The Institute for Social Science Research at The University of Queensland has claimed an international Award for Excellence from the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network.
The award was received for ISSR’s UQx massive open online course (MOOC) on ‘Critical Development Perspectives’ instructed by Professor Mark Moran. It was one of only three MOOCs to be recognised internationally for excellence by the SDG Academy and UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) in New York. The Awards for Excellence recognise courses that demonstrate expert knowledge and leadership, are artfully presented, highly engaging, exemplify stellar commitment to UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and build knowledge and capacity around SDG implementation.
The ‘Critical Development Perspectives’ MOOC is part of ISSR’s MicroMasters of Leadership in Global Development. While there is an array of different arguments about what development is and how development can be achieved, this course enables leaders in development to understand, appreciate, evaluate and broker between differing and sometimes conflicting perspectives and ideas. It develops skills in critical thinking and analysis and also introduces some of the contemporary debates and current challenges facing development practice. The wide variety of topics provides a sense of the diversity of issues that development encapsulates, and learners are encouraged to reflect on their own ideas and practice, and share their perspectives with others and the course team.
The Awards for Excellence announcement comes on the eve of the SDG Summit to be held at the UN Headquarters in New York on 24 and 25 September. It also coincides with ISSR re-launching its Science and Practice of Sustainable Development MOOC.
