International Summer School: Sustainability

What it is about

You work in an intercultural and interdisciplinary team (about 20 students plus supervisors) together with students from the Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology on global sustainability questions. You will learn relevant concepts, theories and empirical approaches, develop your own research question, and in discussions and a one-week in-person workshop you will develop intercultural solutions. In the end you will be able to critically assess sustainability concepts and develop your own strategies and presentations in an international context.

What you will be able to do

• Critically discuss concepts of 'Sustainability' in science, technology and innovation
• Analyze the influence of new technologies on intercultural perceptions of sustainability
• Evaluate social, political and ethical issues in an intercultural context
• Understand and apply advanced theories, concepts and empirical research methods
• Develop a relevant research question
• Collect and interdisciplinarily discuss information on global sustainability problems
• Apply presentation and discussion techniques in intercultural teams

What the module consists of

• Online-VorlesungsreiheFoundation concepts and problems conveyed
• Discussion groupsInterdisciplinary and intercultural development of topics in small groups
• Workshop (about 1 week, full-time)Deepening of topics in a workshop format with a focus on scientific and intercultural competencies
• Abschlussbericht/Research PaperIndividual deepening of a chosen topic

Teaching method

• Self-directed research and readingBuilding advanced knowledge of theories and empirical approaches
• Interdisciplinary/intercultural discussionsEnables a broader perspective beyond purely natural-scientific viewpoints
• Small research projectsApplication of knowledge to develop intercultural solution concepts
• Presentations and discussionsTraining in structuring arguments and defending one's results in an international context