Climate change the focus of new university degree programme

Thu 28 Jan 2021 08:00

What are the preconditions for long-term sustainable development given the ongoing climate change? This is the key question underpinning the degree programme on climate change, politics and societal development that will be launched in the fall semester of 2021.

Klimatdemonstration i Helsingfors april 2019

"We will train decision makers to think critically regarding climate change and societal development and provide them with the tools to be able to design sustainable solutions to some of the most serious problems facing our society today", says Stefan Linde, Programme Director and Senior Lecturer in Political Science.

Climate Change – Politics and Societal Development is a three-year programme currently offers 40 placements at the Östersund campus of Mid Sweden University. The programme has been developed and offered by the disciplines of political science and geography and provides students with broad knowledge in sustainable social development. More specifically, the programme will focus on different types of policy solutions for addressing societal, spatial, environmental problems and inequalities occurring as a result of climate change.

"Climate change is a global phenomenon with local consequences. Those who want to work with societal development and the common good in the future must be able to formulate local and regional solutions to global problems, which requires a broader view than the one traditional programmes in the field tend to offer", says Evangelia Petridou, Programme Director and Senior Lecturer in Political Science.

The education is closely linked to ongoing research at the university. Classes are designed and taught in close collaboration with two of Mid Sweden University’s research centres – Risk and Crisis Research Centre and the tourism research centre ETOUR – with the participation of national and international researchers.

"Climate Change – Politics and Societal Development offers insights in the strengths and limitations of politics, as well as the role of public administration in creating sustainable societies. We highlight broad environmental and social issues but also address more specific processes, such as the consequences that people’s lifestyle, development and land use have on regional activities, such as reindeer husbandry, hunting and fishing, and also on the public at large", says Stefan Linde.

After completing the programme, students will be able to work in both the public and private sectors, for example as analysts, administrators, project managers and investigators.

The application for the new study programme opened in March 2021.

Contact persons:
Stefan Linde, Programme Director and Senior Lecturer in Political Science, +46(0)10-142 86 63, stefan.linde@miun.se
Evangelia Petridou,Programme Director and Senior Lecturer in Political Science, +46(0)10-142 83 18, evangelia.petridou@miun.se


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The page was updated 6/19/2023