For development to be sustainable it must meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. What does this mean? How do we achieve it? Who are the “we” that make decisions towards such an arbitrary goal? And how do we know when we have arrived? Sustainable development is a contentious term and its achievement requires multiple objectives to be balanced - objectives that are social, cultural, economic, political and environmental. In a world of imbalance and power differentials that extend from global decision makers right down to the level of the individual, some objectives will be more highly valued than others and some will be elevated above others. In short, they compete. Does industrial growth trump biodiversity? Does clean water and air undermine higher profits and outputs? It is in the interest of all of us to strike the right balance between development and sustainability.
The major in sustainability and development seeks to unpack these key issues through an interdisciplinary approach that incorporates the perspectives of Development Studies, Anthropology, History, Geography, Politics, International Relations, Sociology and Economics. By combining relevant theory, with practical skills and experience, students will gain knowledge, competency and employability in this growing sector.