DLSD - Basics of and Perspectives on Sustainable Development
Basics of and Perspectives on Sustainable Development (3 ECTS) -- an online introductory course for students of all subjects:
Unfortunately, this event cannot take place in the winter semester 2023/24.
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". It was tested for the first time in the winter semester 2021/22, conducted for the second time in the summer semester 2022 and for the third time in the winter semester 22/23. The course is explicitly aimed at interested students of all subjects and international partner universities of the University of Tübingen; 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 figure "The Learning Journey" shows an overview of the structure of the learning journey.
Between the individual sessions there are self-study phases for individual consolidation and for the preparation of one's own accompanying learning and research diary as a record of achievement.
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 (designed 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 particularly addressed.
Project duration:
April 2021 to March 2022
IZEW Team and contact persons:
Prof. Dr. Thomas Potthast – project lead
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“ (Konzeptentwicklung und Erprobung).
From SoSem 2022 financial support by the Competence Centre for Sustainable Development/Kompetenzzentrum für Nachhaltige Entwicklung (KNE), University of Tübingen
