Sustainability and Biculturalism: Their Interrelationships and Impacts
Deconstruct culture to understand how we can all contribute to a shared and sustainable environmental philosophy.
Duration
4 weeksWeekly study
3 hours
Sustainability and Biculturalism: Their Interrelationships and Impacts
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Learn how to examine sustainability through a bicultural lens
Sustainability and biculturalism are important ideas, but do you know what these buzzwords actually mean and understand how they constantly affect each other?
On this four-week course, Otago Polytechnic will give you a detailed introduction to theories of both concepts, and explain their interrelatedness.
By the end, you’ll not only be able to look at sustainability issues through a bicultural lens, but will also understand the importance of cultural identity when it comes to addressing them.
Explore the role of culture on unconscious bias
You’ll critically reflect on the influence that people, place, and identity have on the development of cultural constructs, particularly in the context of sustainability and biculturalism
Through careful deconstruction, you’ll see how the culture that we are exposed to creates the unconscious bias (stereotypes formed outside our conscious awareness) that shapes so many of our thoughts and actions.
Deconstruct your cultural identity and find a shared bicultural space
As well as learning about cultural identity and sustainability theories, this course will provide an Iwi Māori perspective of people, place, and identity.
Deconstruction of the Iwi Māori culture, and your own, will allow you to compare the two and identify the differences and universal similarities. With this foundation, you’ll gain insight into how cultures can share and contribute to an environmental philosophy.
Learn from the experts at Otago Polytechnic
Otago Polytechnic has established formal partnerships with local Rūnaka (Iwi Māori councils) in Ōtāgo and a commitment to making a positive impact on the global environment.
You can trust the institution to guide you through deconstructing unconscious bias and understanding how sustainability can be central to everyone’s culture.
What topics will you cover?
- Sustainability concepts and definitions
- Cultural constructs and deconstruction
- An Iwi Māori perspective: place, identity, and practice
- Meeting people’s needs in a bicultural space
Learning on this course
On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...
- Reflect critically on the influence of people, place, and identity in the development of a cultural construct within the context of sustainability and biculturalism.
- Explore the interconnectedness of social, political, cultural, and economic aspects of sustainability.
- Evaluate a sustainability problem in a bicultural context.
Who is the course for?
This course is designed for anyone interested in sustainability from a bicultural perspective. It’s ideal for new learners in either or both fields, and for those working in sustainability and looking to engage and partner with indigenous or First Nations people around this issue.
Who will you learn with?
I'm a Learning and Teaching Specialist with 20 years experience working in and around tertiary education. I have a special interest in online learning, biculturalism, and sustainability in education.
I am the programme leader of the Graduate Diploma in Conflict Resolution and a learning and teaching specialist at Otago Polytechnic.
Who developed the course?
Otago Polytechnic
Otago Polytechnic, works collaboratively and are well connected locally and globally, striving always for excellence. They are proud to be making a better world together.
Established
1870Location
Dunedin, New Zealand
Te Pūkenga
Te Pūkenga – New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology is the New Zealand governmental network of 16 subsidiary tertiary education providers, which were formerly known as institutes of technology and polytechnics. The network delivers world class professional, vocational, and applied learning from certificate through to PhD level.
What's included?
This is a premium course. These courses are designed for professionals from specific industries looking to learn with a smaller group of like-minded individuals.
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Join a global classroom
- Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
- Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
- Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others
Map your progress
- As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
- Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
- Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate
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