Course

Unit 1

United Nations (UN)  

Development: social, environmental, political, and economic dimensions. Bharatiya view on Development,  Role of International Organizations in development. – Introduction to the UN: Purpose, Charter, Specialized Agencies (UNICEF, UNESCO, WHO, World Bank). – Achievements and current initiatives by the UN.

Unit 2

Sustainable development  

What is sustainable development; Illusion of infinite economic growth on a finite planet; Current environmental degradation and climate change (resulting in air pollution, waterborne diseases, toxic chemicals and natural disasters); Over-consumption and social inequalities; Sustainable use of resources; Zero-waste economies; Green technologies and closed-loop production systems.  Dharma and Protection of nature and collective responsibility- Bharatiya philosophies

Unit 3

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Transition from Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to SDGs.  The 2030 agenda for sustainable development: the 17 SDGs Global perspectives on implementation.

Unit 4

Targets and indicators of the SDGs  

Understanding “goals”, “targets”, and “indicators.”- UN’s role in research, monitoring, and policy guidance.
 Indicators for Zero Poverty, Health for All, Women’s Empowerment. Sustainable Agriculture, Clean Energy Access, Climate Action, and Responsible Cities.

Unit 5

Social work and the SDGs

Social aspects of sustainable development; SDG’s and social work- Opportunities and Challenges for Social Work Practice; Reaching the MDGs in India; Implementing the SDGs in India; Sustainable development: learning’s and perspectives from India.

Text Books / References

Textbooks:  

1. Ghai, D., & Vivian, J. M. (1995). Grassroots environmental action: people’s participation  in sustainable development. London, UK: Routledge. Retrieved from  https://books.google.co.in/books?hl=en&lr=&id=KGsAgAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=Sustainable+Development+AND+India&ots=1ottVop011&sig=rXPuUgHRcAXkVadmoEvhw27Bp4Y&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Su  stainable%20Development%20AND%20India&f=false 
2. Ossewaarde, M. J. (2018). Introduction to sustainable development. Thousand Oaks, CA:  Sage.
3. Patel, B. N. & Nagar, R. (Eds.). (2018). Sustainable development and India. Convergence  of law, economics, science, and politics. New Delhi, India: Oxford University Press.

  Suggested Readings

1. Emas, R. (2015). Brief for GSDR 2015. The concept of sustainable development:  Definition and defining principles. Retrieved from  https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/5839GSDR%202015_
2. Kumar, S., Kumar, N., & Vivekadhish, S. (2016). Millennium Development Goals  (MDGs) to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Addressing unfinished agenda and  strengthening sustainable development and partnership. Indian Journal of Community . Medicine, 41(1), 1-4. Retrieved from  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4746946/
3.  Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India & World Health   Organization, Country Office for India. (2016). The transition from MDGs to SDGs in India. Big agenda, big opportunities. Retrieved from http://www.searo.who.int/india/topics/sustainabledevelopmentgoals/sdg_background_paper.pdf?ua=1
4.  Peeters, J. (2012). Social work and sustainable development: Towards a social-ecological  practice model. Journal of Social Interventions: Theory and Practice, 21(3), 5-26. Retrieved from https://dspace.library.uu.nl/handle/1874/255892  (n.d.). Sustainable Development Goals. Retrieved from https://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/library/corporate/brochure/SDGs_Booklet_Web  _En.pdf
5.   United Nations, Department of Public Information. (2008). Everything you always  wanted to know about the United Nations. For students at intermediate and secondary  levels. Retrieved from http://unic-ir.org/Engaboutun.pdf
6. United Nations. (1945). Charter of the United Nations and statute of the international  court of justice. Retrieved from https://treaties.un.org/doc/publication/ctc/uncharter.pdf  8. United Nations. (2016). Final list of proposed Sustainable Development Goal indicators.   Report of the Inter-Agency and Expert Group on Sustainable Development Goal  Indicators (E/CN.3/2016/2/Rev.1), Annex IV. Retrieved from   https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/11803Official-List-ofProposed-SDGIndicators.pdf  
7. United Nations. (2017). Voluntary national review report India. On the implementation of  sustainable development goals. Report presented to The United Nations High Level  Political  Forum, New York, July Retrieved from   https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/15836India.pdf
8. United Nations. (n.d.). Transforming our world: The 2030 agenda for sustainable  development. A/RES/70/1. Retrieved from   https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/21252030%20Agenda%20for  %20Sustainable%20Development%20web.pdf
9. Véron, R. (2001). The “new” Kerala model: Lessons for sustainable development. World  Development, 29(4), 601-617 Retrieved from http://www.vedegylet.hu/fejkrit/szvggyujt/SD%20lessons%20new%20Kerala%20model.  pdf

This course aims at introducing the learners to the concept of sustainability and sustainable development. They should learn about the functions of the United Nations (UN) and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are geared towards eradicating human suffering while at the same time preserving our planet. Moreover, they should recognize how they as social workers can help society as a whole move towards reaching the SDGs.

Course Objectives

• Introduce learners to the concept of development, the role of international organizations, and the purpose and functioning of the United Nations.
• Familiarize students with the principles of sustainable development, environmental challenges, and Bharatiya philosophical perspectives on nature and collective responsibility.
• Enable students to understand the transition from MDGs to SDGs and the global and national frameworks for their implementation.
• Develop the ability to interpret SDG targets and indicators, and understand the UN’s role in monitoring and policy support.
• Equip learners to analyze the role of social work in achieving SDGs

Course Outcomes

• Explain the concept of development from multiple dimensions and describe the purpose, structure, and key initiatives of the United Nations.
• Analyze the concept of sustainable development, environmental degradation, resource use, Bharatiya philosophies, and collective responsibility.
• Describe the 17 Sustainable Development Goals and explain the transition from MDGs to SDGs.
• Interpret SDG targets, indicators, and the UN’s role in research, monitoring, policy guidance, and sectoral development (health, energy, agriculture, climate).
• Evaluate the role of social work in advancing SDGs in India

CO-PO Mapping