Making Sense of Complexity: Tools for Addressing Real World Sustainability Challenges (G6103)

15 credits, Level 5

Spring teaching

On this module, you’ll explore systems thinking – a powerful approach to tackling complex, real-world challenges across sectors.

You’ll work on a live sustainability issue identified by a local organisation. Through this, you’ll:

• learn how social and ecological systems interact
• learn to apply qualitative and quantitative methods to understand and address the challenge
• work collaboratively to design strategies that meet diverse needs, enhance possibilities and avoid unintended harm.

You’ll gain hands-on experience of systems tools used by government, charities and public sector organisations. There is also participatory workshops, data integration and case studies from Sussex researchers.

You’ll explore how data and modelling can support – but not replace – human insight and stakeholder engagement to solve difficult societal problems.

Contact hours and workload

This module is approximately 150 hours of work. This breaks down into about 33 hours of contact time and about 117 hours of independent study. The University may make minor variations to the contact hours for operational reasons, including timetabling requirements.

We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2026/27. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum.

We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.