Territorial Systems and Local Development | Università degli Studi di Milano Statale

A.Y. 2024/2025

Max ECTS

Overall hours

SSD

M-GGR/01

Language

Italian

Included in the following degree programmes

Analysis, Planning and Sustainable Management of Land and Territory (Classi LM-48/LM-80)-Enrolled from 2022/23 Academic Year to 2023/2024 Academic Year

Analysis, Planning and Sustainable Management of Land and Territory (Classi LM-48/LM-80)-Enrolled from 2024/25 Academic Year

Learning objectives

The general objective is to provide students with theoretical knowledge and practical skills for the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of sustainable local development projects.
The specific objective of the first part is to introduce the theory of systems and complexity.
The second part of the course aims to address in detail the theoretical and operational models of local development.
The specific objective of the third part is to present the tools with concrete situations that will allow them to apply the information learned.

Expected learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student should know the basic elements of systems theory, confidently master the subject of local development and its application in the management of territories.
Finally, the student should be able to design, monitor and evaluate local development projects.

Lesson period: First semester

Lessons timetable

Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi

Exams calendar

Single course

This course can be attended as a single course.

Take a single course

Course syllabus and organization

Single session

Responsible

Bini Valerio

Lesson period

First semester

The lectures will take place in presence.
In case of specific emergencies, a blended mode will be activated, with simultaneous streaming (Teams).
Students will find all the information to access the lessons (links etc.), any changes in the program or in the reference material (bibliography etc.) on the Ariel teaching site.
If it is not possible to take the exam in presence, the exam will be held in telematic form in ways that will be communicated on the Ariel teaching site at the end of the course.

Course syllabus

During the first part, the course will focus on defining the basic concepts of system theory and complexity theory as they relate to the social sciences in general and geography in particular.
In the second part, lectures will introduce the topic of local development and the relationship between local communities, environment and 'territory'. In this phase, the main public policies and private strategies that aim to combine local development and environmental protection and the main problems associated with their implementation will be presented.
The last part of the course will delve into the topic of the initiatives aimed at offsetting carbon emissions (compliance market, voluntary market, 'Nature Based Solutions', ...), illustrating the general characteristics of the sector and analyzing specific projects already implemented or in progress.

Prerequisites for admission

The course is aimed at students enrolled in the second year of the master's degree program in "Analysis, planning and sustainable management of land and territory".
Knowledge of the basic concepts of human geography is required.

Teaching methods

The course aims to combine theoretical analysis with practical examples of contemporary problems and development policies. To this end, during the lectures various tools will be used (presentations, maps, short videos, policy documents, ...) that help understanding the complexity of the processes presented.
The teacher intends to stimulate the active participation of the students in order to encourage the emergence of a critical approach to the subject.
Some lectures will be specifically devoted to classroom work on academic papers and technical documents related to the course topics.

Teaching Resources

Attending students
- Meadows D. (2019), Pensare per sistemi, Guerini. (English edition available)
- Magnaghi A. (2020), Il principio territoriale, Bollati Boringhieri (Non Italian-speaking students can ask the teacher for an alternative text in English or French).
- United Nations Environment Programme (2022). Nature-based Solutions: Opportunities and Challenges for Scaling Up. Nairobi. (https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/40783/nature_based_solutions.pdf?sequence=3&isAllowed=y)
- Contents of the lectures

Non-attending students
- Meadows D. (2019), Pensare per sistemi, Guerini. (English edition available)
- Magnaghi A. (2020), Il principio territoriale, Bollati Boringhieri (Non Italian-speaking students can ask the teacher for an alternative text in English or French).
- United Nations Environment Programme (2022). Nature-based Solutions: Opportunities and Challenges for Scaling Up. Nairobi. (https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/40783/nature_based_solutions.pdf?sequence=3&isAllowed=y)
- Robert C. Brears, 2022. Financing Nature-Based Solutions. Exploring Public, Private, and Blended Finance Models and Case Studies. Palgrave.

Assessment methods and Criteria

The final grade will consist of the weighted average of three factors: classroom work, project writing, and the oral exam.
- Classroom work will involve the collective reading and discussion of academic and operational papers related to the course topic.
- During the course, working groups will be formed to proceed with the writing of a development project in the environmental sector.
- The oral exam aims to evaluate the knowledge of the program's topics, the clarity in the presentation of complex processes and the ability to critically interpret the topics presented.

M-GGR/01 - GEOGRAPHY - University credits: 9

Lessons: 72 hours

Professor: Bini Valerio

Educational website(s)

Sistemi territoriali e sviluppo locale (a.a. 2024/25)

Professor(s)

Bini Valerio

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