Course Topics
1 What is a territory? • Definition of the basic conceptual glossary (space, place, territory, etc.) 2 Reading and Analysis of the Territory from the Sociographic Level to the Relational Level • Territorial specificities, sense of belonging, and identity • Representations • Mobility and changing populations • Governance and local economic systems 3 Territory as a Sustainable Development Project • Processes of urbanization and territorial inequalities, urban-rural dichotomies, and center-periphery fractures • Territory and socio-ecological crisis • The local development paradigm • Sustainability and territorial self-sustainability 4 Territorializing Sustainable Development • From data analysis to methods for project development • Focus on participatory methods

Teaching format
In-person lectures on the main topics of the course. The course will include thematic in-depth sessions through case analysis and Problem-Based Learning activities. In this regard, a part of the course will be dedicated to group laboratory activities aimed at introducing students to the fundamentals of social research with a territorial approach, as well as to the design of local development with a focus on identity and territorial sustainability issues.

Educational objectives
Knowledge and Understanding (and their application): By the end of the course, students will have the theoretical and analytical skills to understand social phenomena within the territorial dimension, conceiving territory not only as a physical area bounded by geographic and administrative borders but as a relational, political-economic, and ecological space in constant change. Students will be able to “read” the territory through a complex lens that interconnects the material and immaterial specificities of the territory to processes of local identity definition, sense of belonging, representations, territorial governance, and new perspectives for sustainable local development. They will also have the foundation to formulate project ideas based on perspectives of endogenous and participatory development with a focus on territorial self-sustainability. Making Judgments: By the end of the course, students will be able to critically analyze the processes discussed in class, integrating the conceptual tools presented during the lessons and connecting key themes of territorial development to understand ongoing processes in light of their eco-social complexity. They will also be able to critically analyze – and deconstruct –the processes of sustainability construction, starting from macro institutional narratives. Communication Skills: By the end of the course, students will be able to express themselves clearly, both orally and in writing, on the topics covered, using specialized technical terminology. Additionally, students will be expected to connect different concepts and themes to build a comprehensive and integrated framework, also in connection with other disciplines and themes within their study program. Learning Skills: The goal is to foster the development of the ability to apply and rework the knowledge acquired during the course in potential real-world contexts, encouraging students to transfer the skills learned into practical and professional situations.

Assessment
Attending students will be assessed through a project work, on topics agreed upon with the lecturer, partly developed and presented in class during the course, and a final written exam based on the materials from the entire programme, as analysed and discussed in class. The project work will account for 40% of the final grade, and will evaluate knowledge and understanding of the texts, analytical competence, and the ability to apply knowledge to potential professional situations with sound judgment. The written exam will account for 60%, assessing theoretical knowledge, analytical competence, and the ability to connect topics and synthesize information. Both will be graded on a scale of 30, and the final grade will be the weighted average of the two assessments. The written exam will consist of 5 open-ended questions (max. 6 points per question) to be completed within 1 hour and 15 minutes. For non-attending students, an oral exam on the program topics will be held, where theoretical knowledge, the ability to connect topics and synthesize information, analytical competence, the ability to apply knowledge to potential professional situations, and independent judgment will be assessed.

Evaluation criteria
Students who attend the course: 1-Project Work Evaluation Criteria: • Knowledge and understanding of the texts (10%) • Analytical competence (10%) • Ability to apply knowledge to potential professional situations (10%) • Judgment competence (10%) 2- Written Exam Evaluation Criteria: • Theoretical knowledge (20%) • Analytical competence (20%) • Ability to connect topics and synthesize information (20%) Non-attending students: 1 -Oral Exam Evaluation Criteria: • Theoretical knowledge (20%) • Ability to connect topics and synthesize information (20%) • Analytical competence (20%) • Ability to apply knowledge to potential professional situations (20%) • Independent judgment (20%)