Global Engagement Module 2023

The second Global Engagement Module successfully took place from March to May 2023 as a collaboration between the University of Groningen, the University of Ghent and the University of Göttingen. The Göttingen track was organized as a collaboration of the Institute of Social and Cultural Anthropology and the Intercultural LearningLab (ICL). In the Göttingen track, students addressed the challenges of local climate adaptation in the participating ENLIGHT cities. Different from the first version, we wanted to make the context of challenges more concrete for the students. The aim was to use Challenge Based Learning (CBL) to identify specific local challenges of the climate crisis at a particular location and to seek solutions for them. The result was a mixture of critically reflected discussion and policy proposal.

Short Report

Adaptation to present and projected consequences of anthropogenic climate change is one of the most urgent issues in today’s world. Science, politics and sections of the public agree that more efforts for climate change adaptation are needed. However, there are still gaps in knowledge and implementation about adaptation measures. Students approached the topic in a multidisciplinary team of five. They chose a specific group challenge around climate change adaptation in an ENLIGHT city of their choice. As part of the Global Engagement Module 2023, this unit was concerned with local challenges around climate change adaptation and was based on Challenge Based Learning (CBL). Basic research on climate change adaptation in a location of the students' choice was conducted. The applied methodology was up to them while each group was accompanied by a coach guiding their actions. The challenge related to the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, especially Goal 13 “Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.” Approaching adaptation needs in international and multidisciplinary teams contributes to raising the students’ awareness of dealing with core issues in connection with climate change and, thus, provide basic prerequisites for sustainable actions.

The On-Site-Week

In the middle of April 2023, all participating students, coaches and experts met for a week in Göttingen to work on the defined challenges. The students received expert input in Göttingen through interactive sessions with Leon-Fabian Caspari and discussed various aspects of climate adaptation in the city of Göttingen. Tanja Wehr from Sketchnotelovers, an expert in knowledge transfer, worked with the students on the topic of visualization and communication of complex issues. The acquisition of competencies in the Global Engagement Module was also supported and encouraged during the attendance week through reflection and feedback sessions by the GEM Coaches Team of the University of Göttingen, Alexandra Schreiber, Alexandra Vogel and Soukeyna Lemallam.

Results

The results of the collaboration were later presented to an audience of experts, students and employees of the University of Göttingen in the Alte Mensa of the University of Göttingen.