Increasing ecological, social and economical problems indicate that a global shift towards a sustainable development is needed. To deal with these challenges and in order to facilitate a shift towards sustainable development, the SEM master's degree at the University of Oldenburg aims towards training scholars to become experts of sustainability, capable to create more sustainable economic and social structures and processes. The SEM master’s program provides graduates with a solid economic knowledge and a well founded combination of expertise in ecological and social issues, as well as the analytical, interdisciplinary and social skills necessary for a sustainable development.
By initiating a master’s program focused on the paradigm of sustainable development, the University of Oldenburg consequently developed its unique position as one of the leading institutions in the field of ecological economics in Europe. The SEM master’s program is built on the philosophy that a trans- and interdisciplinary research and teaching approach is necessary to achieve sustainable development. Thus, the SEM master’s program combines knowledge and skills related to sustainable development from five different faculties by integrating the natural, social, computer, political and engineering sciences on a broad economic basis.
The article aims to analyse data from the past three years such as trans-and interdisciplinary, internationalization and outreach of the Oldenburg SEM master's programme and focuses on the demands the University had towards that specific master's programme. In the course of this analysis the article systematically assesses the initiating and implementation processes of this master’s programme and analyses its performance with regard to the essential demands towards its concept and its philosophy. Subsequently, the paper assesses crucial factors for optimal performance as well as possible barriers that might prevent a successful application of a master’s program focussing on ecological economics and sustainable development.
The master’s program Sustainability Economics and Management’ (SEM) builds on the experience and expertise from a previous study program in economics and business with a focus on ecology. During the transformation phase of the German higher education system towards bachelor and master degrees and study programs, respectively, the economics and business program with a focus on ecology was further developed and transformed into the current SEM master’s program.
Whereas the previous study program was based on classical economics and business approaches, the SEM master’s program centers on the paradigm of sustainable development and applies a truly trans-disciplinary approach. The SEM master’s program has its foundation in the Department of Business Administration, Economics, and Law with a strong focus on social science and economics. Hence, students graduating from the SEM master’s program are awarded a Master of Arts (M.A.) by the University of Oldenburg.
The SEM master’s course structure consists of both mandatory modules and optional modules. On the one hand all enrolled students should have a common knowledge base regarding major concepts of sustainable development, on the other hand the SEM master’s program is intended to offer possibilities to develop individual study profiles and individual ways to address sustainable development, due to personal interests. Mandatory modules focus in general on basic approaches for sustainable development as well as on the two leading scientific tracks of environmental economics and strategies and approaches for sustainable management. Following the approach that a transformation towards sustainable development needs all stakeholder groups of the global society and all professions, the SEM master’s program emphasises the development of personal student’s profiles, addressing sustainable development from several, individual directions.
Therefore, the SEM master’s program provides a variety of optional courses related to sustainable development, from which students can chose according to individual interests. Optional study modules offer courses in e.g. renewable energies, environmental planning, environmental modeling, law, marketing, eco-entrepreneurship and the natural sciences. Here, students can chose between individual study pathways throughout the curriculum of the SEM master’s program or chose one of the pre-designed specializations. The following specializations can be chosen, giving the option of attending classes from a different scientific field or even other departments, working with staff and students of programs such as environmental modelling, renewable energies or landscape ecology.
Types of Specialization:
- Eco-Entrepreneurship
- Environmental Economics
- Environmental and Spatial Planning
- Environmental Management Information System
- Marketing
- Languages
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