Communication for development and social change - Engaging communities

Creating sustainable futures that are inclusive and equitable begins with understanding how communication and media inform, engage and motivate people. In this course, students will explore foundational and contemporary concepts of communicating for development and social change, apply their knowledge to assess communication initiatives from formal and civil-society organizations and social movements, and familiarize themselves with a range of critical views in the evolving field of communication for sustainable development and social change. The course is structured along three key modules: - An introduction to historical and contemporary theories and methods of communication for development and social change. - Practical understanding of the entanglements of power and agency, such as inequality, identity and cultural differences, and ethical considerations that arise within communicating sustainable development and social change. - Critical discussions on the challenges of communicating impactfully to achieve sustainability at local, regional and international levels. Upon completion of the course, students will have an understanding of key debates around contemporary usage of communication for development and social change approaches and practices and will be able to engage in complex debates pertaining to the efficacy of contemporary communication campaigns around sustainability issues from “glocal” perspectives.