What should the future look like? Work with sustainability is full of problems where all possible solutions have both good and bad consequences. Which choices are wise, and which should be avoided? How should we deal with such dilemmas?
What is normative competency?
Normative competency is about
- understand and reflect on norms and values
- discuss sustainability values, principles and goals
- take into account different interests, trade-offs, uncertain knowledge and contradictions
Normative competency in a MN-context
Traditionally, there has been a distinction between the natural sciences, who deliver "objective" numbers and facts, and the social science and humanities sciences, who look at how this factual basis is used in society. At the same time, realists and natural scientists also make choices about what is to be studied and measured, and what is given less importance, and this affects what choices other actors can make afterwards. In their working life, most of our candidates will come up in situations where they will have to take a stand on ethical and value-related issues related to their own subject area. They should be prepared for this during their education.
Examples of teaching activities
- Case studies in field biology where the value of nature conservation is set against the value of development
- Discuss ethical aspects of biotechnology
- Reflect on professional ethical issues in pharmacy
- Make visible and discuss dilemmas related to energy production and climate measures