Economics and Finance

VANESSA GIANNETTI

The course aims to provide the basic knowledge of human-environment relationships, natural resources and their management from a technological, economic and environmental point of view, in order to allow students to understand the importance of resources protection for a sustainable development of the different production fields. At the end of the course, the students must demonstrate to have understood the relationship between natural resources and productive activities development and must be able to assess the importance and the effects of the policies implemented in the sustainable management of resources in the short and long term. The acquired skills concern the environmental system, quality and food safety, water resource management, waste management and energy resources.
Expected learning outcomes can also be declined according to the five Dublin Descriptors, according to the following scheme:
1. Knowledge and understanding: Knowledge of the key concepts of environment system, natural resources (water, energy, minerals and biological resources) and their management to understand the natural systems protection importance in the context of globalization processes and for a sustainable development. Knowledge of the environmental legislative framework, international and community strategies on sustainable development, policy tools and indicators for the environmental protection. Understanding of the relationship between man and environment in the various macro-contexts: social, economic, cultural. Knowledge of the key concepts of sustainability and innovation in agriculture, food safety and quality, sustainable management of water resources and waste management. Knowledge of the key concepts to understand the evolution of the global energy system in view of to a more services-oriented economy transition and a cleaner energy mix. Knowledge of the relationships between the different natural resources analyzed to understand the green evolution of the production systems towards a circular economy. Ability to use the specific language of the covered topics.
2. Applying knowledge and understanding: To be able apply the acquired knowledge in the sustainability field competently and reflexively. To undertake proper conversations in order to raise awareness and promote green attitudes. Ability to analyze the main issues of the human-environment relationships as ecological crisis, environmental risk, biodiversity conservation, waste management, etc. Ability to apply the acquired knowledge in various projects, research, studies, etc.
3. Making judgements: To able to collect and analyze data to study the ecological processes (in environmental, economic and social fields) and for actions implementation on sustainable development. Ability to critical read of documents, reports, texts and evaluation of studies results, research, projects concerning the discipline. Ability to identify the appropriate methods of study and research in relation to different contexts.
4. Communication skills: Ability to explain the main issues related to the environment and the key concepts for sustainable management of natural resources. Ability to use appropriate linguistic terms specific of the discipline. Ability to communicate, to specialists or not, strengths and weaknesses, as well as problems and solutions related to the maintenance of complex and dynamic natural balances for social and economic improvement of the life quality. Students will be invited and encouraged to speak in classroom on the covered topics and, correspondingly, to listen to other point of views in order to accurately learn how to argue on economic-environmental issues.
5. Learning skills: Ability to provide a continuous updating of knowledge through reports, technical documents and scientific publications. To be able to follow the current debates in terms of ever-changing European and national environmental policies. Understanding the importance of field observation and direct experience of the studied processes. To develop the skills to carry on further studies aimed to improve the scientific knowledge for a better understanding of the discipline.

