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Study Week "Sustainable Development and Transformation"

Table of contents

Basic information

course type Block Seminar
ECTS 3
target group Well-advanced Bachelor and Master students of all disciplines
language The study week is mainly held in German,
individual units are held in English.
concept Sustainability Hub
contact Dr. Jeannette Behringer (project leader)
write an email to Dr. Jeannette Behringer
registration School for Transdisciplinary Studies 
UZH Course Catalogue

What students say about the study week

  • Photo of a student with long, curly brown hair and a lilac-colored top—smiling at the camera.

    Anhelina Khalik, participant 2026, studies finance

    "While discussing a topic with a political science student, I realized that we have very different perspectives on the same subject. That exchange sparked entirely new ideas. It’s really cool to be in the same class with her and students from other disciplines."

  • Photo of a student with straight, shoulder-length brown hair wearing a coral-colored hoodie.

    Céline Demierre, participant 2026, studies political science

    «The Study Week Sustainable Development and Transformation offers diverse perspectives and room for critical discussions, which makes for a pleasant change.»

  • Photo of a student with short, bleached hair and eyebrows, wearing striking makeup, earrings, a white turtleneck sweater, a patterned knit top over it, and a necklace, smiling at the camera.

    Madlen Huber, participant 2026, studies political science

    «I found the diverse guest lectures particularly stimulating, as they offered various perspectives on the topic. In addition to the theoretical input, the field trip and the subsequent case study analysis added variety, making the week especially dynamic and practical.»

  • Photo of a student wearing a grey top and with brown hair—looking at the camera and smiling.

    Christopher Vantis, participant 2025, studies sociology

    «I thought the inter- and transdisciplinarity during the Study Week was fantastic!»

  • Placeholder image featuring the Study Weeks logo, for a person who does not wish to be shown.

    Bernard Kümmerli, participant 2025, studies film studies

    «The intensive format of the seminar week makes it possible to discover new aspects of sustainable development—both in breadth and depth—and to explore them through exchanges with instructors and fellow students; it is a truly valuable experience. The case studies offer a unique opportunity to bridge the gap between theory and practice.»

  • Photo of a student wearing a light blue top and a black cardigan, with long dark brown hair—looking at the camera and smiling.

    Jessica Gilliard, participant 2025, studies economics

    «A fantastic Study Week Sustainable Development and Transformation! After this week, I have a concrete idea of ​​what sustainable development entails, and through a simulation game, I was able to experience firsthand just how important collaboration among various stakeholders is for achieving our goals. I also particularly enjoyed the exchange with students from diverse disciplines!»

  • Photo of a student wearing a black-and-white patterned blouse, with long brown hair and glasses, looking at the camera and smiling.

    Elena Messerknecht, participant 2025, studies sociology

    «The Study Week made me realize that a shift towards sustainability requires not only cooperation among various scientific disciplines but also the inclusion of practical experience. I particularly appreciate that we put this into practice immediately while working on our case study, thereby gaining insights into new areas of sustainability.»

  • Photo of a student—a person with brown curly hair and glasses, wearing a black shirt under a plaid shirt—looking at the camera and smiling.

    Selina De Pizzol, participant 2024, studies business administration

    «The Study Week more than exceeded my expectations. We looked at the topic of sustainability from different perspectives and I realized how important this topic is for later professional life and for us as a society. The exchange with students from all disciplines, but also with the lecturers, was particularly valuable. It was one of the most exciting and amazing modules I have attended so far in my studies.»

  • Photo of a student—a person wearing a plaid shirt and glasses, with short blonde hair—looking at the camera and smiling.

    Nikolaus von Moos, participant 2024, MSc ETH Health Science and Technology

    «Excellently organized week-long course! Approaches and solutions in a complex subject area are taught. Knowledge transfer is combined with practical exercises. You get to know the different sub-areas of sustainable development in an undogmatic way. It conveys essential knowledge and is suitable for people from different backgrounds!»

  • Placeholder image featuring the Study Weeks logo, for a person who does not wish to be shown.

    Divina Ryf, participant 2024, studies ecology

    «The event stands out positively due to current, practical topics that are considered transdisciplinarily. Particularly valuable is the opportunity to work together with students from different disciplines and experts in an intensive week and to get to know new ways of thinking and tools that are often missing in regular studies.»

  • Photo of a student—a person wearing a green hoodie and medium-length brown hair—looking at the camera and smiling.

