The «Transformative Agency» module cluster brings together a wide range of courses that provide insights into different areas of the current transformation discourse and their interconnections. The focus topic «Alpine Region in Transformation» illustrates this content with examples and views the Alps as a «laboratory of transformation» in which general challenges can be examined and understood using concrete examples.
Philosophy4Transformation
- Introduction to various meanings of the term transformation
- Conceptual models for understanding change processes
- More-than-human concepts and contemporary approaches to ecological thinking
Sustainable development
- History of the sustainability discourse
- Contemporary concepts, starting points, and topics of sustainable development (planetary boundaries, social development goals, etc.)
- Social-ecological transformation
- Actors and controversies in sustainability policy in the context of ongoing debates on climate change/decarbonization, the biodiversity crisis, and global justice
Technological transformation
- Fundamentals of the philosophy, history, and ethics of technology
- Digitalization, digitality, and post-digitality
- AI as a driver and medium of transformation
Economic transformation
- Introduction to classical economic paradigms and their critique
- Fundamentals of business ethics
Fundamentals of political economy
- Introduction to contemporary concepts of sustainable economics (degrowth, circular economy, economy for the common good)
Focus topic: The Alps in transformation
- Introduction to the geography and history of the Alpine region
- Value creation in Alpine regions (focus: energy, tourism, agriculture)
- Climate change and the biodiversity crisis in the Alpine region
- Alpine policy (Alpine Convention, EUSALP)
- Alpine futures literacy
The «Transformative Agency» module cluster brings together courses that provide insights into the concrete design of transformation processes. The focus is on transformative thinking and approaches in design and art, in particular methods from eco-social design and curatorial practice. The content changes and is explored using real-life examples and reflected upon together with the protagonists. This module cluster also includes regular excursions and promotes systematic network building.
Modules and excursions that will be examined and studied as part of the Transformative Agency modules in the 2026/27 academic year will deal with the following topics, among others.
- Urban gardening/permaculture
- Circular economy
- Commoning/new commons
- Sustainable Alpine tourism
- Alpenstrom
- Net zero – best practices
- Shared mobility
In the «Methods» module cluster, you will learn about various tools and approaches for implementing and designing transformation projects through hands-on, practice-oriented introductions. This includes basic skills for successful project work, as well as specific skills required for a creative approach to sustainable transformation. The following basic modules are offered as part of the program and can be supplemented individually with additional methodology modules in other fields of study, depending on your interests and needs:
- Project management
- Presentation techniques
- Moderation techniques
- Feedback culture
- Scientific and communicative writing
- Design thinking
- Curatorial practice
- Storytelling
- Art of hosting
The peer modules take place every semester and consist of two formats: «discourse workshop» and «project workshop». The focus is on collaborative learning, sharing experiences, mutual support, and practicing a culture of critical and controversial dialogue and collaboration.
In the discourse workshop, students jointly select a topic that is currently in the media spotlight and develop a debate map that illustrates the different positions, actors, interests, media dynamics, and attention economies. They are supported in this process by a team of mentors.
In the project workshop, students exchange ideas about their projects, provide structured feedback, examine possible interfaces and networking opportunities, and support each other.
In addition, the department offers a wide range of interdisciplinary courses, known as «+++modules», from which students can choose:
