This module contributes to the students´ understanding for basic transition processes and dynamics.
Upon completion students will be able

• to comprehend different concepts of transition including environmental, social, economic and technical aspects
• to illustrate the complex relationship between different transition fields (technological, social, ecological and economical fields) and understand interdisciplinary links
• to address and analyze opportunities and risks regarding the interrelation in this field
• to explain and analyze the socio-technical approach of transition and its co-evolution with multiple dimensions
• to create strategies to mitigate and adapt to the demands of climate crises taking into account the different approaches and points of view (ecological, social, technical and economic transition)
• to present and communicate the increasing importance of transition concepts, theories and management practices approaches to companies, local communities and decision makers

None

The course provides orientation and sets the framework for working in the interdisciplinary field of transition. It includes basic knowledge about transition concepts in the context of climate change, climate mitigation and adaptation. The focus of the course contents is on the socio-technical and the socio-ecological transformation.
The course will provide theoretical knowledge and practical skills on, e.g.:

• Concepts and theory of transition studies
• Basics in climate mitigation and adaptation
• Discussion of current research areas and fields of transition in the context of climate change
• Overview and implementation of transition approaches in the context of climate change
  • Multi-level perspective
  • Socio-technical relationship
  • Society-nature relationship
• Environmental, sustainability and technology assessment methods in the context of innovation and transition

Barnes P.: Transition Initiatives and Confrontational Politics: Guidelines, Opportunities, and Practices, paper, presented at Western Political Science Association 2016 Annual Meeting, San Diego, California, March 24, 2016
Transition initiatives and confrontational politics (Barnes) (wpsanet.org)
Grin J., et al.: Transitions to Sustainable Development: New Directions in the Study of Long-Term Transformative Change. Routledge, 2011
Hopkins R.: The Transition Handbook: From oil dependency to local resilience. Green Books, 2008
Van den Bergh J., et al.: Environmental innovation and societal transitions: Introduction and overview, in: Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions Vol 1(1):1-23, Elsevier, 2011;
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eist.2011.04.010
Jorgsen U.: Mapping and Navigating transitions-The Multi-Level Perspective Compared with Arenas of Development. In: Research Policy, 41(6):996-1010, 2012, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2012.03.001.
Wimbadi R. W., Djalante R., Mori A.: Urban experiments with
public transport for low carbon mobility transitions in cities: A systematic literature review (1990-2020). In: Sustainable Cities and Society, 72, 103023, 2021; Doi: 10.1016/j.scs.2021.103023

Lecture, group discussions, case studies, group work with presentation and discussion of results

Immanent examination character:
Participation in group work, presentation of case study results, presentation of group work