Environmental Collaborative Processes
Objectives
Students will develop the following knowledge, skills and competences:
- Know the key aspects and conceptual frameworks supporting collaborative decision-making processes;
- Understand the characteristics and know the trends underlying the complexity of environmental and sustainability decisions;
- Understand the key concepts underpinning the operationalization of active stakeholder participation, conflict resolution and consensus building;
- Capacity to apply methods and tools for stakeholder identification, selection and engagement;
- Capacity to select and apply different methods and tools for stakeholder engagement in environmental decisions;
- Know the fundamentals of participatory modeling approaches and capacity to implement such processes;
- Know how to evaluate outputs and outcomes of knowledge co-creation processes supporting environmental decision-making.
General characterization
Code
12679
Credits
3.0
Responsible teacher
Nuno Miguel Ribeiro Videira Costa
Hours
Weekly - 2
Total - 28
Teaching language
Português
Prerequisites
N/A
Bibliography
- Antunes et al., 2015. Using participatory system dynamics in env. and sustainability dialogues in Ruth,M eds Handbook of Research Meth. and Appl. in Env. Studies, Edward Elgar.
- Caser, U; Vasconcelos, L., 2017. A Fatal Eight Final Stories mediators tell Love&Parker ed American Bar Association,311-326.
- Faget,J., 2015. Mediations: les ateliers silencieux de la démocratie ERES.
- Gray,S. et al ed., 2017. Env. Modelling with Stakeholders. Springer.
Teaching method
This course employs innovative techniques of teaching inspired by Dewey and Freire, aiming to turn the student into an active agent, privileging a “hands on” approach to complement an exposition teaching mode. He/she is encouraged to analyze/interpret/debate/reflect/explore real world cases, applying quantitative/qualitative methodologies learned, consolidating acquired knowledge and creating competences in its use, tutorially supported by the faculty. In-class workshops promote the development of student competences in the application of the participatory methods and tools lectures in this course. Course evaluation integrates one test (30%) or exam (30%) and a group project (70%) developed for a real-world case throughout the semester, combining the components of stakeholder analysis, interpretation of participatory process, participatory modelling and proposal of collaborative knowledge co-creation approach.
Evaluation method
70% group project and 30% (or exam)
Subject matter
1. Environmental governance: formal and informal democratic structures. Legal framework for participation. The role of public administration;
2. Theory and practice of interactive methodologies and collaborative participation (3rd generation): a) identification and assessment of key actors, their interests and perceptions; b) Stakeholder mapping, relationship and conflict networks; c) Conflict assessment and consensus building; d) Facilitation techniques, negotiation and environmental mediation – principles and practical applications. Information, communication and involvement of citizens, NGO and the private sector. Integration of collaborative methods in studies/plans/projects;
3. Methods and tools for participation and stakeholder engagement. Participatory modelling: fundamentals, approaches and case studies. Evaluation of participatory processes;
4. New forms of citizenship and knowledge co-creation with stakeholders - the role of environmental engineers.