Sustainable Development from a Safety Perspective

The course covers sustainable development from a risk and safety perspective. Issues related to societal safety work are problematised with a focus on ecological, social and economic dimensions. Key topics include different definitions and perspectives on the concept of development, and how development work can be integrated with preventive risk management. The course also applies an international perspective and discusses the situation in low-income countries, where the individual and societal welfare is closely linked to risk and safety aspects. Another critical issue from an international point of view, is how to manage natural disasters and the future impacts of climate change within the framework of sustainable development. This is also addressed from the perspective of low-income countries, where risk management is often connected to fighting poverty and poor living conditions. The course covers the relationship between the three overlapping areas of safety, health and environment (SHE), such as the advantages of treating the three areas as being integrated, but also the potential conflicts that may arise between these areas in various types of organisations and activities. SHE is studied as a basis of leadership and management systems. Students work in groups as part of their preparation for the group seminars. Group work includes reviewing and discussing each other's written assignments as well as preparing for active participation in the seminars. Instruction is in the form of distance education via a web-based platform.