Background

Highlights of the Programme

Humanity faces many overlapping crises of environmental sustainability, including climate change as the result of human-caused emissions of greenhouse gases, massive environmental pollution, loss of biodiversity, the depletion of natural resources including energy (oil, gas, coal) and groundwater. Sustainable development is the only viable path for humanity and Sustainability Science is an emerging discipline that seeks to understand the fundamental characters of interactions between nature and society to accommodate sustainable development.

It is observed that the lack of integration across sectors in terms of strategies, policies and implementation has long been perceived as one of the main pitfall of previous approaches to sustainable development. It will be achieved if it is build with a shared focus on environmental, social and economic goals. Developing countries like India have their own internal challenges of balancing growth and environmental sustainability; vulnerabilities to adverse trends such as climate change; and rising geopolitical roles, regionally and globally. Therefore, the member States of United Nations, following a decision taken at the Rio+20 conference proposed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to succeed the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) as reference goals for the international community for the period 2015-2030. Achieving SDGs requires establishing proactive approaches involving universities, governmental and non governmental organizations for producing group of leaders who can integrate the overlapping issues of common goal sustainability. Educational programme like MASS will ensure capacity building, and skill development in the field of Sustainability Science. 

• • MASS is one of the innovative programmes of IGNOU offered through ODL mode utilising multiple media such as self-instructional print materials, information and communication technologies and personal contact sessions. The programme aims at promoting professional development and capacity building in the area of Sustainability Science and Sustainable Development. It is meant for any graduate and others with higher qualification who is presently employed or not i.e. it is for both in-service and pre-service persons. 

  • The MASS programme mainly focuses on the genesis and principles of sustainable development, its tools, implementation and assessment strategies in a holistic way. The basics of natural resource management, ecological economics, global and local efforts for sustainable development through good governance, law and policy are integrated in an academic framework so that students are able to understand the tools and techniques in developing and implementing sustainable development projects. The programme also takes care of India’s  initiatives and commitment to sustainable development.

  • The National Education Policy 2020 aims to provide holistic and multidisciplinary education to the learners at higher education. The M.A. in Sustainability Science is a step in this direction. The Programme is also in line with NEP 2020 in terms of lateral entry and multiple entry and exit points.