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Overview

Course Prescription

Explores the complex relationships between environmental systems and humans. Working in teams, students examine environmental, social, economic and cultural perspectives in the real-world contexts of waitā (sea), waitī (freshwater) and whenua (land). Students will respond to environmental issues by recognising ora (wellbeing) and Ki Uta ki Tai (the interconnectedness of ecosystems) and develop a transdisciplinary mindset to tackle current and future environmental challenges.

Course Overview

If you want to make a real difference by working with others to design strategies that activate your imagination and creativity, leading towards more sustainable and just environmental futures, then this is the course for you.
Our Environmental Futures: Te Taiao Tāngata explores the complex relationships between environmental systems and humans and the impacts of human practices on these systems.  By exploring real world case studies you will learn skills and develop a mindset to work with others to tackle the complexity of the environmental challenges we face now and in the future.
This is a transdisciplinary course, which means you will collaborate with students from across disciplines and engage with wider community perspectives to address complex socio-environmental issues.  Complex environmental issues require these types of collaborations.  We welcome you to join us on this drive for transformative change in how we address environmental issues.

Main Programme

Key Topics

•    Ki uta ki Tai: From the mountains to the sea.
•    Te Tiriti o Waitangi and environmental contexts.
•    Values thinking: Exploring the role of values in environmental contexts.
•    Systems thinking:  The inter-connectedness of environmental and human systems.
•    Futures thinking:  Reimagining environmental possibilities.
•    Diverse perspectives in complex socio-environmental issues.
•    Collaborating with others when engaging in and communicating about complex environmental issues.
Case studies are a central component of the course teaching and learning.  These focus on complex socio-environmental issues.  The issues used in the course may change each year but could include for example some of the following: sea level rise and managed retreat; forestry practices and community impacts; kauri dieback; urban and rural waterways; community gardens renewable energy production, marine reserves, among others.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 12 hours of lectures (plenary sessions), 22 hours of studios (11 x 2 hour studios), 44 hours of reading, viewing videos and other creative works and thinking about the content and 70 hours of work on assignments (individual and group) and/or test preparation.

Locations and Semesters Offered

LocationSemester
City

Teaching and Learning

Campus Experience

This is a transdisciplinary course, which means you will get to engage with a diverse range of perspectives, from inside and outside your chosen discipline.   
A 2-hour studio session is timetabled weekly. This session involves small group work and is associated with practical tasks and skill development linked to assessment and learning outcomes.  Attendance at studio sessions is compulsory as these contain activities, teamwork and marks that contribute towards learning outcomes and assessment.

  • Attendance is expected at scheduled plenary sessions, many of which are interactive.
  • Engagement in studios is compulsory.
  • Weekly plenary sessions will be available as recordings. However, where lectures involve workshop-style interactions the recordings will not capture the associated discussions.
  • Other learning activities including studios will not be available as recordings.
  • The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.
  • Course material will be available where possible on the course’s Canvas site.
  • Staff office hours will be available either in-person or via Zoom
  • There is no final exam – the course is 100% internally assessed.

Learning Resources

Taught courses use a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas to provide students with learning materials including reading lists and lecture recordings (where available). Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Additional Information on Learning Resources

There is NO set textbook for this course.  Readings will be provided via Talis and other resources are available on Canva

Copyright

The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.


You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third-party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Other Information

This information was correct on 1 November, 2024

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Similarly, research students must meet the University’s expectations of good research practice. This requires:

  • Honesty - in all aspects of research work
  • Accountability - in the conduct of research
  • Professional courtesy and fairness – in working with others
  • Good stewardship – on behalf of others
  • Transparency – of research process and presentation of results
  • Clarity - communication to be understandable, explainable and accessible

For more information on the University’s expectations of academic integrity, please see the Academic Conduct section of the University policy hub.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about taught courses is made available to enrolled students in Canvas.

Students may be asked to submit assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.


Assessment and Learning Outcomes

Course Learning Outcomes

CLO #OutcomeProgramme Capability Link
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

Assessments

Assessment TypeAssessment PercentageAssessment Classification

Special Requirements

Engagement in studios is compulsory to pass this course. 

Assessment to CLO Mapping

Assessment Type12345678

Student Feedback, Support and Charter

Student Feedback

Feedback on taught courses is gathered from students at the end of each semester through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions. Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students. In addition, class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Additional Information on Student Feedback

We encourage and welcome student feedback
Class Reps are appointed for each stream.  During the course the class representatives in each stream can take feedback to the course coordinator and to the staff-student consultative committees.
Formative feedback will be conducted at mid semester and at the end of the course students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through the University’s course evaluation. The lecturers and course co-ordinator value all feedback. Your feedback helps to improve the course and its delivery during the course and also for future years.

Class representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Tuākana

Tuākana is a multi-faceted programme for Māori and Pacific students providing topic specific tutorials, one-on-one sessions, test and exam preparation and more. Explore your options at Tuakana Learning Communities.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website.

Wellbeing

We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - please see the Support Services page for information on support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed work is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due. If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page. This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Additonal Information on Special Circumstances

Please note there is no final exam for this course.  This is 100% internally assessed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter.

Student Academic Complaints and Disputes

Students with concerns about teaching including how a course is delivered, the resources provided, or supervision arrangements, have the right to express their concerns and seek resolution. The university encourages informal resolution where possible, as this is quicker and less stressful. For information on the informal and formal complaints processes, please refer to the Student Academic Complaints Statute in the Student Policies and Guidelines section of the Policy Hub.