Sustainable Development, 7.5 ECTS

This course offers a comprehensive introduction to sustainable development, exploring key concepts such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals, climate change, circular economy, and life cycle thinking—equipping students with the tools to understand and communicate sustainability challenges and solutions.

WISE Research School offers one mandatory course, “WISE PhD course: Sustainable Development”, 7.5 ECTS, which is exclusive for WISE Research School. The course is given once every year. The course is given through Zoom and KTH Canvas. No travelling is required.

The maximum number of participants is 40. We recommend that you take the course during the first half of your doctoral training.

The next installment of this course will start on October 21, 2025. For information about the schedule, please read here.

The course covers the history of sustainable development and introduces the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a focus on understanding their synergies and trade-offs. It explores the three dimensions of sustainability—environmental, social, and economic—while examining key concepts such as planetary boundaries and climate change. Students will gain insight into life cycle thinking, life cycle assessment, circular economy principles, and sustainable business models. Throughout the course, students will develop their presentation and communication skills through writing assignments, peer review, and oral presentations.