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Sustainability

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Study Week "Sustainable Development and Transformation"

Table of contents

Basic information

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Fall Semester 2025 (8th to 12th September 2025)
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 

What students say about the study week

  • Slideshow Studienwoche T3

    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."

  • Slideshow Studienwoche T6

    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."

  • Slideshow Studienwoche T4

    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!"

  • Slideshow Studienwoche T5

    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."

  • Slideshow Studienwoche T1

    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."

  • Slideshow Studienwoche T1

    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 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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Weiterführende Informationen

Further Pages related to Sustainability and Teaching