The course aims to provide the basic knowledge of human-environment relationships, natural resources and their management from a technological, economic and environmental point of view, in order to allow students to understand the importance of resources protection for a sustainable development of the different production fields. By the end of the course, students must demonstrate to have understood the relationship between natural resources and the development of productive activities and they must be able to assess the importance and the effects of the policies implemented in the sustainable management of resources in the short and long terms. The acquired skills concern the environmental system, quality and food safety, water resource management, waste management and energy resources.
Expected learning outcomes can also be declared on the five Dublin Descriptors, according to the following scheme:
1. Knowledge and understanding: Knowledge of the key concepts of the environmental system, natural resources (water, energy, minerals and biological resources) and their management to understand the importance of natural systems protection in the context of globalization processes and for a sustainable development. Knowledge of the environmental legislative framework, international and community strategies on sustainable development, policy tools and indicators for the environmental protection. Knowledge of the key concepts of sustainability and innovation in agriculture, food safety and quality, sustainable management of water resources and waste management. Knowledge of the key concepts to understand the evolution of the global energy system in view of a more services-oriented economy transition and a cleaner energy mix. Understanding of the relationship between man and environment in the various macro-contexts (social, economic, cultural). Ability to understand the specific language of the topics covered in order to interpret reports and documents.
2. Applying knowledge and understanding: To be able to apply the acquired knowledge in the sustainability field competently and reflexively. To undertake proper argumentations in order to raise awareness and promote green attitudes. Ability to apply the acquired knowledge in various projects, research, studies, etc.
3. Making judgments: To able to collect and analyze data to study the ecological processes (in environmental, economic and social fields) and for actions implementation on sustainable development. Ability to a critical reading of documents, reports, texts and evaluation of studies results, research, projects concerning the discipline. Ability to identify the appropriate methods of study and research in relation to different contexts.
4. Communication skills: Ability to explain the main issues related to the environment and the key concepts for sustainable management of natural resources. Ability to use appropriate linguistic terms specific of the discipline. Ability to communicate strengths and weaknesses, as well as problems and solutions related to the maintenance of complex and dynamic natural balances for social and economic improvement of life quality. Students will be invited and encouraged to speak in classroom on the covered topics and, correspondingly, to listen to other points of view in order to learn how to argue on economic-environmental issues.
5. Learning skills: Ability to provide a continuous updating of knowledge through reports, technical documents and scientific publications. To be able to follow the current debates in terms of ever-changing European and national environmental policies. Understanding the importance of field observation and direct experience of the studied processes. To develop the skills to carry on further studies aimed to improve the scientific knowledge for a better understanding of the discipline.

In order to understand the contents of the course and achieve the expected learning outcomes, no specific knowledge is required from the student. Keeping up-to-date on the environmental and social challenges facing the community is highly recommended, as it is a necessary prerequisite for ensuring active participation.

SYLLABUS: Environment system and sustainable development. Sustainability and food security. Sustainable management of water resources. Integrated waste management and packaging waste management. Rare-earth elements (or Green Elements). Global energy system and renewable energy sources.

COURSE UNIT:
2 Intro lessons – 2020 Europe strategy: EU objectives in view of the many factors that have great importance in the present times (social changes, globalization processes, technological innovation, pressures on environment and natural resources, etc.).
10 lessons - Natural resources and natural capital; society-environment relationships; social metabolism approach; agro-industrial system and socio-environmental impacts; relationship among industry, environment and the urban system. Environmental impact and climate change. Evolution of the environment-development relationship: from Kyoto Protocol to the Paris Agreement on climate change. Sustainable development and the new theory of planetary boundaries. Environmental policies and environmental policy tools.
7 lessons - Sustainability and innovation in agriculture; food security approach; evolution of food consumption; Made in Italy and agri-food quality; food law and labeling. The agri-food system and the trend of agricultural commodities.
3 lessons - Availability and water consumption; causes of the increasing of water demand and those of reducing the availability of water resource; management efficiency of water resources; virtual water and water footprint.
5 lessons - Integrated waste management: separate collection and mixed waste collection; urban waste treatments; packaging waste management; food packaging.
2 lessons - The global market in rare-earth elements and the security of supply; environmental issues and recycling.
5 lessons - Energy system: renewable and non-renewable energy sources, global energy issue.
1 final lesson - The green evolution of the production systems towards a circular economy.
1 lesson spared to clarify and further analyse students’ requests on covered topics.

To take the exam, all you need is the teaching materials provided by the professor and available at the "Centro Copie Universitario", Via Borelli 15 - Rome.

All bibliographic sources used for drafting the didactic materials are shown inside.

The course is structured around interactive lectures designed to encourage active student participation and collaborative discussion on the topics covered. Teaching activities will be complemented by the presentation and analysis of audiovisual materials, used to stimulate reflection and provide empirical context for the course content.

Class attendance is strongly recommended. Regular presence in class and active participation in discussions serve as fundamental support for achieving the learning outcomes of the course.

The exam consists of a 40-minute written test designed to assess the acquisition of the knowledge and skills outlined in the course learning outcomes.
The test comprises 25–30 questions covering all the main topics of the syllabus, structured as follows: multiple-choice questions; True/False questions; short open-ended questions.
Attendance and active participation in lectures and class discussions are valued elements that will positively contribute to the final grade.
There are no mid-term exams or early exam sessions. Incoming international exchange students will be assessed using the same examination methods.

The multiple-choice questions will focus on all the macro topics covered in the course.