This course is designed for bachelor students interested in the historical relationship between economic growth, the environment, and sustainability, and focuses on the concept of the Anthropocene.
Offered in spring 2026, the course takes place in a blended format, combining online activities with an in-person intensive session at the University of Pisa.
Drawing on interdisciplinary perspectives from history, economics, social science, and environmental studies, students explore key transformations such as the Industrial Revolution, colonial resource extraction, the postwar “Great Acceleration,” and current debates on climate change and sustainable growth. By the end of the course, students will be able to critically analyze long-term environmental change, providing a valuable foundation for further academic study and sustainability-oriented careers.
Learning outcomes
The course encourages a comparative approach, interdisciplinarity and collaborative work. It aims to provide students with an insight into the theoretical and practical aspects of sustainable development, while promoting international cooperation.
The course awards 6 ECTS credits to participants.
Admission to the course
Students must be enrolled in a BA programme at one of the Circle U. partner universities.
The course is primarily targeted at students in historical disciplines, while remaining open to a broader academic audience. It addresses sustainable development through the lenses of economic and environmental history, as well as the history of health and medicine.
A maximum of 30 students will be admitted to the course. If there are more eligible
applicants than available places, all applicants will be pooled together and chosen at random to ensure that all eligible candidates have an equal opportunity to participate.
Apply here by 31 March 2026.
Examination
Each student will have to prepare a brief essay on a specific topic assigned during the online sessions, either alone or in group (depending on the number of participants). These essays will be presented in class during the on-site section and will form the basis of class discussions. A reading list for the final exam will be provided before the start of the course.
Form of assessment: evaluation of the group essay (30%) and a final exam (70%).
Participants will receive a grade.
Programme
The origin of the sustainability problem
29th April, 30th April and 7th May 2026 (14:15–15:45)
The first session will introduce the main theoretical aspects of the two key topics covered by the course: growth and sustainability.
Sessions two and three will focus on distributing seminar readings for the subsequent in-person week and organising group work to be presented during this week.
A long-term view of development and sustainability
18th May 2026 (h. 10:15–11:45, 12:00–13:30 and 14:15–15:45)
This seminar will adopt a historical perspective on economic development, examining the dynamics of economic growth in different historical periods and their implications for sustainability, from the early modern era to the present day.
Economic perspective on development and sustainability
19th May 2026 (h. 10:15–11:45, 12:00–13:30 and 14:15–15:45)
The seminar will explore the interplay between economic activity, social inclusion and environmental sustainability. It will compare different economic approaches to sustainable development.
The environmental aspects of sustainable development
20th May 2026 (h. 10:15–11:45, 12:00–13:30 and 14:15–15:45)
This seminar will focus on the environmental consequences of economic growth. Topics such as climate change and biodiversity loss will be analysed from the perspectives of environmental studies and environmental history.
The social dimension of sustainable development
21st May 2026 (h. 10:15–11:45, 12:00–13:30 and 14:15–15:45)
The seminar will address the social dimension of growth, focusing particularly on the consequences of economic development in terms of population growth and health. It will explore the intersection of public health and sustainability.
Development and sustainability, suggestions from corporate history
22nd May 2026 (h. 10:15–11:45, 12:00–13:30 and 14:15–15:45)
The morning of the last day will be dedicated to the visit of Piaggio historical archive, in order to explore the business point of view on development and sustainability. The final session will conclude the course with a discussion of the main topics analysed throughout the week.
Teaching staff
Christoph Bernhardt, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (christoph.bernhardt@hu-berlin.de )
Fabio Lavista, University of Pisa (fabio.lavista@unipi.it )
Alexander Nützenadel, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (nuetzenadel@hu-berlin.de )
Tony Sandset, University of Oslo (t.j.a.sandset@medisin.uio.no )
Funding
The course is free of charge. To find out about potential funding opportunities for travel and accommodation, please reach out to your international/Erasmus office at your home institution:
Please contact the mobility office at your university for more information:
- Aarhus University: aarhus@circle-u.eu
- University of Belgrade: Nikola Savic nikola.savic@rect.bg.ac.rs
- Humboldt Universität zu Berlin: berlin@circle-u.eu
- King’s College London: Students are not eligible for Erasmus+ funding, but may have access to internal funding. Please check for funding opportunities or contact the Circle U. Team for more information: circle-u@kcl.ac.uk
- UCLouvain: infocircleu@uclouvain.be
- University of Oslo: oslo@circle-u.eu
- Université Paris Cité: circleu.iro@u-paris.fr and online at u-paris.fr
- University of Pisa: circleU.erasmus@unipi.it and on our website.
- University of Vienna: circle-u@univie.ac.at
