BA Sustainable Development and Politics

About this course

Sustainable development and politics is a combination that addresses one of the defining challenges of the twenty-first century: how societies can meet human needs and aspirations without destroying the ecological systems on which all life depends. Sustainable development is not simply an environmental concept but a political, economic, and social one, concerned with equity between nations and generations, with the governance of shared resources, and with the choices that communities and states make about how to organise their lives. Politics provides the analytical tools to understand how those choices are made, contested, and implemented. At the University of the Highlands and Islands, this part-time programme allows you to study at a pace that suits your other commitments. You will engage with the theory and practice of sustainable development, examining issues such as climate policy, international environmental agreements, land use, energy transition, and the politics of natural resource management. The Highlands and Islands context gives the programme a distinctive character: the region raises live questions about rural development, land ownership, community governance, and environmental change that are both locally relevant and internationally significant. You will also study political theory, comparative politics, and international relations, developing the analytical frameworks needed to understand how power operates at local, national, and global scales. The combination develops skills in critical analysis, research, policy evaluation, and written and oral communication, all of which are valued across a wide range of professional contexts. Graduates are well prepared for careers in environmental policy, local and national government, NGOs, international development organisations, community planning, and the third sector. The analytical capabilities the degree builds are also valued in research, journalism, and public affairs. Postgraduate study in environmental policy, politics, international development, or related fields is a natural continuation.

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