Course: Sustainability: Practical Examples and Networking I

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Course title Sustainability: Practical Examples and Networking I
Course code UCH/054
Organizational form of instruction Seminary
Level of course Master
Year of study not specified
Frequency of the course In each academic year, in the winter semester.
Semester Winter
Number of ECTS credits 3
Language of instruction English
Status of course unspecified
Form of instruction Face-to-face
Work placements This is not an internship
Recommended optional programme components None
Lecturer(s)
  • Farka Dominik, MSc. Dr. rer. nat.
Course content
Content of tutorials/seminar: All activities will be conducted in English. The course consists of three parts: Preparatory Part ? Seminar: - Introduction to the technical basics and topics of sustainability. - Assignment of presentation topics. - One-on-one calls to prepare presentations. - (12 hours + approximately 16 hours of self-study for presentation preparation) Interactive Part: - Presentations by invited guests and industry experts, followed by networking. (8 hours of attendance at presentations) - Short presentations by students. (12 hours of presentation preparation + 4 hours of attendance at presentations) - Writing a reflection. (8 hours of preparation) Excursions: - Visits to Austrian companies and start-ups. (8 hours, visiting at least 2 companies) Changing Content: The content of all three parts will adapt to the expertise of the invited lecturers. For example: - An expert from the oil industry will emphasize resource treatment (mining, refining, production of functional oils), energy components (petrochemical components in batteries and accumulators, transformer oils), and automotive applications (fuels, tire production strategies). - An expert from a company specializing in batteries and accumulators will focus on electronics, batteries (Li-ion, Na-Ion, solid-state, conventional batteries), thermal management, legislation, and automotive applications. Focus Areas for the First Part of the Course: - Fundamentals and principles - Jurisdiction, regulation, norms, standards - Industry and society Indicative Content for the First Year: Based on current communication with companies, the first year's content will focus on: - Batteries and accumulators - Automotive - Petrochemicals and sustainability - Plastics and their sustainable use - Waste management and recycling

Learning activities and teaching methods
unspecified
Learning outcomes
- Familiarize students with the technical aspects of sustainability, including: o Technology (mobility, transport, energy) o Legislation o Waste management and recycling o Resource use (mining, energy) o Industry and society o Economic motivation o Communication strategy - Provide insights into the motivations of companies (corporate and start-ups) and industries based in Austria and Western Europe through expert lectures and excursions. - Equip students with the skills to engage in sustainable work processes and understand the associated mindset. - Build foundational knowledge and experience for sustainable practices in both professional and personal life. - Facilitate networking with invited lecturers and among students from different fields and years. - Encourage active participation in seminars through discussions, short presentations, and a final thesis (approximately 1 A4 page) on sustainability in personal life, employment, or unconventional contexts (e.g., sustainable leadership style). - Ensure presentations meet professional standards, including didactic processing, graphic design, and correct citations. One-on-one calls (up to 15 minutes) will simulate professional scenarios to enhance technical proficiency and graphic skills. - Adapt the detailed course content to reflect the expertise of invited lecturers.

Prerequisites
none

Assessment methods and criteria
unspecified
80% participation rate during in-house activities, participation on excursion, active participation during discussion, presentation of sustainability-related topic
Recommended literature
  • Directive (EU) 2022/2464 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 December 2022 amending Regulation (EU) No 537/2014, Directive 2004/109/EC, Directive 2006/43/EC and Directive 2013/34/EU, as regards corporate sustainability reporting (Text with EEA relevance).
  • Directive 2014/95/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2014 amending Directive 2013/34/EU as regards disclosure of non-financial and diversity information by certain large undertakings and groups Text with EEA relevance.
  • European Critical Raw Materials Act (Regulations (EU) 168/2013, (EU) 2018/858, 2018/1724 and (EU) 2019/102; https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/sectors/raw-materials/areas-specific-interest/critical-raw-materials/critical-raw-materials-act_en ).
  • BECKER, Per. Sustainability science: managing risk and resilience for sustainable development. Second edition. Amsterdam: Elsevier, [2024]. ISBN 978-0-323-95640-6..


Study plans that include the course
Faculty Study plan (Version) Category of Branch/Specialization Recommended year of study Recommended semester