13659 - Sustainability and Digitalisation Modulübersicht

Module Number: 13659
Module Title:Sustainability and Digitalisation
  Digitalisierung und Nachhaltigkeit
Department: Faculty 5 - Business, Law and Social Sciences
Responsible Staff Member:
  • Prof. Dr. phil. Jaeger-Erben, Melanie
Language of Teaching / Examination:English
Duration:1 semester
Frequency of Offer: Every summer semester
Credits: 6
Learning Outcome:The module provides knowledge and understanding of social science sustainability research at the interface of technology, environment and society. After attending the module, students will be able to adequately describe digitization as a comprehensive transformation process in terms of its advantages and disadvantages and analyse various digitization phenomena from a social science perspective. They can use digital media and communication formats (blogs, podcasts) in a targeted manner. Students are able to conduct case analyses after completing the module.
Contents:Digitalisation as well as sustainability are so-called mega-trends the 21st century. Digital technologies are increasingly integrated in society and economy. This process both poses environmental and social challenges, such as climate change or social injustice, as well as the potential to accelerate sustainable transition. An effective transition to renewable decentralized energy supplies for instance will only succeed with digital and connected devices. However, digitalisation is not per definition sustainable. It also has many negative impacts on the environment and society. For example, electronic devices require scarce non-renewable natural resources, and data processing uses vast amounts of energy. The reserves of the elements needed for digitalisation are depleting, while the volume of electronic waste is rapidly growing every year. How can digitalisation support sustainable transition without causing more harm than good? Is a green digitalisation possible? In the module, we cover the risks and potentials in of digital innovations in various sectors such as energy systems, mobility, agriculture o education.

The module contains following topics: 
  • Part 1: Is digitalisation sustainable? - An introduction to digital technologies and their social and environmental impact
  • Part 2: Is digitalisation serving sustainability? – Diving into sustainable human, technology and nature relationships and innovations for a sustainable world
  • Part 3: Assessing the effects of specific digital technologies (e.g., Artificial intelligence, Smart Everything or Platform economy) for sustainable development as well as their effects on specific spheres of life (e.g., data protection, effects on democracy and digital divide).
Recommended Prerequisites:none
Mandatory Prerequisites:none
Forms of Teaching and Proportion:
  • Lecture / 2 Hours per Week per Semester
  • Seminar / 2 Hours per Week per Semester
  • Self organised studies / 120 Hours
Teaching Materials and Literature:The following literature can be used for preparation:
  • Lange, S., & Santarius, T. (2020). Smart Green World?: Making Digitalisation Work for Sustainability. Routledge.
  • Hilty, L., and Aebischer, B. (2015). ICT Innovations for Sustainability. Advances in intelligent systems and computing, 310, p. 351-365.
  • Vetter, A. (2018). The matrix of convivial technology–assessing technologies for degrowth. Journal of Cleaner Production, 197, 1778-1786.
Module Examination:Continuous Assessment (MCA)
Assessment Mode for Module Examination:
  • Written exam (45 min.) - (30%)
  • Group presentation (max. 10 min/person) - (30%)
  • 2 exercises from the seminar, incl. a reflection on the topic of the exercises to hand in (3 pages per exercise) - (15% per exercise) 
  • Active participation in class (10%)
Evaluation of Module Examination:Performance Verification – graded
Limited Number of Participants:None
Part of the Study Programme:
  • Master (research-oriented) / Angewandte Mathematik / PO 2008
  • Master (research-oriented) / Angewandte Mathematik / PO 2019
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Architektur / PO 2014
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) - Double Degree / Architektur / PO 2014
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Architektur / PO 2022
  • Master (research-oriented) / Architektur / PO 2016
  • Master (research-oriented) / Artificial Intelligence / PO 2022
  • Master (research-oriented) / Bauen und Erhalten / PO 2007
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) - Extended Semester / Bauingenieurwesen / PO 2017
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Bauingenieurwesen / PO 2017
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Bauingenieurwesen / PO 2022
