After studying the SA skills course the students are able to:
* Apply some widely-used methods/tools of sustainability assessment;
* Discuss the strengths, weaknesses, and pitfalls of these methods/tools;
* Reflect on the contribution of the methods/tools to a sustainability assessment.

Sustainability Assessment (SA) can be defined as a structured process dealing with a sustainability issue, using knowledge from various scientific disciplines and/or stakeholders, such that integrated insights are made available to decision makers. Applying SA in practice requires specific skills. The aim of this skills course is that students learn to apply some widely-used methods/tools of SA, and become familiar with its rules of application, strengths, and pitfalls.

Sustainability Assessment involves a process of untangling the complex interactions between ecological, social, and economic factors underlying sustainability issues. Models act as valuable tools providing a simplified representation of reality to analyse these interactions, to better define the problem and to identify potential solutions. This hands-on skills course therefore introduces you to various modelling approaches, including system dynamics approaches, regression analysis and agent-based modelling. Each technique offers unique insights and has its own advantages and limitations. Please note that the course focuses primarily on the practical application and conceptual foundations of these approaches, rather than on coding and the mathematics.

Exchange students should refer to the International Relations Office via email in case they would like to register for this course: iro-incoming-sbe@maastrichtuniversity.nl. Only limited spots available, first-come first-serve principle.