Students are able to

• select and use appropriate (digital) communication and participation methods in a targeted way (e.g. focus groups, world café, workshop, presentation and discussion round)
• recognize conflicts, identify sources of conflict, analyze and resolve them
• approach conflict situations in the team in a creative and solution-oriented way
• apply methods and concepts of communication, facilitation and participation in a solution-oriented way
• communicate current issues and complex environmental decisions in dialogue with the public/customers

None

The course provides orientation and sets the framework for working in an interdisciplinary environment of ecological, economical, technical and social change. In the process, many different perspectives and opinions may arise. It includes different communication, moderation and participation techniques for a solution-oriented and efficient cooperation with the public or stakeholder groups:

• Theoretical and practical examination of basic participation processes
• Accompaniment and application of collaborative development and planning processes
• Methods of group leadership, moderation and presentation techniques
• Coping with conflict situations, conflict management
• Working in interdisciplinary spaces
• Developing common understanding/language (generalists/specialists/creating holistic understanding)
• Basics for transformation facilitators: dealing with complexity, different system logics or realities of life
• Recognizing stereotypes/language
• Entering into relationship, inviting people (PodCast moderations and blogs)
• Recognizing fake news and greenwashing; developing solutions such as value and strategy work.
• Methods of public relations and communication
• Diverse stakeholder composition

Watzlawick P.: The Situation is Hopeless, But Not Serious. The Pursuit of Unhappiness. Norton & Company, 1993.
Haddaway N.R, Kohl C., Rebelo da Silva N., Schiemann J., Spök A., Stewart R., Sweet J.B.: A framework for stakeholder engagement during systematic reviews and maps in environmental management.in: Environmental Evidence, 6 (11), 2018. DOI:10.1186/s13750-017-0089-8
Kusters K., Buck L., de Graaf M., Minang P., van Oosten C., R. Zagt: Participatory Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation of Multi-Stakeholder Platforms in Integrated Landscape Initiatives. In: Environmental Management (2018) 62: 170-181.
Phillips L. et al.: Citizen Voices: Performing Public Participation in Science and Environment Communication. Intellect Books, 2012
Gandy O.: Media and Environment: Conflict, Politics and the News.in: Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly, vol. 89, no. 3, Sage Publications, 2012 https://doi.org/10.1177/1077699012452530.
Stern P., Dietz T.: Public Participation in Environmental Assessment and Decision Making, National Academic Press, 2008
Clark J. K.: Public values and public participation: A case of collaborative governance of a planning process., in: The American Review of Public Administration. Vol 51(3): 199-212, Sage Publications, 2021
Jones T. S., Brinker R.: Conflict Coaching: Conflict Management Strategies and Skills for the Individual. Sage Publications, 2008

Presentations, role plays, online-presentations, discussions, reflections, group work, reading, self-study

Immanent examination character:
Participation in role plays, participation in discussions, presentations