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SOC41160

Academic Year 2026/2027

Sustainable Solutions and Applied Social Change (SOC41160)

Subject:
Sociology
College:
Social Sciences & Law
School:
Sociology
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
10
Module Coordinator:
Dr Marta Eichsteller
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This module introduces students to an original analytical framework for understanding and designing responses to major global challenges, including inequality, climate change, forced displacement, and political violence. Drawing on the PACT constellation framework, which systematically integrates Policy, Activism, Commerce, and Transformative Innovations as co-producers of social solutions, students develop the capacity to analyse complex social problems from multiple stakeholder positions and to evaluate the strengths and limitations of different intervention strategies.
The module situates applied social change within a critical sociological perspective, asking not only what works, but for whom, under what conditions, and with what unintended consequences. Students engage with real-world case studies drawn from international development, sustainability, and social policy, and work toward independent project proposals that connect theoretical frameworks to practical change strategies.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:

• Apply the PACT constellation framework (Policy, Activism, Commerce, Transformative Innovations) to analyse responses to global social challenges from multiple stakeholder perspectives.
• Critically evaluate existing solutions to social problems, identifying their theoretical assumptions, evidence base, and structural limitations.
• Synthesise academic literature with policy documents, activist manifestos, and business case studies to produce integrative applied analyses.
• Design an evidence-informed social change intervention, articulating its rationale, target population, theory of change, and evaluation approach.
• Communicate complex sociological arguments to diverse audiences, adapting register and format for academic, policy, and public contexts.
• Reflect critically on the ethical and political dimensions of social intervention, including questions of power, representation, and unintended consequences.

Indicative Module Content:

Exploring Global Solutions module will cover the following topics:

1. Relation between problem-based and solution-based approaches to social change on the global and local scale;
2. Introduction to AABP (academic-activist-business-policy) approach;
3. Cases studies in global solutions:
*Scientific innovations
*Business models
*Problem-driven policies and structural reforms
*People-based social change
4. Designing student project.

UNESCO highlights a set of key competencies that support individuals in their development and support society in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UCD has adapted these competencies and is combining them with others to form a general framework of learning competencies. This module will help you develop the competencies below to the levels specified. 
Learning Competency Additional Information Level

Collaboration

 The ability to learn from others; to understand and respect the needs, perspectives and actions of others (empathy); to understand, relate to and be sensitive to others (empathic leadership); to deal with conflicts in a group; and to facilitate collaborative and participatory problem solving. Competent

Critical Thinking

 The ability to question norms, practices and opinions; to reflect on one’s own values, perceptions and actions. Proficient

Systems Thinking

 The ability to recognize and understand relationships; to analyse complex systems; to think of how systems are embedded within different domains and different scales; and to deal with uncertainty. Proficient

Strategic

 The ability to collectively develop and implement innovative actions that further sustainability at the local level and further afield. Proficient

Integrated Problem Solving

 The overarching ability to apply different problem-solving frameworks to complex sustainability problems and develop viable, inclusive and equitable solution options that promote sustainable development, integrating the competencies in this list. Proficient

Self-awareness

 The ability to reflect on one’s own role in the local community and (global) society; to continually evaluate and further motivate one’s actions; and to deal with one’s feelings and desires. Proficient

Digital Literacy and Judgement

 The ability to access, evaluate, create and communicate information in digital environments; to engage critically, ethically and responsibly with digital technologies and digital information; to understand their opportunities, limitations, risks and impact on individual’s digital identities; and to exercise informed judgement in digital participation and decision-making. Competent

AI Literacy & Agency

 The ability to understand, critically evaluate and responsibly engage with artificial intelligence; to recognise how AI systems are shaped by human values; to assess their ethical, social and environmental implications; and to exercise human judgement, agency and accountability in AI-related contexts. Competent

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Autonomous Student Learning

228
Lectures

22
Total

250

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
This module will follow a face-to-face lecture/workshop format. It will include lectures, discussions as well as creative assignments that deepen the global challenges and corresponding case studies of global solutions.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade Component repeat (in-module) Offered
Assignment(Including Essay): Essay on theoretical aspects of social change and social problems and search for social solutions. Week 8 Graded No
50
 No
Individual Project: Analysis of Individual case study Week 12 Graded No
50
 No

As part of UCD's student support, under the Additional Consideration policy, extensions may be available for the following assessments in the module: Assignment (including essay/poster), Portfolio, Reflective Assignment, Report(s), and Individual Project.


Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback will be provided on assessed coursework as individual comments published in the VLE, in group sessions at lectures/seminars, and/or in person during office hours as appropriate.

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Tues 11:00 - 12:50
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