Sustainable Development

Overview

The Sustainable Development programme from KU Leuven is research driven and mindful of ethics, gender and diversity. It offers a transversal core programme on sustainable development and two tracks of specialisation: a Space & Society track and an Ecology track. The distinctive strength of this master’s programme is an interdisciplinary character that bridges societal and ecological sustainability challenges while engaging with real-world settings, localities and communities.

The common core involves the building up and integration of fundamental expertise in sustainable development, including theory, methodology and practical applications in both ecology and social science. It comprises academic levelling training, courses covering different sustainability aspects, the formulation of an individual research portfolio, as well as a field trip in the Global South, an internship and a thesis.

The Space & Society track focuses on the societal component of sustainability transition, including social, economic, political and cultural dimensions. The Ecology track focuses on both the conser vation of biodiversity and the sustainable use of biodiversity at all organisational levels (species, genes and ecosystems). Integration between both tracks will mainly be done through sustainable development practice at the local community level.

Career perspectives

Career perspectives for alumni can be found in all sectors where sustainable development actions are being implemented at the local, national and international level. These include NGOs, civil society organisation, private enterprises, government admini strations, multi ¬lateral organisations, universities and research centres.