JJ13342: MPU3342 - Critical Perspectives on Sustainability

Module code: JJ13342

Module provider: 17³Ô¹ÏÍø Malaysia

Credits: 0

Level: 4

When you’ll be taught: Triple Presentation: S1, S2, & S12

Module convenor: Ms Siti Nur Zahara Hamzah, email: s.hamzah@reading.edu.my

Module co-convenor: Professor May Tan-Mullins, email: m.tan-mullins@reading.edu.my

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2025/6

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 3 March 2026

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module introduces students to sustainability through a critical and interdisciplinary lens through interaction and collaboration across schools. It introduces foundational knowledge on sustainability and discusses competing arguments, critiques and challenges, and ethical dilemmas surrounding sustainability in relation to the economy, environment, society, and politics. Students will critically analyse dominant sustainability discourses, evaluate policy responses, and explore alternative perspectives.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Develop knowledge and understanding of critical sustainability issues
2. Analyse major sustainability challenges in terms of society, economy, and environment
3. Demonstrate critical thinking and ability to synthesise knowledge through the lens of sustainability

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The module aims to encourage the development of written communication skills. Students will also develop critical thinking skills by reviewing, discussing, and criticising relevant articles, news, policies, and ideologies related to sustainability.

Module content

• Introduction to Sustainability
• Sustainability and the Economy                                                
• Sustainability, Society, and the Environment                                                
• Environmental Justice and Inequality                                                
• Environmental Governance and Power                                                        
• Technology, Innovation, and Sustainability                                                   
• Critical Perspectives on Sustainable Development                                                  
• Case Studies & Projects on Rural Sustainable Development (indigenous perspectives)
• The Future of Sustainability

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Lectures and tutorials with two contact hours per week (or four when being delivered intensively), with project work to complete between sessions.  

Students studying at the Malaysian campus will be required to complete a total of 80 hours (inclusive of 30 hours of independent study) for this module to successfully graduate from the 17³Ô¹ÏÍø Malaysia campus in satisfaction with the Malaysian regulatory credit requirements.

This module is taught three times to three different cohorts of students - first in Semester 1 and then repeated in Semester 2 and in the Summer. The study hours are listed for the first iteration of teaching in Semester 1, and these same study hours are repeated for the second iteration of teaching in Semester 2, and the third iteration of teaching in the Summer. 

Study hours

At least 20 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each calendar day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three calendar days;
• where the piece of work is submitted up to three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in you Individual Learning Plan), the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three calendar days of the deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

Where a piece of work is submitted late after a deadline which has been revised owing to an extension granted through the Assessment Adjustments policy and process (self-certified or otherwise), it will be subject to the maximum penalty (i.e., considered to be more than three calendar days late). This will also apply when such an extension is used in conjunction with a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: /cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Discussions and readings in class will be used to provide peer and tutor’s feedback.

Reassessment

Additional costs