Overview
A critical examination of contemporary global development processes, with an emphasis on the implications for countries of the global South.
This paper introduces the range of debates concerning the historical and present conditions of the geographies of the developing world, or what are often referred to as the countries of the Global South. By focusing upon the issues that are significant in the ongoing transformation of postcolonial countries, this paper encourages students to critically explore processes of Sustainable Development policy and practice. The course co-ordinator has extensive field research experience in a great number of different contexts in the Global South, including in South and Southeast Asia, from small remote villages to booming metropolises, and these will be drawn upon throughout the paper. Innovative teaching methods used in this paper include extensive use of documentary films and multimedia and specially prepared tutorial guides to help guide reading and analysis.
About this paper
| Paper title | Geographies of Global Development and Sustainability |
|---|---|
| Subject | Geography |
| EFTS | 0.15 |
| Points | 18 points |
| Teaching period | Not offered in 2026 (On campus) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees ( NZD ) | $1,318.20 |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Prerequisite
- 54 GEOG points
- Restriction
- GEOG 228
- Schedule C
- Arts and Music, Science
- Contact
- geography@otago.ac.nz
- Teaching staff
Course Co-ordinator: Associate Professor Doug Hill
- Paper Structure
The paper is divided into sections that reflect major prominent themes in the study of Global Development and Sustainability, including:
- Geographies of Development
- Urban and economic geography
- Rural development and Poverty Alleviation
- Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation
- Geographies of water and environment
- Disaster Risk Reduction
- Energy Transitions
- Migration and Mobilities
- Teaching Arrangements
Two 50-minute lectures and one 50-minute tutorial per week.
- Textbooks
- There is no set textbook for this paper. Instead, there is a course reader that contains recommended readings for each week, as well as a range of other resources.
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
- Global Perspective, Communication, Critical Thinking, Ethics, Environmental Literacy, Information Literacy, Research, Self-Motivation, Teamwork.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes. - Learning Outcomes
1. Understand the historical, social, political, and economic forces that have shaped Development and Sustainability in regions of the Global South, particularly South Asian countries.
2. Understand the complexity and the diversity of different approaches to Global Development and Sustainability. By using key themes and concepts in human geography, critically examine the way that different approaches to Development affects different sectors and social groups in countries of South Asia.
3. Develop critical writing and analytical skills through essays, group exercises, examinations and participation in tutorial discussions
4. Be familiar with the major theoretical debates on development policy and practice
5. Be able to identify a range of major socioeconomic processes underway in India at a variety of scales
6. Understand how different sub-disciplines of human geography can be used to interrogate India's development issues at a variety of scales
- Assessment details
Assessment is 60% internal (on-going during the semester) and 40% external (final examination)
Overview
A critical examination of contemporary global development processes, with an emphasis on the implications for countries of the global South.
This paper introduces the range of debates concerning the historical and present conditions of the geographies of the developing world, or what are often referred to as the countries of the Global South. By focusing upon the issues that are significant in the ongoing transformation of postcolonial countries, this paper encourages students to critically explore processes of sustainable development policy and practice. The course co-ordinator has extensive field research experience in a great number of different contexts in the Global South, including in South and Southeast Asia, from small remote villages to booming metropolises, and these will be drawn upon throughout the paper. Innovative teaching methods used in this paper include extensive use of documentary films and multimedia and specially prepared tutorial guides to help guide reading and analysis.
About this paper
| Paper title | Geographies of Global Development and Sustainability |
|---|---|
| Subject | Geography |
| EFTS | 0.15 |
| Points | 18 points |
| Teaching period | Semester 2 (On campus) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for 2027 have not yet been set |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Prerequisite
- 54 GEOG points
- Restriction
- GEOG 228
- Schedule C
- Arts and Music, Science
- Contact
- geography@otago.ac.nz
- Teaching staff
Course Co-ordinator: Associate Professor Doug Hill
- Paper Structure
The paper is divided into sections that reflect major prominent themes in the study of Global Development and Sustainability, including:
- Geographies of Development
- Urban and economic geography
- Rural development and Poverty Alleviation
- Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation
- Geographies of water and environment
- Disaster Risk Reduction
- Energy Transitions
- Migration and Mobilities
- Teaching Arrangements
Two 50-minute lectures and one 50-minute tutorial per week.
- Textbooks
There is no set textbook for this paper. Instead, there is a course reader that contains recommended readings for each week, as well as a range of other resources.
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
- Global Perspective, Communication, Critical Thinking, Ethics, Environmental Literacy, Information Literacy, Research, Self-Motivation, Teamwork.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes. - Learning Outcomes
- Understand the historical, social, political and economic forces that have shaped development and sustainability in regions of the Global South, particularly South Asian countries.
- Understand the complexity and the diversity of different approaches to global development and sustainability. By using key themes and concepts in human geography, critically examine the way that different approaches to development affects different sectors and social groups in countries of South Asia.
- Develop critical writing and analytical skills through essays, group exercises, examinations and participation in tutorial discussions.
- Be familiar with the major theoretical debates on development policy and practice.
- Be able to identify a range of major socioeconomic processes underway in India at a variety of scales.
- Understand how different sub-disciplines of human geography can be used to interrogate India's development issues at a variety of scales.
- Assessment details
Assessment is 60% internal (on-going during the semester) and 40% external (final examination)