Information on individual educational components (ECTS-Course descriptions) per semester

• With your registration the participation in the study trip is obligatory. 
• This course welcomes students from all areas of study, and does not require any previous knowledge!
• However, good knowledge of English is necessary due to the study trip in February. A minimum requirement of English at level B2 (according to the CEFR) is required. In India, you will be expected to interact with English-speaking people having strong dialects. Thus, a degree of fluency in English is necessary.
• This course requires active attendance and participation.
• There are costs involved for the mandatory 8-day study trip in India. Please see „comment“ below.

Part 1: Diversity and Sustainable Development

    This first part of the course will create the context of understanding for much of what we will do in India. Topics that will be addressed are socio-economic development differences between countries (focus Europe and India), impact on diversity differences, and understanding cradle-to-cradle for business sustainability.
    In a connected world, you will learn to understand that not only sustainability problems caused by industries but also the interrelationships between humans and the environment are essential to creating meaningful change. And to deal with these issues globally, we must understand the differences before we can talk about solutions.

Part 2: Study Trip to India

    For this part, you will take a 10-day study trip to India (including 2 travel days). In India, you will be exposed to diversity in the form of different cultures, and economic development, and sustainability-related problems. You will also gain insight into a few ways people are trying to deal with these problems.
    You will be talking to local experts on the campus of our partner university as well as traveling to villages guided by local experts, to see e.g., water management solutions in villages, gender-related empowerment, and how global warming is impacting India (among other things).
    And we will take you to the famous Taj Mahal and Red Fort while we are there! This is also included in the program costs!

This course gives insight into diversity (not only concerning people!) and long-term sustainability issues. The 8-day study trip to India (including travel days there and back) is designed for working students with limited time for international travel.

Part 1: Lectures, a speaker (if available), a film, student research presentations/coachings, and much discussion

Part 2: Study trip with access to experts and relevant locations dealing with diversity and sustainability issues

Part 1: Presentation in English (showing not only an understanding of the course topics but also how they are linked)

Part 2: Written reflection paper showing learnings from Part 1 along with learnings from the study trip to India.

Registration of max. 16 and min. 9 participants. Alumni participation welcome.

      You will need to commit to the entire 6 ECTS of the course. