Course: Social Ecology of Local Rural Systems

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Course title Social Ecology of Local Rural Systems
Course code KBE/019
Organizational form of instruction Lecture + Lesson
Level of course Bachelor
Year of study not specified
Frequency of the course In each academic year, in the summer semester.
Semester Summer
Number of ECTS credits 4
Language of instruction English
Status of course unspecified
Form of instruction Face-to-face
Work placements This is not an internship
Recommended optional programme components None
Course availability The course is available to visiting students
Lecturer(s)
  • Straková Jitka, Mgr.
Course content
Content of lectures: Basic concepts of socio-ecology (block seminar in Vienna); Social ecology of farming systems, transition from agrarian to industrial farming systems, human time use as a biophysical variable, material and energy flows, time use, land-use in a rural system (block seminar in Klikov, Czech Republic). Content of practicals: Analysing data sheets on time-use, energy, and materials of different communities, field work including interviews in Klikov, presenting results and build rapport in group works.

Learning activities and teaching methods
Dialogic (discussion, interview, brainstorming), Excursion
  • Field trip - 8 hours per semester
  • Class attendance - 56 hours per semester
  • Preparation for classes - 40 hours per semester
Learning outcomes
The course aims to provide insights and methodological training in studying local communities through the use of social ecological field methods, and interpret the results within the framework of sustainability and development studies. Taking a systems perspective, the students are encouraged to look at rural systems as coupled socio-ecological systems with land, labour and technology as relevant variables. Participants also learn to design innovative field methods of generating data that provides relevant information on the functioning of local rural systems (supplemented by interviews) such as material and energy flows, time use, land-use, and to estimate quantities of society's stocks such as population, livestock, land, artefacts around which flows are organised. Moreover students learn and experience how to establish contact, build rapport and interact in a culturally sensitive way.
Undertsanidng of socio-ecologic principles Undersanding of methods for local rural system studying Ability to collaborate with students from different disciplines
Prerequisites
Intermediate English skills Willingness to group work Active participation in discussion (inseparable part of the lessons)

Assessment methods and criteria
Seminar work, Interim evaluation

Active knowledge of English Group work
Recommended literature
  • Fischer-Kowalski, M., & Haberl, H., 2007. Socioecological transitions and global change: Trajectories of social metabolism and land use (Eds.), Cheltenham, UK, Northampton, USA: Edward Elgar..
  • Fischer-Kowalski, M., Singh, S.J., Ringhofer, L., Grünbühel, C.M., Lauk, C., Remesch,.
  • Kušová D., Těšitel J., Bartoš M. (2009): Biosphere reserves as learning sites for sustainable development (a case study of the Czech Republic). In: Linda R. Elling (Ed.). Social Development. New York, Nova Publishers: 87-124..
  • Singh, S.J., Ringhofer, L., Haas, W., Krausmann, F., Fischer-Kowalski, M., 2010. Local.


Study plans that include the course
Faculty Study plan (Version) Category of Branch/Specialization Recommended year of study Recommended semester