Program Overview

University of Hamburg Sustainability Certificate Program

The University of Hamburg offers an interdisciplinary Sustainability Certificate program, open to BA and MA students in all subject areas. This program aims to foster vital skills in education for sustainable development and foresighted, systemic, creative thinking, in line with the 17 UN Sustainability Development Goals.

Program Description

The Sustainability Certificate brings together students across disciplines, facilitating a holistic view of sustainability outside of their own subject area. The program consists of lectures, seminars, workshops, and excursions, providing opportunities for internal and external networking and collaborative, practice-oriented learning. Participants will document and reflect on their learning experiences in a multimedia portfolio.

Program Components

• An opening workshop at the beginning of the semester (4 UE)
• Attending a lecture series (minimum participation)
• 2 seminars on diverse sustainability topics (28 course hours, 3 ECTS per seminar)
• 2 day-long workshops in the faculties/University of Hamburg (each 8 course hours)
• 3 network meetings/excursions: learning about projects/organizations on site (each 4 course hours)
• E-portfolio: documenting and reflecting on learning experiences

Learning Goals

The Sustainability Certificate recognizes interdisciplinary and holistic skills in the field of sustainability, aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) established under the UN’s 2030 Agenda. These skills include:

• Awareness of different types of knowledge, ideas, definitions, terms, methods, and applications related to sustainability
• Identification, discourse on, and critical evaluation of the relationships between systems (political, economic, social, technological, and cultural)
• Resilience in the face of unfamiliar modes of reading and uncertainty
• Analysis of different data sets, texts, and images
• Ability to independently find, understand, evaluate, and compile interdisciplinary research findings
• Ability to apply knowledge and reflect on experience to form and articulate ideas, views, and attitudes in different ways (orally, in writing, visually) for different audiences

Courses and Activities

The program includes a variety of courses and activities, such as:

• Sustainability and activism
• Hamburg Fair Trade Competition
• Digital Social Innovations
• Sustainability Innovation Lab
• Lecture series on the climate crisis: Reclaiming Tomorrow
• Lecture: “Spitzenforschung für Nachhaltigkeit in Hamburg—Beiträge der Fakultät für Mathematik, Informatik und Naturwissenschaften zur nachhaltigen Entwicklung”
• Lecture: “Klima und Vegetation”
• Lecture: “Geschichte der Biologie”
• Institute colloquium: Ethnography and Environmental Humanities
• Twin Transformation—Sustainability and Digitalization
• Digital Innovation Lab
• Ethics and Modern AI

Eligibility and Admission

The program targets BA and MA students in all subject areas. Places in the certification program are limited, and where interest exceeds availability, places will be assigned by lottery.

Conclusion

The University of Hamburg Sustainability Certificate program offers a unique opportunity for students to engage with sustainability topics in a holistic and interdisciplinary manner. By participating in this program, students can develop essential skills in education for sustainable development, fostering a deeper understanding of the complex relationships between systems and promoting creative, systemic thinking.