2025

The practice of transdisciplinarity in the academic context on topics related to sustainable natural resource management

Name: The practice of transdisciplinarity in the academic context on topics related to sustainable natural resource management
Code: PAO15568O
6 ECTS
Duration: 15 weeks/156 hours
Scientific Area: Agronomy, Landscape and Planning Sciences, Environment and Ecology Sciences

Teaching languages: Portuguese
Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese

Sustainable Development Goals

Learning Goals

The aim is to explore approaches, techniques, and methods that allow for the utilization and participation in transdisciplinary research projects in different areas of knowledge. In this way, the aim is to contribute to the development of the following competencies: (i) promote teamwork skills; (ii) promote the ability to integrate transdisciplinary elements into the academic journey; (iii) develop time management skills; (iv) promote the ability to design, plan, and conduct transdisciplinary research processes; (v) develop the ability to construct transdisciplinary processes and critical thinking; (vi) foster the capacity for criticism and self-criticism for continuous improvement; (vii) provide adequate training in methodologies that promote transdisciplinarity; (viii) develop specific skills for evaluating and monitoring transdisciplinary research processes.

Contents

Module 1 Introduction
Module 2. Roles in Transdisciplinarity
Module 3. Methodologies, methods and tools in a transdisciplinary context
Module 4. Indicators, evaluation and monitoring
Module 5. Integrating transdisciplinarity into the academic journey

Teaching Methods

Throughout the collective teaching sessions of the Course Unit, a presentation, as detailed as possible, of the defined program contents will be carried out, and a dialogue with the students about the importance of using the acquired knowledge will be reinforced. Given the predominantly practical and instrumental nature of the subjects, an operational approach will be privileged, based on the resolution of practical cases linked to concrete and current case studies. A set of documents related to the theme of the Course Unit will also be analysed, and specific tools will be used for assignments. Asynchronous classes will aim at the development of assignments, while synchronous classes will be used for the exploration of transdisciplinary tools. To establish greater contact and interactivity with the students and to provide support materials for the program contents taught throughout the academic semester, the lecturer will continuously use the moodle.

Assessment

In the "Continuous Assessment" regime (which consists of carrying out the various assessment components defined in the "UC Sheet" and which take place during the academic period) the final grade is calculated taking into account the grade of a practical assignment (individual or group) and the grade of the exam (written test). In this report it is proposed that the final grade be defined by the following weighted average: 50 per cent of the practical work and 50 per cent of the exam grade. The minimum mark for each of the assessment tests is 7 marks. In the "Exam" regime, if the student has not done the work, only the exam mark is taken into account, otherwise the mark will be calculated as the maximum between the exam mark and the previous weighted average.