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Learner Reviews & Feedback for The Sustainable Development Goals – A global, transdisciplinary vision for the future by University of Copenhagen

4.8
stars
4,324 ratings

About the Course

In 2015, the UN launched the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Adopted by 193 member states, the goals represent an important international step in setting humanity on a trajectory towards sustainable development. Within this course, you will get a historical overview of how sustainability has been understood, as well as a thorough introduction to the SDGs – what they are, how progress can be measured, and how the SDGs are relevant for the management of the global systems supporting humanity. The course will examine how various societal actors are responding to and implementing the SDGs. While all of the SDGs are essential to sustainable development, SDG 13, Climate Action, is usually perceived as the most urgent in terms of the need for a swift implementation on a global scale. Therefore, particular focus is given to this SDG. Through the course, you will gain up-to-date knowledge of the current understanding of human impacts on the Earth at the planetary level. Progress towards establishing global management of human interactions with the climate system within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is also discussed. The course is designed and taught by Professor Katherine Richardson, who is a member of the 15-person panel appointed by the UN General Secretary in 2016 to write the 2019 Global Sustainable Development Report. In each lecture, Katherine interviews experts who provide insights relevant to the topic at hand....

Top reviews

JM

Jul 18, 2020

Thank you for offering this course (The Sustainable Development Goals-A global transdisciplinary vision for the future). I have passed it but I am not sure how can i get the certificate at this stage.

JJ

Jul 15, 2020

I loved it, ver interesting and relevant information to the situation we face nowadays! Everyone should take this course to understand that we must evolve as a society to have a better world for all.

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26 - 50 of 1,065 Reviews for The Sustainable Development Goals – A global, transdisciplinary vision for the future

By Sultana J

Mar 5, 2019

I found this course very interesting and i learnt new concepts which will definitely help in the uptake of various interventions related to SDGs. The content of the reading material was so good and selection of guest speakers was remarkable. Many thanks to the course instructor for engaging us with a much needed topic that everyone should be cognizant about. Looking forward for more interesting courses like this one.

By Mohammad K F

Apr 24, 2020

It's a wonderful course indeed. It has described SDGs issues very elaborately and clearly. I liked the facilitator, Katherine Richardson. She spoke very clearly with sufficient pause and she went slowly which has help learners like me who are not very fluent in English. I am thankful to Copenhagen University and relevant faculties for developing such a rich course.

By Odeleye O S

Nov 23, 2019

This course is an eye opener about the happenings around the world. It has broaden my knowledge about the SDGs, it objectives, framework and working principle towards achieveing them. We all are involved and a collective effort of our 'Push' would drive us closer to them. We need to prepare for our better future starting from today.#YesWeCan

By Oluwafemi O

Nov 3, 2018

This course, as methodically taught by Katherine (coupled with the discussions with other collaborators) has opened my eyes as a job seeker and as an intending Masters student to understand what the SDGs mean, why they exist, how they came about, the targets they set in clear terms and what my role is in achieving these goals. I have a deeper purpose for wanting a Masters degree and getting a job, I hope getting an opportunity in these two areas of my endeavour gives me an opportunity to attain these SDGs on the long run.

By Emily Y N N

Feb 28, 2021

I would recommend this course for people who are new to sustainable development and want to look at the issue from different angles. On the other hand, if you're already familiar with sustainability and climate change general information, and are seeking to learn about the real-life sustainability practices and updated solutions to the climate crisis, you should look for more advanced courses. I've written a detailed review below!

What this course can improve:

Go deeper into the issues. I feel like the course is just scratching the surface of everything. The conversations that Dr. Katherine have with other professors are not really informative, maybe because there isn't enough time and space to go deeper into the valuable knowledge that these professors possesses. I find it sometimes tiring to hear again and again the idea that we need to cooperate, that we need to adopt system thinking, etc., without learning about the actual solutions and practices countries like Denmark are doing that make them one of the most sustainable countries.

The research papers provided in the readings are too long and hard compared with the lecture videos, so I find myself skipping through many of them. I think this course can provide more articles instead of too much research papers so that it's more suitable with the level of this course.

I think there needs to be more staff regulating the discussion forums, because many questions are left unanswered and there's not much interactions - everyone just write their own comment and done.

What this course is good at:

It covers the basics of everything well and takes a good holistic approach to sustainability. I would recommend this course for people who are new to sustainable development and want to look at the issue from different angles.

The course brings up lots of interesting information and thought-provoking questions that can serve as catalysts for students to explore more later on, from political events like the COP, to the pioneers in the business sectors, from the questions about scientific research, to that about social inequality.

The instructor of the course, Dr. Katherine Richardson, is a great public speaker with amazing presentation skills, clear and warm voice, and good communication skills with other guests. Simply put, she is a great teacher.