    Ugur Diktas, participant 2024, studies economics and neuroinformatics

    «A world without sustainability is neither desirable nor worth living in. That's why I find this Study Week extremely valuable and really appreciate the fact that lecturers from a wide range of disciplines have introduced me to their subject areas and sharpened and solidified my view of the topic.»

  • Photo of a student—a person wearing a gray sweater, with brown, shoulder-length hair and earrings—looking at the camera and smiling.

    Salomé Perret, participant 2023, studies French linguistics and literature, plus sustainable development

    «With an impressive number of interesting lecturers, this course taught me to view the challenges of our society in a more transdisciplinary way. Furthermore, meeting people from different disciplinary backgrounds but with a similar passion and mindset was extremely enriching and probably already reason enough to engage more in courses like this one.»

  • Photo of a student—a person wearing a blue T-shirt and a hat, with blonde hair—looking at the camera and smiling.

    Henrik Remmert, participant 2023, studies educational sciences

    «For me, studying means working for a good future. Now we have to think about how we can shape the future in harmony with nature. Thanks to the study week, for the lots of information from science and practice, for the discussions and the moments of hope for a sustainable economy!»

Learning objectives

The study week conveys basic as well as the latest knowledge of sustainable development with a focus on understanding, analysis and shaping developments in a democratic society under time pressure. The starting point is to impart basic knowledge on the development and content of the normative guiding principle as well as the resulting implications for science, politics, business and civil society. Current conflicts of objectives of non-sustainable development are dealt with in transdisciplinary co-teaching by science and practice with the students. Concrete questions are dealt with by the students in transdisciplinary case analyses with the aim of applying transformational knowledge.

participants of the study week 2023 on an excursion, five people standing in front of a field

The following excursions enabled 2023 multi-perspective learning:

  • HofLabor (agriculture and food)
  • Surprise city tour (social inequality)
  • Helvetas (climate justice)
  • Inrate (sustainable finance)
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Scientific advisory group

 

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Review of the study week 2025

From September 8th to 12th, 2025, the inter- and transdisciplinary Study Week "Sustainable Development and Transformation" took place for the third time. With more than 30 participants from various disciplines, the week attracted a record number of students, including, for the first time, a larger group of Economics students.

The latest findings on the state of planetary boundaries served as the starting point for a discussion on the significance and current state of sustainable development, prompting critical reflection and debate. Explaining the genesis of the guiding principles, in which scientific actors have always been involved, made it clear that the urgency and the call for societal change have been, and continue to be, part of the debate from the outset. This led to an even more intense exploration of the current responsibility of science.

The focus was on collaborative disciplinary, inter-, and transdisciplinary learning: lectures, excursions, and discussions on socially relevant issues were all part of the program. Together with representatives from many disciplines and practical partners (Spross AG, Helvetas, Pro Specie Rara, Caritas Schweiz und ResponsAbility), the study week supported the acquisition of scientific and practical knowledge. A public panel discussion on the issue of justice and ecological sustainability at the local level rounded off the Study Week. Following the Study Week, the students worked on case studies addressing societal issues of sustainable development (circular economy, social inequality, climate justice, food/agriculture, and sustainable finance).

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Review of the study week 2024

The inter- and transdisciplinary study week "Sustainable Development and Transformation" took place for the second time from September 9th to 13th, 2024. With 20 students from various courses, we spent a week reflecting on the normative model of sustainable development, analyzing current findings, and discussing progress and barriers.

Lectures examined sustainable development from different disciplines. The practice partners (Stadt Zürich, Helvetas, Pro Specie Rara, Caritas Schweiz und ResponsAbility) supported the acquisition of contextual knowledge in excursions. The students then work on case analyses on social issues of sustainable development (circular economy, social inequality, climate justice, nutrition/agriculture and sustainable finance). A public panel discussion on the relationship between science and politics rounded off the study week. The third event will take place from September 8th to 12th, 2025.

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Review of the study week 2023

participants of the study week 2023 in a group photo

The inter- and transdisciplinary study week «Nachhaltige Entwicklung und Transformation» (sustainable development and transformation) took place for the first time from September 11th to 15th, 2023. Introductions to the fundamentals of sustainable development were complemented by case analyzes in selected subject areas (including sustainable finance, circular economy, climate justice). Solution proposals were developed in collaboration with stakeholders from science and practice.

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Additional Information

Further Pages related to Sustainability and Teaching