NCHU Course Outline

Course Name	(中) 永續文化研究(6080)
Course Name	(Eng.) Study on Sustainability Culture
Offering Dept	Transcontinental International Master Program
Course Type	Elective	Credits	3	Teacher	Theodorus Arnoldus Maria Richard
Department	Transcontinental International Master Program/Graduate	Language	English	Semester	2026-SPRING
Course Description	Class that introduces students to the study of sustainability, sustainable development and its cultural implications through a flipped classroom approach. This class focuses on an interdisciplinary study of sustainability culture. We will find that the same core question arises over and time again: how is it possible that even though we already have all the knowledge and technology required to live and farm sustainably, we do not seem to be able to fully achieve this? This class will postulate that the answers are found in how we form our culture and how we relate to the technology that gives us our comforts. Which values do we have, how do we think the world works, and do we really want to be sustainable, no matter what? We seek to further the debate on how culture defines our drive and thrust toward sustainability from an interdisciplinary approach. It seeks to further the dialogue on what sustainability culture means exactly in the 21st century. The class seeks to explore the issues that hinder the achievement of the Great Transition, and what cultural change is needed to advance this in general. We shape our lives in the bedrock of culture. What happens to this process when the Business-As-Usual culture that has led to Climate Change intersects with the urgent need to live sustainably? In the context of the above explorations, students will be asked to actively share their findings in the class. The course is divided into two parts: in the first 10 weeks or so, subjects and materials will be discussed based on student presentations and guidance by the teacher. After that point, the course will focus on the choice by the students of a subject for and the writing of their end term paper under a workshop like approach. The Midterm assignment will be (1) a written paper about the preliminary choice by the student of 3 (three) possible subjects for their end term paper related to the content of the course, together with argumentation of around 300 - 500 words for each subject, and (2) a presentation of the same in class. The treatment of the second part of the course will then be chosen discretionarily by the teacher, and assigned for group / student presentation or self-study. The second part of the semester will be more aimed at guided self-work in class on study, research, discussion and writing for the end term paper. The key to a good presentation is to realize that simply summarizing and presenting in-formation, is not enough. Gathering information and organizing it in a PPT is just the be-ginning of the exploration of truly knowing and understanding. What is important is to ask yourself: what is the essence of this information; what does this information possibly mean to me and the class; and how can this information be used to reach conclusions that will support the debate and the deep understanding of the subject? Each presentation, if assigned, will last around 40 minutes. The presenters will prepare 4 to 5 questions on the material which will be discussed in class. For this purpose, depending on the number of students, the students will either present individually or be asked to form groups of 2 to 3 students (depending on the total class number) and choose a subject as assigned or approved by the teacher. The subjects and documents mentioned in the syllabus are only indicative and can be changed pursuant to the teacher’s ideas on the progress of the class. This syllabus provides basic reading only. The students are encouraged to explore further reading and present it to the class. Please allow the teacher to check in advance whether additional reading that you wish to present, is appropriate. All materials are expected to be read and/or viewed by the students before class. End term papers are to be submitted in paper, on the relevant date to the teacher, without late acceptance. Midterm materials will be submitted on I-learning. NOTE: NCHU has a University Regulation that under its article 26, prescribes that students are not allowed to miss classes by one-third or more. This includes classes that are missed with approval in advance. On a 16 week schedule, that would mean missing 6 classes or more deserves a fail. The text in Chinese is as follows: 第二十六條: 學生各科目缺課時數達該全學期上課時數三分之一者，不得參加該科目之學期考試，該科目學期成績以零分計。總缺課時數累計達全學期所修各科目上課總時數三分之一者，應辦理休學。 The PDF file is linked here: https://share.google/XPrROckWDyPAASnw5.
Prerequisites				self-directed learning in the course	Y

Relevance of Course Objectives and Core Learning Outcomes(%)

Teaching and Assessment Methods for Course Objectives

Course Objectives

Competency Indicators

Ratio(%)

Teaching Methods

Assessment Methods

1. To introduce students to diverse disciplinary perspectives enabling them to frame their own studies of sustainability, sustainable development and sustainability culture.
2. To familiarize students with some key concepts and texts related to sustainability, sustainable development and sustainability culture.

topic Discussion/Production

Networking/Distance Education

Discussion

Lecturing

Written Presentation

Attendance

Oral Presentation

Assignment

Study Outcome

Course Content and Homework/Schedule/Tests Schedule

Week	Course Content
Week 1	Course Introduction Overview, Syllabus and Class Rules presentation, and initial topic exploration. General Discussion.
Week 2	What is Sustainability and Sustainable Development? [https://sdgs.un.org/goals]
Week 3	What is Sustainability Culture? How does culture relate to sustainability? [Adams et al. 2018]
Week 4	What is Culture; what is it for? [Kashima, 2019]
Week 5	Culture at the heart of the SDGs [Hosagrahar, 2013; Huangzhou Declaration and Outcomes, 2013/2015]
Week 6	Culture, the fourth pillar of SDGs [UCLG, 2010]
Week 7	Cultural dynamics for sustainability [Kashima, 2020]
Week 8	Midterm: provide an original, non-AI composed paper about the preliminary choice by the student of 3 (three) possible subjects for their end term paper related to the content of the course, together with argumentation of around 300 - 500 words for each subject Upload on I-learning on the day of the class before midnight.
Week 9	The ”Royal” We: who is the ”us” who is the subject of sustainability? Agency. [Work, yet to be published]
Week 10	Pacific Island Sustainability Culture [Mateson et al., 2022] [https://sdgs.un.org/topics/small-island-developing-states]
Week 11	Presentations by the students of their 3 chosen possible subjects for their end term paper.
Week 12	Formulation of the research question.
Week 13	Writing the Introduction; structuring the paper.
Week 14	Presenting the next 1000 words.
Week 15	Discussion of writing progress; trouble shooting. Review of the class and the learning experiences.
Week 16	End Term, final paper: provide an original, non-AI composed paper on any subject related to the class of between 4000 – 6000 words, to be provided in print form on the class date to the teacher in class latest by close of class hour. In print only, no digital submission. No late submission allowed.
self-directed learning	02.Viewing multimedia materials related to industry and academia. View 5 (five) related short videos of approximately 15 - 20 minutes each on the subject of the class on YouTube.

Evaluation

Evaluation is based on the teacher’s impression of level of participation and overall performance in the class by the students.
Grades are calculated on the following basis:
40% Class participation through attendance, (group) presentations, assignments, active class work and discussions
30% Midterm paper (1000 - 1500 words) and presentation.
30% Endterm paper (4000 - 6000 words)

Textbook & other References

Materials are multi-disciplinary.
Below is the mandatory before class reading.
Further readings depend on the selection of subjects and will be given by the teacher during the course of the class.

https://sdgs.un.org/goals

https://sdgs.un.org/topics/small-island-developing-states

Adams, R., Martin, S., Boom, K. 2018. University culture and sustainability: Designing and implementing an enabling framework. Journal of Cleaner Production, 171 (2018): 434 – 445;

Kashima, Y. 2019. What is culture for? In D. Matsumoto and H.C. Lawrence (eds.), The handbook of culture and psychology (2nd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press), 123 – 160;

Kashima, Y. 2020. Cultural Dynamics for Sustainability: How Can Humanity Craft Cultures of Sustainability? Current Directions in Psychological Science, 29 (6), 531–537;

Mateson, P. et. al. 2022. Sustainability in Polynesian Island Societies. Chapter 9 of Islands and Cultures, Yale University Press;

Hosagrahar, J. 2017/2023. Culture: at the heart of SDGs. UNESCO Courier. https://courier.unesco.org/en/articles/culture-heart-sustainable-development-goals;

Hangzhou-Declaration: https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/hlg/Hangzhou-Declaration/;

UCLG: Culture is the fouth pillar of sustainable development, 2010.https://www.agenda21culture.net/documents/culture-the-fourth-pillar-of-sustainability

Work, C. (as yet unpublished). The Royal We.

Teaching Aids & Teacher's Website

TBA

Office Hours

TBA

Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs(Link URL)

04.Quality Education 13.Climate Action 16.Peace and Justice 17.Partnerships for the Goals

include experience courses：N

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Update Date, year/month/day：2026/01/20 14:24:25	Printed Date, year/month/day：2026 / 3 / 10
The second-hand book website：http://www.myub.com.tw/