Seminars offered in the winter term 2024/25

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The field of sustainability is continuously evolving. We are excited to address some of these exciting developments in our updated course offerings for the winter semester 2024/25:

 

Seminars in English:

Looking beyond sustainability: regeneration, alternative views on growth and circularity

The seminar “Looking beyond sustainability: regeneration, alternative views on growth and circularity” is a bachelor course that will take place in Findelgasse, room 2.024 on Thursday from 9:45 to 11:15h. This course will approach business from a socio-ecological perspective instead of the traditional economic rationale. The course aims to provide the student with an alternative angle stemming primarily from ecology. Generally speaking, we will focus on the basics of regenerative practices across different industries (crops, cattle grazing, and tourism, among others, and contexts (Latin America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America).

Case Studies in Sustainability Management and Social Innovation

The seminar “Case Studies in Sustainability Management and Social Innovation” is a bachelor course that will take place in Findelgasse, room 1.036 on Thursday from 11:30 to 13:00h. Sustainability – despite being a term that no longer needs to be introduced in the classroom – requires an innovative approach to solving the multitude of issues covered by this umbrella term. This class uses real-life case studies to analyze and discuss how companies and/or social entrepreneurs can address complex sustainability challenges. Students will engage biweekly in resolving a case study followed by an intense classroom discussion to deepen their analytical, conceptual and discursive skills. Intense preparation and classroom interaction are expected.

 

Seminars in German:

Seminar „Perspectives on Sustainability Management – A Debate Seminar“
(in German!)

Circular Economy – Panacea or Utopia?
Green Energy – Yes to the Energy Transition, but please “not in my backyard.”
CO2 Pricing – Climate Savior or Social Injustice?
Growth vs. Degrowth vs. Green Growth – Is less really more?

We will discuss these controversial sustainability topics and questions in our new seminar “Perspectives on Sustainability Management.” Using AI tools, we will explore various perspectives on selected topics related to sustainable development and debate them in the style of a debating club. Scientifically based fundamentals on sustainability topics, as well as methodologies for debating and rhetoric, will be provided in advance, including through guest lectures.

Interested in examining and reflecting on sustainability issues from different perspectives? Then apply by October 10, 2024, via StudOn.

Further information on structure, participation, creditability, etc., is available via StudOn and Campo.

Seminar „Climate Change Competency Seminar”

We talk a lot about it, but few truly understand it: Climate change. In our seminar, we will explore what climate change means for our planet through exciting guest lectures and interactive modules in a collaborative and interdisciplinary way. We will reflect on how we, as individuals and businesses, need to adapt and evolve.

The Climate Change Seminar begins on Tuesday, October 15, from 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM in Erlangen, Geology. After that, most sessions will be digital, with about 50% flexible self-study involving video lectures.

Further information about the seminar is available through StudOn and Campo.

Vhb-Kurs „Sustainable Production”
(in German!)

Through the course “Sustainable Production,” in collaboration with the Chair of Resource and Energy Efficient Production and the Chair of Manufacturing Automation and Production Systems, interested WiSo students can gain insights into the field of sustainable manufacturing.

This vhb course presents various approaches to sustainable production based on processes directly related to manufacturing, as well as upstream and downstream steps. After demonstrating the need for increased sustainability, the course provides an introduction to general methodologies available to companies. It then covers the entire process from product idea to process planning, procurement, and specific workflow planning. Building on this, various manufacturing processes are introduced. Finally, modern approaches are discussed that extend the product lifecycle through remanufacturing and second-life approaches, as well as opportunities for sustainable recycling.

The online format of the course allows students to work on learning units and exercises autonomously and flexibly.

Further information on the course structure, creditability, etc., is available through Campo and from the start of lectures through StudOn, including the option to join the course.

Lecture series “Impact Entrepreneurship”:

Sustainable development needs the economy and the economy needs sustainable social and ecological systems. However, there are always conflicting goals between the economy, society and ecology. How can the economy and sustainability be reconciled? Which entrepreneurial (start-up) ideas can solve pressing challenges? And what new research findings can inspire such innovations? These are the questions addressed in the cross-university lecture series Impact Entrepreneurship.

In this online lecture series, entrepreneurs from various industries and professors from different disciplines at FAU, Ansbach University of Applied Sciences and Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences will give keynote speeches on innovative perspectives with impact potential, i.e. the achievement of goals along the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. These will then be discussed in the online plenary session.

Further information on the lecture series can be found on StudOn and on our homepage.

Further exciting seminars in the field of entrepreneurship can be found here.

Please note: this lecture series will be held in German.