290055 SE Open Minds for Global Change and Sustainability II (2024S)

The seminar 'Open Minds II - Finding Your Roles' is a course situated in the middle of the Master's program and aims to prepare students for the final phase of their studies and the time thereafter. In this seminar, participants build on the foundations of Open Minds I – Ownership and their 'Personal Intellectual Project' (PIP) developed there. The goal is to deepen their knowledge on sustainability and problem-solving in the context of global change and to further develop their personal expertise, with a focus on their PIP. By implementing a semester project, students have the opportunity to sharpen their expertise and critically discuss, present, and publish a concrete knowledge project on global sustainability challenges. Additionally, the seminar includes units with a special focus on the final phase of the studies and preparation for the Master's thesis.
The overarching goals of Open Minds II are to promote independence and strengthen 21st Century Skills such as creativity, communication ability, and collaboration, as well as developing strategies for the elaboration and presentation of scientific content and innovative formats of science communication. This is achieved through interactive course elements, group work, and individual projects. It also involves the participants engaging with their role after graduation and the question of how they can contribute to a more sustainable future.