SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: GOALS AND INDICATORS - 2025/6

Module Overview

This module introduces students to the concept of sustainable development, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the indicators adopted to measure progress toward fulfilling the goals. The module introduces students to the concept of system thinking and explores how system thinking is connected to sustainable development. It also introduces students to the use of academic literature and academic referencing.

Module provider

Sustainability, Civil & Env Engineering

Module Leader

SEYMOUR Valentine (Sust & CEE)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 4

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 1

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

N/A

Module content

Using the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a guiding framework, students will develop a broad and deep understanding of sustainable development, drawing on a wide range of perspectives to address sustainability challenges in the field. Through talks, practical tutorials, and discussions, this module emphasises the role of policymakers, businesses, and citizens in advancing sustainable development at local, national, and global levels. To explore progress toward achieving the UN's SDGs, the module is organised around six themes explored from various disciplinary perspectives and includes: 1) energy transitions and climate change, 2) reducing global inequalities, 3) quality education and gender equality, 4) future sustainable cities and communities, 5) health and the natural environment, and 6) nature-based solutions for water security.

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

An individual poster will replace the group poster

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to allow students to demonstrate that they have successfully met the learning outcomes of the module. Students have the opportunity to focus in on an area of particular interest when choosing the focus of their coursework.  The summative assessment for this module consists of:- A group poster exploring key global challenges and sustainability practices through a case example scenario worth 30% of the module mark (LOs 4, 5 and 7)- An analysis report of progress towards achieving one of the sustainable development goals worth 70% of the module mark (LOs 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7)Formative assessment and feedback:Students receive verbal feedback during lectures. There are also weekly seminar sessions during which key issues, debates and data relating to sustainable development will be discussed and analysed together by the class. Some of these discussion sessions will assess progress towards achieving individual sustainable develop goals, thus allowing students to get verbal feedback on their understanding of progresses towards the goal they choose for their analysis report. Group posters will be discussed in class prior to the submission date, and students will receive verbal feedback on their group posters. By incorporating a team-work element it prepares students for assessments in future modules and strengthens communication, collaboration, leadership, resilience, and resourcefulness skills, which are important employability skills. These skill also align with the Education for Sustainable Development Goals: learning objectives, as set out by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). 

Module aims

• To explore the evolution of the concept of sustainable development
• To provide an overview of how progress towards sustainable development is measured
• To provide an overview of the breadth of topics which underpin sustainable development
• To examine progress to date in key areas of sustainable development globally
• To introduce students to the concepts of academic literature and referencing

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

• Develop students’ understanding of the concept of sustainable development


• Develop students’ knowledge of how progress towards sustainable development is assessed

• Lectures and class discussions (11 hours)


• Captured content (11 hours)


• Seminars (11 hours)

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: ENG1098

Other information

The Centre for Environment and Sustainability is committed to developing graduates with strengths in Employability, Digital Capabilities, Global and Cultural Capabilities, Sustainability and Resourcefulness and Resilience, in line with the Surrey Curriculum Framework. This module is designed to allow students to develop knowledge, skills and capabilities in the following areas:

Sustainability: This module provides students with the opportunity to learn how progress towards sustainable development is assessed. Students are introduced to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and consider the progress being made to fulfil these goals.

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2025/6 academic year.