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74277-01 - Seminar: International Organizations and Sustainable Development (3 CP)
| Semester | fall semester 2025 |
| Course frequency | Irregular |
| Lecturers | Charline Depoorter (charline.depoorter@unibas.ch, Assessor) |
| Content | This course examines the role of international organizations (IOs) in promoting sustainable development globally. It provides an introduction to the international system and to the concept of sustainable development in that context. IOs covered include (but are not limited to) the main components of the United Nations system and related organizations (e.g. UNDP, UNCTAD, UNEP, ITC, FAO, ILO, WHO, IMF, World Bank, WTO), as well as regional organizations (e.g. the EU and ASEAN). The course explores how IOs develop instruments and enforce norms, influence policy, and provide platforms for collaboration between states and non-state actors in addressing environmental, economic, and social sustainability challenges. The format of the course is a block seminar providing a blend between talks and class activities, including guest speakers. |
| Learning objectives | - Gain an introduction into the system of international organizations - Get acquainted with the emergence and rise of sustainable development as a concept in the international context - Understand the main structures and instruments for sustainable development in the international context - Delve into how respective international organizations address sustainability challenges through interactions with practitioners from different IOs - Identify current and inherent challenges in international organizations and sustainable development - Reflect on the ways forward. |
| Bibliography | Tba in class. |
| Comments | Please note admission requirements. MSD 2017 For students with focus area in social sciences the seminar is optional for the "Core Competences in Social Scienes" module. The recognition of credit points to the "Focal Areas in Sustainability Research" module (learning agreement) is possible for all MSD students. This seminar is offered by the MSD. Dr. Charline Depoorter is a post doc in the Sustainability Research Group, Dep. of Social Sciences, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. |
| Admission requirements | Limited number of participants (25), Students of the MSD (incl. MSD preparation semester) and JIDSD have a first priority, those of the listed programs (see list of modules) have a second priority. If you study something different you must do a master's degree within the Department of Social Sciences/Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and may attend the seminar in case of vacancies (= third priority). MSD 2017 We strongly recommend that MSD students who have chosen the focus area in natural sciences or in economics only take this course after having completed at least 8 CP of the “Complementary Knowledge in Social Sciences” module. We recommend that non-MSD (excl. JIDSD) students have already taken one of the following lectures (= credit points already acquired) during a former semester: - 11513: Sustainability: A new Societal Paradigm? - 41829: Perspectives of Social Sciences on Sustainability. If you have not passed either of these classes, you must contact the lecturer until the first day of the teaching period, i.e. in fall semester 2025 until 15. September 2025 at the latest to assess if you have sufficient background knowledge to be admitted. |
| Course application | Please note admission requirements. For details see corresponding section. Course enrollment on online services should be completed by the beginning of the teaching period (withdrawal possible until Monday of teaching week five). |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | No specific media used |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| Block | See individual dates | ||
Dates
| Date | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday 18.10.2025 | 09.00-18.00 | tba, -- |
| Sunday 19.10.2025 | 09.00-18.00 | tba, -- |
| Saturday 08.11.2025 | 09.00-18.00 | tba, -- |
| Sunday 09.11.2025 | 09.00-18.00 | tba, -- |
| Modules |
Module: Core Competences in Social Sciences (Master's Studies: Sustainable Development) Module: Fields: Environment and Development (Master's degree program: African Studies) Module: Resources and Sustainability (Master's degree program: Changing Societies: Migration – Conflicts – Resources) Specialization Module Global Europe: Environment and Sustainability (Master's Studies: European Global Studies) Specialization Module Global Europe: International Organizations (Master's Studies: European Global Studies) |
| Assessment format | continuous assessment |
| Assessment details | Compulsary attendance in presence, required reading, oral presentation, written essay. Details according to information of lecturer. |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration, dereg: cancel course registration |
| Repeat examination | no repeat examination |
| Scale | 1-6 0,1 |
| Repeated registration | as often as necessary |
| Responsible faculty | University of Basel |
| Offered by | Fachbereich Nachhaltigkeitsforschung |