Learning outcomes

The ‘Committing to the Planet’ course is part of the institutional project of the Journées d'Éducation au Développement Durable et à la Transition (JEDDT) (Sustainable Development and Transition Education Days).
 
It is a 2-credit cross-disciplinary course on the challenges of transition and sustainable development. The approach is cross-disciplinary, in that it looks at transition and sustainable development from all angles (geography, geology, philosophy, law, medicine, economics, management, IT, etc.) without neglecting the spiritual dimension of the ecological and civilisational crisis we are going through. The approach is also original in that it emphasises the new pedagogical approaches developed in the context of transition. More than a training course, the JEDDT is an experience in its own right, from which students will emerge transformed and fully equipped to meet the challenges of tomorrow.
 
This experience will help students to question their educational plans: why geography? And what for? What role will it play in society? This experience will only be meaningful for the student if it is well thought out, enabling him or her to reflect on his or her personal identity, citizenship and academic training.

Goals

  •  To reflect on their academic training project
  •  To reflect on the experience of commitment in relation to their personal, civic and academic itinerary.
  • To encourage students to discover voluntary/social enterprise projects with social and/or environmental objectives by getting involved in them.

 

 

Content

 Programme: 
 
  •  6 cross-disciplinary conferences on the challenges of transition and sustainable development (Law, Economics & Management, Medicine, Philosophy, Science, IT) 
  •  Various activities organised on campus (Ville, Carmel, Haugimont): workshops, lecture series, open courses, film debates, etc. 
  •  Coaching sessions throughout the year 
  • Reflective, creative and cross-disciplinary deliverables 
  • A closing event open to the public 
  •  Debates, meetings and discussions with professors and students from all faculties 

Teaching methods

 During an initial introductory day in October, students move from faculty to faculty to discover the issues raised by sustainable development and transition from the perspective of the various disciplines taught at UNamur. Once they have the tools they need to understand the issues, the students then work throughout the year in teams of students from different faculties or programmes on a cross-disciplinary project based on a research question agreed with the coordinating team. They are supported in their work by a minimum of 3 mentoring sessions. Their aim is to structure the students' thinking, but also to give it meaning, practical resonance and form. With the JEDDT, students are encouraged to think in order to act. Over the course of the year, students are also expected to take part in a series of activities organised on campus (workshops, lectures, film debates, etc.) to fuel their thinking. They are also invited to keep a logbook to help them become more aware of their learning through questions about their understanding and their feelings. The teaching methods used at the JEDDT are indeed original. Inspired by Ignatian pedagogy and its ‘experience - reflection - action’ paradigm, it is based on the tools of transformative education and the ‘head-heart-hand’ approach. 
 
At the end of the experience, the students will have the opportunity to present to the public the fruit of the team's reflection through a creative medium (poster, speech, podcast, etc.) and to challenge themselves in a debate with experts and civil society. The event will close with a convivial and festive moment. 

Assessment method

Assessment is continuous and individual: it takes into account the various deliverables (logbook, research question, written and oral response, creative support) as well as participation in the activities. 
 
1. individual ‘logbook’ throughout the year, with a view to encouraging awareness of the learning experienced and to be undertaken, by integrating the emotions felt. (4 points).
2. Definition of an open research question leading to cross-disciplinary research (2 points)
3. Written and oral formulation of the response with a view to the event on 17 March 2025 (8 points)
4. Creative shaping of the reflection with a view to generating commitment around the issue (5 points)
5. Participation in 10 hours of activities in the logbook (1 point)

Language of instruction

French
Training Study programme Block Credits Mandatory
Bachelor in Geography : General Standard 0 2
Bachelor in Geography : General Standard 3 2