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) - Extended Semester / Bauingenieurwesen / PO 2022
  • Master (research-oriented) / Bauingenieurwesen / PO 2014
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) - Co-Op Programme with Integrated Vocational Training / Bauingenieurwesen - dual / PO 2017
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) - Co-Op Programme with Integrated Vocational Training / Bauingenieurwesen - dual / PO 2022
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) - Co-Op Programme with Practical Placement / Bauingenieurwesen - dual / PO 2022
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Bau- und Kunstgeschichte / PO 2022
  • Abschluss im Ausland / Betriebswirtschaftslehre / keine PO
  • Bachelor (applied) / Betriebswirtschaftslehre / PO 2017
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Betriebswirtschaftslehre / PO 2011
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Betriebswirtschaftslehre / PO 2017
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Betriebswirtschaftslehre / PO 2024
  • Master (research-oriented) / Betriebswirtschaftslehre / PO 2017
  • Bachelor (applied) - Co-Op Programme with Practical Placement / Betriebswirtschaftslehre - dual / PO 2019
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) - Co-Op Programme with Practical Placement / Betriebswirtschaftslehre - dual / PO 2024
  • Bachelor (applied) / Biotechnologie / PO 2018
  • Bachelor (applied) - Double Degree / Biotechnologie / PO 2021
  • Master (applied) / Biotechnology / PO 2018
  • Master (applied) - Extended Semester / Biotechnology / PO 2018
  • Master (research-oriented) / Cyber Security / PO 2017
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Digitale Gesellschaft / PO 2022
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / eBusiness / PO 2007
  • Master (research-oriented) / eBusiness / PO 2007
  • Bachelor (applied) / Elektrotechnik / PO 2018
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Elektrotechnik / PO 2014
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Elektrotechnik / PO 2019
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Elektrotechnik / PO 2022
  • Master (applied) / Elektrotechnik / PO 2018
  • Master (applied) - Extended Semester / Elektrotechnik / PO 2018
  • Master (research-oriented) / Elektrotechnik / PO 2014
  • Master (research-oriented) / Elektrotechnik / PO 2019
  • Master (research-oriented) / Elektrotechnik / PO 2023
  • Bachelor (applied) - Co-Op Programme with Integrated Vocational Training / Elektrotechnik - dual / PO 2018
  • Bachelor (applied) - Co-Op Programme with Practical Placement / Elektrotechnik - dual / PO 2018
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) - Co-Op Programme with Integrated Vocational Training / Elektrotechnik - dual / PO 2022
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) - Co-Op Programme with Practical Placement / Elektrotechnik - dual / PO 2022
  • Abschluss im Ausland / Energietechnik und Energiewirtschaft / keine PO
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Energietechnik und Energiewirtschaft / PO 2021
  • Master (research-oriented) / Energietechnik und Energiewirtschaft / PO 2021
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Environmental and Resource Management / PO 2015
  • Bachelor (applied) / Hebammenwissenschaft / PO 2021
  • Bachelor (applied) - Co-Op Programme with Integrated Vocational Training / Hebammenwissenschaft / PO 2021
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Informatik / PO 2008
  • Master (research-oriented) / Informatik / PO 2008
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Informations- und Medientechnik / PO 2017
  • Master (research-oriented) / Informations- und Medientechnik / PO 2017
  • Bachelor (applied) / Instrumental- und Gesangspädagogik / PO 2019
  • Master (research-oriented) / Klimagerechtes Bauen und Betreiben / PO 2018
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Kultur und Technik / PO 2017
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Künstliche Intelligenz / PO 2022
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Künstliche Intelligenz Technologie / PO 2022
  • Master (research-oriented) / Künstliche Intelligenz Technologie / PO 2022
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Landnutzung und Wasserbewirtschaftung / PO 2017
  • Master (research-oriented) / Landnutzung und Wasserbewirtschaftung / PO 2011
  • Master (research-oriented) / Landnutzung und Wasserbewirtschaftung / PO 2018
  • Bachelor of Education / Lehramt Primarstufe / PO 2023
  • Master (research-oriented) / Leichtbau und Werkstofftechnologie / PO 2023
