800725 VU Sustainability & Climate Change
winter semester 2021/2022 | Last update: 08.11.2022 | Place course on memo listThe learner will:
· Be able to think critically about their own lives and situations with respect to climate change and sustainability
· Improve their knowledge of sustainability and climate change with respect to other cultures and be able to enter into discussion on the topic with people of other cultures
· Understand the background and structure of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
· Improve their knowledge of sustainable earth systems, lifestyles and mobility with respect to SDGs and be able to reflect critically with respect to their own lifestyles
· Be able to engage with a real business and undertake a sustainability assessment for a business
· Understand communication strategies with respect to communicating research to the public and implementing policy changes
This Sustainability and Climate Change course will comprise five key components.
1. Introduction
2. Frontal lectures and small discussion groups on sustainability and climate change
3. Workshop on undertaking a sustainability assessment for a business
4. Seminars and discussions with external stakeholders on communication and policy implementation
5. Synthesis and critical thinking of topics covered
Participants are invited to voluntarily take part in a BEVI survey (Beliefs, Events, and Values Invetory, thttps://hebevi.com ). The online participation takes place right before and after the course and requires about 2x30 min.
Participants are expected to do preliminary work before the start of the course, which will form the basis for the discussion during the introduction. The corresponding information or assignments will be sent to the students by email after the registration deadline but before the start of the course.
This course will be taught using a mixture of frontal lectures, small group discussions, workshop exercises and student-led exercises. Students should be prepared to participate and interact during contact hours and will be expected to undertake their own research and liase with external stakeholders outside of contact hours.
Successful participation in the course is assessed with "mit Erfolg teilgenomnnen" (passed with success), unsuccessful participation is assessed with "ohne Erfolg teilgenommen" (without success).
The assessment consists of several parts (cooperation, regular contributions, exercises). A positive assessment is only possible if a minimum requirement of 75% attendance and completion of the exercises has been reached.
Sustainable Development Goals:
https://sdgs.un.org/goals
https://www.uibk.ac.at/international/aurora/sdg/index.html.en
Bachelor degree in any subject.
An interest in Climate Change and Sustainability and a willingness to actively participate.
As part of the course registration, a meaningful letter of motivation (max. 2500 characters) is required.
If the number of applications exceeds the planned number of participants (66), places will be allocated according to the date of application/Aurora University.
Application procedure and time see "Remarks"
Max. number of participants: 66
Participants are invited to voluntarily take part in a BEVI survey (Beliefs, Events, and Values Invetory, thttps://hebevi.com ). The online participation takes place right before and after the course and requires about 2x30 min.
Participants are expected to do preliminary work before the start of the course, which will form the basis for the discussion during the introduction.The corresponding information or assignments will be sent to the students by email after the registration deadline but before the start of the course.
The course is an Aurora Alliance (AURORA – Universität Innsbruck (uibk.ac.at)) event.
Students of all Aurora universities (incl. Master students of the University of Innsbruck) are invited to apply for participation in this course from 30 August 2021 until 30 September 2021 (or until the maximum number of participants has been reached)at the following link: Universität Innsbruck – Universität Innsbruck (uibk.ac.at)
29.10.2021 09.00 - 12.30 CEST, Part II: Subject specific knowledge: Introduction to Sustainability and SDGs Lecturers: Christa Heinze (Universität Duisburg Essen, Germany), Irma Eloff (Universiteit van Pretoria, South Africa/Universität Innsbruck), online
05.11.2021 09.00 - 12.30 CET, Part II: Subject specific knowledge: Sustainable Earth System Lecturers: Jordi Jara & Clara Esteve Jorda (University of Rovira i Virgili, Spain), online
12.11.2021 09.00 - 12.30 CET, Part II: Subject specific knowledge: Sustainable Mobility Systems Lecturer: Ani Melkonyan-Gottschalk (Universität Duisburg-Essen, Germany) Simon Peth (Universität Innsbruck), online
19.11.2021 09.00 - 12.30 CET, Part II: Subject specific knowledge: Sustainable Lifestyles Lecturers: Vincenza Faraco, Laura Lieto, Dario Minervini (University of Naples Federico II, Italy) Jaap Siedell, Coosje Dijkstra (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam), online
26.11.2021 09.00 - 12.30 CET, Part III & IV Implementation & Communication: Business Assessment Workshop Part I Lecturer: Alice Elliott (Universität Innsbruck), online
03.12.2021 09.00 - 12.30 CET, Part III & IV Implementation & Communication: Communication Round-Robin Discussion Seminar Lecturer: Gina Moseley (Universität Innsbruck) Speaker: Fergal Bryne, Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, Georg Kaiser, Kristin Siegel, online
10.12.2021 09.00 - 12.30 CET, Part III & IV Implementation & Communication: Business Assessment Workshop Part II Lecturer: Alice Elliott, online
17.12.2021 09.00 - 12.30 CET, Part V Synthesis: Synthesis Lecturers: Alice Elliott, Robert Hafner, Gina Moseley (Universität Innsbruck) plus additional staff , online
- Interdisciplinary and additional courses
- SDG 1 - No poverty: End poverty in all its forms everywhere.
- SDG 2 - Zero hunger: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.
- SDG 3 - Good health and well-being: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.
- SDG 4 - Quality education: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
- SDG 5 - Gender equality: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
- SDG 6 - Clean water and sanitation: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
- SDG 7 - Affordable and clean energy: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.
- SDG 8 - Decent work and economic growth: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.
- SDG 9 - Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation.
- SDG 10 - Reducing inequalities: Reduce income inequality within and among countries.
- SDG 11 - Sustainable cities and communities: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.
- SDG 12 - Responsible consumption and production: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.
- SDG 13 - Climate action: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts by regulating emissions and promoting developments in renewable energy.
- SDG 14 - Life below water: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.
- SDG 15 - Life on land: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.
- SDG 16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.
- SDG 17 - Partnerships for the goals: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development.