By Amy N

Jan 18, 2022

A good introduction to the topic. However, there is no discussion as to how or whether the goals are achievable, and the course materials are becoming somewhat out of date.

By mads s b

Jul 9, 2018

superb introduction to the SDGs and how they are inter-related and overlapping. A much needed scientific approach to the SDGs and learning about the anthropocene age, and the very inspiring input from the guest lecturers about resilience, doughnut economy and planetary boundaries. A treasure chest for information and insights. On the downside, there was not many "solutions" or opportunities presented within the scope of reaching the goal of Paris Agreement

By ebru d

Aug 15, 2019

I have had a eye-opening, informative and integrated learning experience with the program. The program covers not only a deeper understating of why the SDGs are important but also provided me with a systems approach guideline that I can put in work for the industry I work for. I appreciate the further reading as well as the videos.

By Elias M

Jun 21, 2022

The course is verry sweat and more good for people to learn since it give clear understanding of SDGs and challages in reaching 2030 UN agender and give some solution to the challages which it face

By Levi N P

Oct 31, 2020

Firstly, I like the course because it opens my mind to the general concept of SDGs. Moreover, I like the interview and discussions with experts from universities, stakeholders, etc. the lectures were well structured and the presentations were excellent. The reading materials were helpful and the quizzes were challenging but worth it.

Nevertheless, I believe that most of the lectures focused on goal 13, climate change, more than all the others. My own recommendation would be an explanation of each of the SDGs along with their targets. Let the course be taken for four weeks, where the first week will be used to extensively explain the 17 SDGs. With this knowledge, learners will be able to clearly understand the importance of the SDGs.

By Aparna S

Apr 29, 2020

Including more case studies on implementation mechanisms, as well as an update on where we stand, now, in 2020, five years after the establishment of goals, would make the course more practical.

By Marlene S

Sep 22, 2020

Well structured, easy to follow basics for understanding the SDGs. Less one star, because the content and resources are already a little bit outdated.

By Claudia G

Feb 20, 2019

TIene una muy poca representación femenina, y teniendo el cuenta que el curso habla de los ODS, deja de lado el ODS número 5, que promueve la equidad de género

By Madina K

May 8, 2020

The topic of the course is crucial and very interesting, however, the Professor way of teaching and representing the materials of the course is boring, not inspiring and creative, I find it a bit outdated.

By ishaychuk

Aug 27, 2023

I was sure I could use this for academy credit. I feel cheated :-(.

I guess i learned a valuable lesson, read the fine print.

BTW the etymology reading was terrible.

By Caroline D

Feb 3, 2021

I really enjoyed 'The Sustainable Development Goals - A global, transdisciplinary vision for the future'. Before starting the course, I had a limited knowledge of the SDGs and of the UN as a whole. I had opinions that, after completing the course, I have realized were totally distorted, misconstrued, and untrue. The educational resources I was able to access on the course, including data, links to articles and scientific studies on a range of websites, PDF downloads and booklets, quizzes, and videos, provided me with an accurate, foundational, thorough, and well-rounded basis on which to build and develop my knowledge of the importance of the SDGs and the cooperation, interaction, participation, and unification of nations, both with regards to the SDGs and the relationships they have with eachother. The SDGs represent a vision of which nations can demonstrate a unanimous agreement to develop, implement, and make progress towards a future that promotes the best possible sustainability and outcomes for the whole of humanity.

By Cláudio E C L

Oct 10, 2020

Dear course team.

I would like to say that I am very glad with this SDGs course. I have to say that this is my first choice over all courses on this platform. The topics covered are extremely important to pursue a future in which humanity is able to coexist. The course itself contributed a lot to the development of new perspectives and the adoption of work attitudes needed today, so that the future can be more balanced about the relations between humans and the relations between humanity with the environment and the planet itself. The lessons, readings, videos and tests were very well prepared and are capable of transmitting the necessary knowledge to those who seek to deepen the theme. I also want to point out that Professor Katherine Richardson did an extraordinary job, transmitting the knowledge with firmness and eloquence from only those who are really involved with the topic. Finally, I want to congratulate the whole team. Thank so much!

By Ineta V

Dec 26, 2022

Dear Professor Richardson,

I recently completed your course "The Sustainable Development Goals – A global, transdisciplinary vision for the future" and I wanted to express my sincere gratitude for the valuable knowledge and insights I gained from the course.

I particularly appreciated the videos, expert interviews, and recommended reading materials, which helped me understand the interconnected nature of the SDGs and the challenges of implementing them in practice. I also appreciated the quizzes, which were perfectly aligned with the information shared during the course.

Overall, I rate this course 5/5 and highly recommend it to anyone interested in learning more about the United Nations SDGs and how we can work towards a more sustainable future for all. Your expertise and dedication to the subject is evident and I am grateful for the opportunity to learn from you.

