Author: Petra Biberhofer

A Master’s Programme on Sustainability-driven Entrepreneurship – CASE project team presents first outline in Vechta

Petra Biberhofer

PM 175_16-12-2015 CASE-Workshop Uni Vechta_mit Gästen

Greeting of the Workshop Guests in Vechta by Petra Biberhofer (Vienna University of Economics and Business) and Prof. Dr. Marco Rieckmann (University of Vechta) (left foreground). Photography: © Daubenspeck / University of Vechta

On Tuesday the 12th January 2016, 33 participants exchanged their ideas about the first draft for a Master’s programme on sustainability-driven entrepreneurship in Vechta. Within the EU-financed CASE project, Prof. Dr. Marco Rieckmann and Lisa Bockwoldt (University of Vechta) invited teachers and students of the University of Vechta as well as (economic) partners of the Oldenburger Münsterland to this event.

There are ten universities and economic partners from five European countries which work in the CASE project under the direction of the University of Economics in Vienna. The aim of the project is to develop an innovative concept for a European Master’s programme, called “Sustainability-driven Entrepreneurship”.

Prof. Dr. Marco Rieckmann explains: “It shall be shown how a Master’s programme could look like where students of different fields can work together with regional partners and participate as entrepreneurs in the social transformation for sustainable development.” Within the project, Prof. Dr. Marco Rieckmann is responsible for the development of innovative teaching and learning methods.

The new president of Vechta’s University Prof. Dr. Burghart Schmidt sees the EU-project as a great chance for his university: “The international dimension of CASE is an excellent opportunity to connect with partners of the EU and create long-term co-operations. The idea of sustainability itself is a big matter for us in Vechta. That is why we, for example, have arranged a target agreement 2014 -2018 including sustainability as a focus with the federal state of Lower Saxony.” Schmidt emphasises the exploratory character of the project: “The thoughts within CASE are still theoretical. The questions about if and if yes, when such a Master’s programme will be started at the University of Vechta are still open.”

After a short greeting and introduction into the project by Prof. Dr. Marco Rieckmann, Juliette Braun, the reference person for economic promotion in Vechta, outlined the regional characteristics and challenges for entrepreneurship and sustainable development in the Oldenburger Münsterland. Following this, the first outline for the Master’s programme was presented to the guests as a “work-in-progress” that should be discussed on the basis of some guiding questions: What is needed for implementing such a Master’sprogramme at the University of Vechta? How can students be attracted to such a programme? How can regional partners, especially enterprises, profit from this programme and how could co-operations look like?

All in all, the feedback was positive. “We are very delighted about the fact that so many participants are interested in collaborating with the project”, Lisa Bockwoldt summarises.

The draft for the Master’s programme will be developed further with the help of the workshop results. From the upcoming summer semester on, some modules, especially some teaching co-operations with enterprises and small “start-ups” are going to be tested at the six participating universities. For example, there will be a course at the University of Vechta, called “Sustainable development in the Oldenburger Münsterland: Solving Problems with the help of innovative projects”. Until the end of the project in 2017, the finished concept of a European Master’s programme should be presented. Beside the concept development, the project will also think about a possible implementation at the participating universities.

Article about the workshop in Sonntagsblatt für den Landkreis Vechta.

Workshop “Perspectives for the agriculture in the year 2042” – Experts met in the Oldenburger Münsterland

Petra Biberhofer

PM 175_16-12-2015 Workshop Rieckmann_Perspektiven für die Landwirtschaft

© Daubenspeck / University of Vechta

The topic sustainability is discussed in many sectors. Especially for agriculture – as an important sector of sustainable development – this topic is of far-ranging importance. What does sustainable agriculture mean especially for the region Oldenburger Münsterland? For this purpose, on Thursday, December 10th, 2015, round about 40 experts from economy, NGOs and the scientific field discussed this question at the „Museum am Zeughaus“ in Vechta.

Prof. Dr. Marco Rieckmann initiated the workshop in his position as the Sustainability Commissioner at the University of Vechta. The workshop was organized in cooperation with the Foundation “Leben & Umwelt” (of the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung), the Ecumenical Center Oldenburg, the Association for Developmental Politics in Lower Saxony, and local agricultural associations like the “KreislandFrauenverband Vechta”, the “Kreislandvolkverband Vechta” as well as the “Kreislandvolkverband Cloppenburg”.

