidence of ‘reasonable grounds’.

Course Grading

Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
Grade	Mark	Description
FNS		Fail No Submission
F	1-49	Fail
P	50-64	Pass
C	65-74	Credit
D	75-84	Distinction
HD	85-100	High Distinction
CN		Continuing
NFE		No Formal Examination
RP		Result Pending

Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

Student Feedback

The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
Student Support
Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
Fraud Awareness

Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.

Authorised by:	Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic)
Maintained by:	Course Outlines Administrator