Social and Economic Sustainability

In times of global environmental destruction, extreme weather events, climate change and economic and social uncertainties and wars, sustainable, regional developments are an opportunity and an important contribution to adaptation. In order to initiate social transformation and innovation processes in this direction, it is also necessary to involve the sciences that deal with social processes and contexts (including social geography, sociology and other social science disciplines).  

For this reason, the department offers courses, research activities and third mission events on current issues of sustainable development with social geography and social science perspectives (e.g. ethics, environment/climate justice and regional, national and international developments).  Because one thing is certain; the challenges for further social development and especially for the younger generation are overwhelming.  New research approaches, teaching concepts and ideas are needed to help young people shape the future in terms of sustainable development. 

With a critical view of Austria and in relation to global developments, sustainable developments are highlighted and visions and objectives for Austria are developed together with stakeholders – with a view to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations. To this end, problems are systematized and related with the help of the SDGs and various qualitative and quantitative approaches and models. In courses, the department offers an active insight into current research in social geography and sociology with transdisciplinary partners. To this end, various methods of socio-ecological transformation research are further developed and also taught accordingly in university teaching.