IMG_1811

© Gummels / University of Vechta

After an introductive speech by Prof. Dr. Christine Meyer (University of Vechta, Social Work) about the topic “How are we going to feed ourselves in the future?”, the participants discussed topics like the eating and diet habits, the appreciation of food, education and diet-socialization in Kindergarten and Schools as well as the consideration of environmental, social and health criteria in communal feeding. The day continued with more lectures about the following topic: “How can the (world) population be fed in the year 2042?”. This topic was lectured by Prof. Dr. Harald von Witzke (HU Berlin) and Prof. Dr. Alfons Balmann (Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Development in Transition Economies (IAMO)). Harald von Witzke focused on the aspect that the demand for food will increase with the growing world population, while Alfons Balmann described structural changes in the agriculture and also that modern agriculture is not highly accepted in the overall population. In the following discussion, many different approaches for handling the increase in demand of food were brought to attention: an increase in production vs. a reduction of food wasting and a better sharing of food. Concluding, Prof. Dr. Hubert Wiggering (Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF)) talked about the question, how we can deal with the finite nature of resources. Shortage of resources and the “planetary boundaries” call for a protective handling of resources, as Wiggering said. The following discussion made clear that location-specific efficient forms of sustainable agriculture have to be developed.

This workshop facilitated a dialogue between stakeholders that focus on the future of agriculture in the Oldenburger Münsterland. Even though there were different approaches of how the future of agriculture can be developed sustainably, the participants agreed on the fact that transformation is necessary.

Agriculture in the context of sustainable development certainly is one major future challenge that might be tackled by the future students of the CASE Masters’ programme on Sustainability-driven Entrepreneurship. From the CASE perspective, the workshop was a good starting point to get into contact with one relevant regional sector and its stakeholders.

CASE Needs Analysis finished: Findings on Competencies for Sustainability-driven Entrepreneurship

Petra Biberhofer

Interviews_CASE_Needs AnalysisThe report represents the main outputs of the needs analysis of work package 1 (WP1) within the CASE project. The specific aim of the report and WP1 is to summarize concrete needs and necessary competencies for sustainability-driven entrepreneurship.

For this purpose a qualitative research approach was chosen to bring together perspectives of enterprises and universities concerning a future collaboration as a possible starting-point for a long-lasting multistakeholder network. Furthermore an analysis of best practice examples was necessary in order to create synergies and use existing knowledge and good experiences of teaching towards sustainability-driven entrepreneurship.

As the results show, both, companies and universities, are highly aware of the huge challenges for society, economy and natural environment on a global and regional level. That calls for integrated, holistic approaches and for comprehensive socio-economic transformation processes, involving various stakeholders from entrepreneurial, societal and educational contexts.

As disciplinary analysis quickly reach their limits, research and practice for sustainability-driven entrepreneurship require comprehensive and integrated approaches. Multistakeholder networks could provide the right learning environments for complex sustainability issues.

CASE Needs Analysis. Summary. Findings on Competencies for Sustainability-driven Entrepreneurship. Based on interviews with partners from sustainability-driven enterprises and universities

Transdisciplinary project seminars at the University of Vechta

Petra Biberhofer

Studierenden VechtaSince challenges of sustainable development have a high degree of complexity and uncertainty, different perspectives, approaches and knowledge resources are needed to deal with them and to  develop options for action. Therefore, in research and teaching on sustainable development interdisciplinarity (cooperation of representatives of different disciplines or subjects) and transdisciplinarity (cooperation of science and practice) are required.

Marco Riekmann is professor for didactics in higher education with a research focus on key competencies and part of the CASE team at the University of Vechta. In his latest article “Transdisziplinäre Forschung und Lehre als Brücke zwischen Zivilgesellschaft und Hochschulen” (“Transdisciplinary research and teaching as a bridge between civil society and universities”) he Walking Studierenden Vechtagives an overview of the concepts of sustainability sciences and transdisciplinarity as well as the importance of transdisciplinary research and teaching. In addition, transdisciplinary project-based courses at the University of Vechta are described, and based on this experience, potentials and hurdles of transdisciplinary collaboration of civil society organisations and universities are reflected.

Rieckmann2015_Transdisziplinäre Forschung und Lehre als Brücke zwischen Zivilgesellschaft und Hochschulen

Vienna CASE workshops connect sustainability-driven entrepreneurs

Petra Biberhofer

22582355796_ec737c923a_bOn the 19th and 20th of October 2015 the CASE consortium met again in Vienna for two intensive workshop days. The CASE team worked together with selected university partners, students as well as business partners which play a leading role and have experience in the field of sustainability-driven entrepreuneurship.

First results from the CASE needs analysis have been developed further with all participants. Most important contents, which foster competencies for sustainability-driven entrepreneurship have been discussed and structured at the Wiener Stadtwerke Holding AG which hosted the workshop. The dialogue between companies, universitites and students has been supported via open discussions as well as networking opportunities during the workshop and afterwards. Ideas, motivations and success stories have been presented and shared between sustainability-driven entrepreneurs such as Bernhard Hofer founder of Talentify.me, Alexandra Depisch from Insettos, Barbara Schöllenberger active as Die Netzwerkerin, Julian Wudy founder of BOKU Startup Collective Energy, Mischa Altmann from Resonanz, Isabella Kaupa senior consultant at Melange C Sustainable Consulting and Sylvia Brenzel head of Plenum association for holistic sustainable development gmbh.

CASE_Vienna Workshop Program

More impressions from the CASE workshop in Vienna.