Designing and Implementing an Interfaculty Elective "Sustainable Development" Course at a University: Concepts, Developments and Lessons Learned

Franz Rauch; Wilfried Elmenreich; Renate Huebner; Michael Jungmeier; Ema Gracner; Robert G. Sposato

doi:10.51724/arise.43

Authors

Franz Rauch University of Klagenfurt https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5414-3619
Wilfried Elmenreich University of Klagenfurt https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6401-2658
Renate Huebner University of Klagenfurt https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6142-0090
Michael Jungmeier UNESCO-Chair "Management of Conservation Areas" & University of Applied Sciences Carinthia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4510-2118
Ema Gracner University of Klagenfurt
Robert G. Sposato University of Klagenfurt https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7724-5653

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51724/arise.43

Keywords:

sustainability, higher education, intervention, dilemmas

Abstract

This paper describes the case of a university course addressing Sustainable Development (SD). This interdisciplinary and interfaculty elective course is meant to serve the purpose of teaching sustainability. At the same time, it is also intended to serve as an instrument for the implementation of sustainability at the University of Klagenfurt in Austria. The paper describes the conception and implementation of an interdisciplinary elective as a first appropriate step to implement SD at the University of Klagenfurt across disciplinary and structural barriers. Furthermore, the paper presents reflections of the course based on a series of interviews with the leading teaching team as well as the team's ongoing reflections. As it turns out: The major challenge is that a system based on individual freedom in research and teaching needs to intervene within its own system to create and initiate a new development.

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