Economics and Finance

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.