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ESC-30108 - Module Specification
School of Life Sciences
Faculty of Natural Sciences

For academic year: 2025/26 Last Updated: 04 December 2025

ESC-30108 - Blue Economy: sustainable futures with an ocean focus
Coordinator: Adam Moolna Tel: +44 1782 7 34115
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 6
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office: 01782 734414

Programme/Approved Electives for 2025/26

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2025/26

Growing interest in ocean and coastal development needs collaboration because of the interconnectivity of marine spaces and ecosystems. Blue Economy approaches are presented as “sustainable” but are contested. You will explore the wonders and complexities of our blue planet and develop evidence-based analysis of, and advocacy for, a sustainable ocean. Topics build from concepts through case studies towards your production of a video advocating a position on an issue and an essay evaluating the prospects for an ocean-focused sustainable future.

Aims
Students will develop a critical understanding of key sustainability concepts and the interplay of economic development, social progress, environmental sustainability, biodiversity conservation, and climate change action through an ocean-focused perspective. The “Blue Economy” has become a key phrase, with ambiguous meaning, in policy and practice for ocean- and coastal-focused “sustainable” development and exemplifies many broader sustainability challenges. Studying these will develop critical evaluation and arguments skills transferable across environmental and geographical scholarship and professional practice.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Critically evaluate the scope, contradictions, challenges and solutions of key approaches to sustainable coastal and ocean focused economic development: 1,2
Demonstrate advanced information literacy skills in evaluating evidence, debates and conceptual arguments from the literature: 1,2
Integrate evidence and concepts from different academic disciplines and show interdisciplinary practice in assessing sustainable development debates: 1,2
Communicate an evidence-based persuasive narrative evaluating key aspects of the Blue Economy in both written and oral presentation forms: 1,2

Study hours

38 Active Learning Hours =
10 hours lectures: 2 lectures for each of 5 topics
10 hours workshops: 1 workshop following each lecture
10 hours directed study: 2 hours directed study for each session
2 hours: 1x guest session
4 hours self-guided: structured asynchronous session beginning assessments
2 hours self-guided: structured asynchronous introduction in advance of the module
112 hours independent study =
24 hours independent reading and study: 2 hours per week suggested
88 hours working specifically towards assessments

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Essay weighted 50%
3,000 word essay evaluating the prospects for an ocean-focused sustainable future
3,000 word essay. Present an evidence-based and persuasive narrative defining understandings of “the” Blue Economy and exploring consensus and debates to draw out your evaluation of the current status and future prospects for an equitable and sustainable Blue Economy. You should draw on learning and teaching materials from across the module. You should clearly set out key concepts and debates and evidence with references to a broad selection of appropriate peer-reviewed evidence.

2: Video Blog weighted 50%
Video presentation on a focused aspect of the Blue Economy (approximately 10 minutes +/- 60 seconds)
You should choose one focused aspect of the Blue Economy that we have covered in the module. This may be a case study (such as seabed mining in the Clarion Clipperton Zone), an issue (such as sustainable ocean fisheries), a review of a framework (e.g. UNCLOS), a critique of the array of contested definitions of “the” Blue Economy, or another aspect. This should be appropriately related to an effectively set out overview of key concepts and issues of the Blue Economy. You must submit the presentation as a video file (.mp4 or .mpg format; approximately 10 minutes +/- 60 seconds).

The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. Details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 04 December 2025