DLSD - Basics of and Perspectives on Sustainable Development
Digital Learning for Sustainable Development - an online introductory course for students of all subjects:
Basics of and Perspectives on Sustainable Development (3 ECTS)
The immense challenges and opportunities of sustainable development - from climate change to new forms of economic activity to sufficiency-oriented lifestyles - are omnipresent. The focus is on the question of how people can live together and shape society today in order to create livable conditions worldwide and in the future.
At the Competence Center for Sustainable Development (KNE) at the University of Tübingen, a digital English-language basic course for the topic of "Sustainable Development" which was tested for the first time in the winter semester 2021/22 and held for the second time in the summer semester 2022. The course will be held again in the winter semester of 2022 in winter semester 22/23 and is expressly aimed at interested students of all subjects; no special prior knowledge is necessary.
In the course, we will embark on a digital learning journey together, get to know concepts of as well as different perspectives on sustainable development, and interactively deal with the complex of topics.
The focus is on an interdisciplinary examination of the guiding principle of sustainable development. The following aspects will be covered:
- Basics of sustainable development - historical location, conceptual and scientific embedding, political agenda (Sustainable Development Goals of the UN).
- Social fields of action of sustainable development (e.g. Selected fields of action based on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the UN Agenda 2030
- Critical and decolonial perspectives on SD as well as alternative approaches with a focus on countries of the Global South.
- Ethics and responsibilities of science, as well as insights into transdisciplinary research and collaboration
- The role and importance of students ("Students as change agents").
The course is modular and takes place biweekly afternoons throughout the semester in seven sessions (alternating 3 or 1.5h) digitally. The dates can be viewed in the figure "The Learning Journey" and can also be found in the ALMA portal of the University of Tübingen. Between the sessions there are self-study phases for individual consolidation and for the preparation of an own, accompanying learning and research diary as proof of achievement.
Registration for students of the University of Tübingen via ILIAS (path: ILIAS/Wintersemester 2022-23 /1SOG05)
Registration for students from partner universities or networks of the University of Tübingen via dlsd@izew.uni-tuebingen.de
Course announcement in the Alma-Portal of the University of Tübingen: https://alma.uni-tuebingen.de/alma/pages/startFlow.xhtml?_flowId=searchCourseNonStaff-flow&_flowExecutionKey=e1s1&backBtnError=true
Digital learning for Sustainable Development with the University of Tübingen (DLSD) - the project
The conception phase and the first run of the course in the winter semester 2021/22 were financially supported as a project "Digital learning for Sustainable Development with the University of Tübingen (DLSD)" by the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Energy Baden-Württemberg. This enabled a professionally dedicated conception, implementation and scientific monitoring as well as evaluation of the modular digital learning journey. The offer creates spaces for teaching basics and current topics that are discussed in the context of SD. In the sense of a holistic education for sustainable development, the event includes interactive, participative and reflective elements (e.g. collaboration in small groups, individual learning and research diary). In this way, participants are encouraged to learn and reflect globally, to think critically and to act responsibly in the sense of SD.
In order to strengthen the diversity of perspectives in the design of the program, lecturers from various disciplines as well as external experts from the field are involved. Regional as well as global perspectives (e.g. from the Tübingen region and from countries of the Global South) become visible in the format.
Students are important actors and multipliers for (B)NE. Both in education and profession, but especially also as an active part of civil society. Therefore, the project aims to familiarize students as future "change agents" with the contents of SD and to strengthen their design and action competencies.
The inter- and transdisciplinary online learning offer addresses students of all subjects (in the long run up to 300-500 persons per semester). Due to the digital and English-language design, students from international partner universities are also addressed.
Project duration:
April 2021 to March 2022
IZEW Team and contact persons:
Prof. Dr. Thomas Potthast – project management
Dr. Diana Grundmann – project coordination
Amelie Schönhaar – staff member (research assistant)
Florian Kellner – staff member (research assistant)
Jasmin Goldhausen – staff member (research assistant)
Funding:
Funded by the „Glücksspirale of the Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Energy Baden-Württemberg“.
