One of the central features of sustainable development has been the encouragement of a participatory sustainability process. Local Agenda 21 is a significant attempt to address environmental problems at a local level and to encourage local democratic participation in policy decisions. This marks a radical departure from current political practices and from discourses directed by 'experts' who have demonstrated little interest or ability in making those discourses more readily understandable. This module builds on knowledge of the basics of sustainable development and approaches the issues of education and participation in the sustainability process. You will study a number of case studies in which aspects of gender, age, class and ethnicity and their relationship to participatory involvement in sustainable development are highlighted. To this end, you will develop a critical understanding of specific participatory techniques such as citizen juries, focus groups, consensus conferences and stakeholder panels.

1. An understanding of the issues of education and participation at the heart of Local Agenda 21.

2. A general knowledge of LA21 participation and gender, age, class and ethnicity issues.

3. A knowledge of techniques for public education and participation in sustainable development

4. A particular knowledge of an individual case study example of education and participation in LA21

5. Effective intellectual, communication and learning management skills in particular relating to project design and implementation and use of data.

8 hours workshop
112 hours independent study

You will attend a workshop at which you will be introduced to the module content and some of the practicalities of sustainability education and participation, which may include presentations and tasks from some members of the local authority's LA 21 education committee. The workshop will also introduce module themes through the use of video and textual resources. Over subsequent weeks you will then work through self-instructional course material providing a structure for reading key texts and papers and specifying tasks to be completed. This work will be undertaken on an individual basis but at various points you will be expected to interact and share material with other students in a designated learning group.

A networked computer for accessing COSE, web sites and electronic journals
Course texts
Learning pack
www.environment.detr.gov.uk/sustainable/index.htm

Dalal-Clayton, B. and Bass, S. (2002) Sustainable Development Strategies: A Resource Book. International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED).
Knight, B. Chigudu, H. and Tandon, R. (2002) Reviving Democracy. Citizens at the Heart of Governance. (The Commonwealth Foundation), Earthscan, London.

A COURSEWORK -ESSAY length 1000 WORDS weighted at 40%.
A COURSEWORK - SECOND ESSAY length 2500 WORDS weighted at 60%.
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which will be assessed by

A. A discursive essay (2500 words). (1,2, 5)

B. A critical case-study (1000 words). (2,3,4, 5)

Pass criteria
You will demonstrate a sound awareness and understanding of the subject matter. Assignments are expressed reasonably and coherently. Work is academically sound, evidencing focussed observations and acknowledging key questions. There is evidence of sound reading and thorough critical analysis of the available literature.

Distinction criteria
You will demonstrate an excellent awareness and understanding of the subject matter. Assignments are well argued and excellently organized. Work is academically excellent, evidencing perceptiveness, insight and demonstrating creativity and originality. There is evidence of excellent reading, systematic review and thorough critical meta-analysis of the available literature.