Public Policy and Sustainability
People
Course director
Description
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Critically assess sustainability policies within a governance framework and evaluate multilevel governance structures at the local, national, and global levels
- Design sustainable policies and apply strategic policymaking tools, including scenario planning, stakeholder analysis, and sustainability impact assessments.
- Apply impact evaluation tools, such as Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Social Impact Assessment (SIA), to inform policy decisions.
- Communicate sustainability policy proposals effectively to diverse stakeholders.
Objectives
This course is designed to explore the intersection of public policy and sustainability through the lens of real-world application and multi-stakeholder engagement. Rather than focusing on theory alone—covered in the first-year Public Policy Analysis course—this second-year course takes a pracademic approach, drawing on the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) and the Committee of Experts on Public Administration (CEPA)’s principles of effective governance for sustainable development. Students will apply policy evaluation methodologies, including Environmental Impact Analysis (EIA) and Social Impact Analysis (SIA), to assess sustainability policies and engage in hands-on case analyses and expert dialogues to examine how sustainability challenges are addressed through policy instruments and governance arrangements. The course supports students in connecting sustainability principles with the real-world challenges of designing and implementing policies in dynamic and multilevel governance contexts.
Sustainable development goals
- No poverty
- Zero hunger
- Good health and well-being
- Quality education
- Gender equality
- Clean water and sanitation
- Affordable and clean energy
- Decent work and economic growth
- Industry, innovation and infrastructure
- Reduced inequalities
- Sustainable cities and communities
- Responsible consumption and production
- Climate action
- Life below water
- Life on land
- Peace, justice and strong institutions
- Partnerships for the Goals
Teaching mode
In presence
Learning methods
The course consists of seven 4 hour sessions and includes lectures, case studies, and class discussions. International guest speakers will participate (either in person or online) from organizations such as the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), the UN Global Compact and the International Institute of Administrative Science (IIAS), along with representatives from Swiss and European government institutions. During the class sessions, case studies analysis and classroom debates will also occur regularly; students are encouraged to engage with the guest speakers to ask and present their opinions on specific issues. Class participation is not only encouraged but also considered essential to develop a comprehensive overview of the course’s contents while the course is designed as a collaborative space for co-constructing knowledge, applying theory, and rehearsing practice.
Examination information
The final evaluation will be determined as follows: 20% class participation (regular attendance) and engagement (active contribution to class discussions and debates and engagement with guest speakers, including asking critical questions), 70% final group project, including an oral presentation: each group will deliver a 30-minute presentation during the exam day and submit a report: 10-page policy brief, summarizing their findings and providing well-structured policy recommendations, last 10% Individual reflection note: 1-page reflection on the learning experience, linking practice to theory and assessing personal growth in sustainability policymaking.