Thank you for creating such a valuable and enjoyable course.

Sincerely,

Ineta V.

By BANG E

Mar 20, 2023

After taking this short course on SDGs, I have a better understanding of how SDGs are a necessity. Previously I did not know planet boundaries as boundaries for the earth system so that it can still support human life, this course really opened my horizons and can provide an overview of how we deal with changes in this Anthropocene era. This course is very worthy of being attended by everyone so that there is awareness that will later be able to contribute to a better life as the goal of the SDGs. Thank you for the knowledge and insight that has been given. In this course I also learned a lot about how the 21st century economy should be managed. A different perspective from Kate W fits perfectly with the current situation where social and ecological challenges have colored our interactions with the earth so that a new approach to the economic system is needed to create a regenerative economy for the continuation of human life on earth.

By Anupama S

Jun 22, 2020

*Those detailed lectures on SDGs and their importance were really helpful and the reading materials after some videos did help a lot.

*Getting to know about the relationship between Resilience and Sustainability was another good score to be added on.

*Those quizzes of Nine questions were helpful enough to think and question myself if I paid much attention to the lectures.

*Opinions coming from different Professors and what measures have had been taken and should be taken, much helped in order for us to understand where we, our countries actually stand and what the purpose of the AGENDA 2030 and also AGENDA 21 really are about.

*About the role of business in SDGs.

Lastly, Thank you Prof. Katherine Richardson for emphasizing on such major topics through your comprehensive lectures but in a precise way and also sharing your knowledge with us. Had a great experience, learning from you.

By Rosemary M N M

Jul 5, 2021

The course has been extremely useful. It has improved my knowledge and undertanding of the Agenda 2030. I had known about the MDGs earlier and i have always wondered why the UN abandoned them and came up with SDGs. I didnot understand how the implementation of 17 SDGs would be possible yet countries seemed not to be very successful in the implementation of MDGs yet they were just 8. This course has helped me understand that the 17 SDGs are very much related and implementation should not be singularly if countries are to attain sustainable develeopment. I have also appreciated more the urgent need for countries, organisations, communities and individuals to play their role to reverse the effects of climate change as a vehicle to achieve Sustainable development. Thank you Coursera Team. It has been worth my time!!!

By Bayenessa G M

Oct 15, 2020

This MOOC has really helped me a lot because I'm currently studying Bachelor of Science major in Sustainable Community Development at our university here in the Philippines and due to the pandemic our university had decided to end our second semester of the year without reaching its actual end of the semester. So basically, I don't understand my previous subject (SCD101 Introduction to sustainable development) which is a pre-requisite to my (SCD102-Social Institution in Philippine Communities) but with the help of this online course and its core subject, I now understand what is Sustainable development. I highly thanks a lot to Professor Katherine Richardson of University of Copenhagen who was behind of this course and of course to DOST-Caraga region who was sponsored me to avail this course.

By Manuel C N

Sep 16, 2020

O curso foi bastante amplo permitindo a compreensão do conteúdo dos ODS, mas essencialmente, a compreensão das causas que levaram à determinação desses objectivos. Por outro lado ficou bastante claro que a metodologia para tratar do desenvolvimento sustentável deve ser profundamente alterada, de maneira a atender as necessidades globais dos seres humanos (direitos humanos fundamentais), bem como a sua interação com o meio ambiente, deixando assim de usar-se as métricas quantitativas tradicionais baseadas nos indicadores de crescimento económico, em especial o PIB. De facto, o curso é um apelo a uma mudança na forma de pensar e de agir de todos os actores do processo de desenvolvimento que partilham, com os mesmos direitos e deveres, o único planeta de que todos dispõem.

By MAGHENDHRAN K P

Aug 4, 2023

It is a very useful and relevant course for todays world and preservation of Mother Earth for future generations. It enlightens us about the 17 SDGs and the importance of cooperation and coordination among various stakeholders, including the Governments, Companies, NGOs, and Public-Private partnerships, to ensure Preservation of Biodiversity, Equitable distribution of limited or scarce resources and wealth of the world, and ultimately the sustenance of human race.

I feel that all leaders should undergo this course to understand the importance and implications of the 17 SDGs, and strive to contribute to the realization of their objectives. I congratulate the Course Director and her team for the excellent work, and wish them success in their endeavor and hard work.

By Rohit J

May 5, 2020

Very informative course..!! SDG should definitely be made a part of curriculum in schools as well as colleges, because when the students are getting ready and building up their sense of right or wrong in their young age, reading and understanding about sustainability in an interesting way will help them inculcate these values easily and without any additional efforts. That's the right age when their conditioning can be done in right direction and they can understand sustainability, living with nature instead of inclining towards capitalism, materialism. As after getting higher education, job and loans,no one can and would like to think about sustainability as they get stuck with their duties and responsibilities.