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SUSTAINABLE RURAL SYSTEMS
ADANELLA ROSSI
Academic year2023/24
CourseSUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS
Code571GG
Credits6
PeriodSemester 1
LanguageEnglish

ModulesAreaTypeHoursTeacher(s)
SUSTAINABLE RURAL SYSTEMSAGR/01LEZIONI64
ADANELLA ROSSI unimap
Syllabus not available in selected language
Learning outcomes
Knowledge

The course aims to provide tools for: understanding features and dynamics that affect rural areas and influence their evolutionary processes; acquiring knowledge of spaces and modes of sustainability of rural systems; acquiring skills on methodologies to support the development of sustainable rural systems; understanding the role played by policies in sustainable development processes in rural areas.

Assessment criteria of knowledge

The assessment of the knowledge acquired by the students over the course will take place through:
- collective discussions on the issues developed during classes
- exercises (individual and in group) on the issues developed during classes

Skills

At the end of the course, students will:
- be able to understand and analyse the characteristics and dynamics that affect the rural areas and rural development processes
- be able to identify and critically analyse spaces and modes of sustainability of rural systems
- have skills on methodologies to support the development of sustainable rural systems
- be able to understand the role played by policies in sustainable development processes in rural areas

Assessment criteria of skills

Students are expected to show:
- analytical skills with respect to the issues addressed
- ability to investigate specific issues and carry out small surveys
- ability to prepare and present a report that documents the results of the activities carried out

Behaviors

Students will:
- acquire and/or develop awareness and criticism with respect to the issues addressed
- be able to argue in collective discussions
- be able to manage specific investigations autonomously
- be able to cooperate in carrying out specific investigations within a work group

Assessment criteria of behaviors

Students will be monitored in classroom activities (active participation in the classroom works, availability for collective discussion, availability to carry out work) as well as through the evaluation of the quality of the work carried out, individually and in groups.

Prerequisites

Attendance at lessons is encouraged and highly recommended. No requirements are needed for attending the course, although direct knowledge of rural reality can help. Interest for a critical reflection on the issues addressed is expected.

Teaching methods

The course will include the following:
- lectures with visual aids such as power-points and videos, all downloadable from e-learning, and approaches aimed at stimulating active participation by students
- collective discussion on documents or videos (downloadable from e-learning)
- individual and group exercises on specific topics (in the classroom)
- individual and group exercises on specific topics (autonomous work)
- individual interaction with the teacher through e-mail and Teams

Syllabus

1 - The approach to sustainable rural systems

  • Adoption of a systemic perspective: variety of components involved in the development of rural systems; interdependencies among different components; the social-ecological system approach
  • Understanding the dimension of rurality: evolution of the concept/condition of ‘rural’; evolution of the rural development models; actors/networks in rural areas and processes developed over time
  • The multiple dimensions of sustainability in rural areas: meaning, components and dynamics of sustainability; contribution from other concepts (resilience, adaptation, transformation, transition, one health approach). Interdependencies and trade-offs; sustainability as a socially constructed and political concept

2 - Sustainable development in rural areas

  • The spaces of rural system sustainable development - production of goods, provision of services (ecosystem services, multifunctional agriculture) in changing environments (new paradigms, new priorities), creation of material and immaterial conditions for community well-being: food re-localisation; greening of farming; valorisation of bio-cultural heritage elements; rural tourism and recreation services; environmental services; agrobiodiversity management; connectivity; digitalisation; building of new culture and shared identity; community well-being and resilience
  • The processes underlying sustainable resource management in multi-actor arenas: shared acknowledgement and evaluation of existing resources and multidimensional expectations; definition/negotiation of shared visions and future-oriented approaches; resource mobilisation, enhancement; development of an active role in interaction with other spaces
  • The support of development processes: techniques of animation for supporting empowering processes and designing and implementing local strategies; interdisciplinary, transdisciplinary and participatory approaches

3 - Innovation processes in agriculture and rural areas

  • Forms of innovation: technological, organisational, institutional, social and policy innovation
  • Models, actors and modes of innovation management: push/pull demand models; social innovation; innovation networks; AKIS
  • Support for innovation processes: interdisciplinary, transdisciplinary and participatory approaches; role of intermediaries

4 - Organisational models and governance in rural areas

  • New organisational/development models in rural areas: districts, enterprise networks, community cooperatives, food communities, community supported agriculture and other forms of reconnection around rural bio-cultural resources; their potential for sustainability transition
  • New forms of governance: multi-level, polycentric, democratic governance enabling tailor-made, place-based and integrated policy solutions. Critical aspects involved in implementing rural-urban governance systems.

5 - The role of public policies

  • Evolution of the CAP and related rural development policies
  • Other policies relevant to rural areas and their sustainable development processes
  • The new framework of the long-term vision for the EU rural areas up to 2040 (Rural Pact and EU Rural Action Plan)
  • The adoption of integrated approaches (policy mix)
Bibliography

Reading materials will be provided during the class.

Assessment methods

Students will be evaluated on the basis of the results of:
- one or more group works, whose topics and modalities will be agreed with the teacher;
- a final, individual written test on the topics developed in class.
Both of them will be evaluated taking into account the ability to address the specific themes, in relation to the concepts involved, and the use of an appropriate terminology. The final evaluation will be the result of a weighted average between the evaluation of the exercises and of the written test.

Updated: 31/01/2024 22:22