  • Master (research-oriented) - Co-Op Programme with Practical Place / Leichtbau und Werkstofftechnologie - dual / PO 2023
  • Bachelor (applied) / Maschinenbau / PO 2018
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Maschinenbau / PO 2006
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Maschinenbau / PO 2021
  • Master (applied) / Maschinenbau / PO 2018
  • Master (applied) - Extended Semester / Maschinenbau / PO 2018
  • Master (research-oriented) / Maschinenbau / PO 2006
  • Master (research-oriented) / Maschinenbau / PO 2023
  • Master (research-oriented) - Reduced Semester / Maschinenbau / PO 2023
  • Bachelor (applied) - Co-Op Programme with Integrated Vocational Training / Maschinenbau - dual / PO 2018
  • Bachelor (applied) - Co-Op Programme with Practical Placement / Maschinenbau - dual / PO 2018
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) - Co-Op Programme with Integrated Vocational Training / Maschinenbau - dual / PO 2021
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) - Co-Op Programme with Practical Placement / Maschinenbau - dual / PO 2021
  • Master (research-oriented) - Co-Op Programme with Practical Place / Maschinenbau - dual / PO 2023
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Materialchemie / PO 2018
  • Master (research-oriented) / Materialchemie / PO 2018
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Mathematik / PO 2019
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Mathematik / PO 2023
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) - Co-Op Programme with Practical Placement / Mathematik - dual / PO 2023
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Medizininformatik / PO 2016
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Medizintechnik / PO 2022
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) - Co-Op Programme with Practical Placement / Medizintechnik - dual / PO 2022
  • Master (research-oriented) / Nachwachsende Rohstoffe und Erneuerbare Energien / PO 2008
  • Bachelor (applied) / Pflegewissenschaft / PO 2017
  • Bachelor (applied) / Pflegewissenschaft / PO 2020
  • Bachelor (applied) - Co-Op Programme with Integrated Vocational Training / Pflegewissenschaft / PO 2020
  • Master (research-oriented) / Physics / PO 2021
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Physik / PO 2021
  • Master (research-oriented) / Physik / PO 2018
  • Master (research-oriented) / Power Engineering / PO 2016
  • Bachelor (applied) / Soziale Arbeit / PO 2018
  • Bachelor (applied) - Double Degree / Soziale Arbeit / PO 2018
  • Bachelor (applied) / Soziale Arbeit / PO 2020
  • Bachelor (applied) - Double Degree / Soziale Arbeit / PO 2020
  • Master (applied) / Soziale Arbeit / PO 2018
  • Master (applied) / Soziale Arbeit / PO 2020
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Städtebau und Stadtplanung / PO 2019
  • Master (research-oriented) / Stadtplanung / PO 2019
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Stadtplanung und Städtebau / PO 2023
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Stadt- und Regionalplanung / PO 2016
  • Master (research-oriented) / Stadt- und Regionalplanung / PO 2017
  • Master (research-oriented) / Stadt- und Regionalplanung / PO 2023
  • Bachelor (applied) / Therapiewissenschaften / PO 2017
  • Master (research-oriented) / Transformation Studies / PO 2024
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Umweltingenieurwesen / PO 2006
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Umweltingenieurwesen / PO 2021
  • Master (research-oriented) - Double Degree / Verarbeitungstechnologien der Werkstoffe / PO 2015
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Verfahrenstechnik / PO 2013
  • Bachelor (applied) / Wirtschaftsingenieurwesen / PO 2018
  • Master (applied) / Wirtschaftsingenieurwesen / PO 2018
  • Master (applied) - Extended Semester / Wirtschaftsingenieurwesen / PO 2018
  • Bachelor (applied) - Co-Op Programme with Integrated Vocational Training / Wirtschaftsingenieurwesen - dual / PO 2018
  • Bachelor (applied) - Co-Op Programme with Practical Placement / Wirtschaftsingenieurwesen - dual / PO 2018
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Wirtschaftsmathematik / PO 2007
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Wirtschaftsmathematik / PO 2023
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) - Co-Op Programme with Practical Placement / Wirtschaftsmathematik - dual / PO 2023
 This module has been approved for the general studies.
Remarks:None
Module Components:
  • Lecture: Digitalisation and Sustainability: Evolution, Trends and Future Scenarios
  • Seminar: Digitalisation and Sustainability: Current Topics
Components to be offered in the Current Semester: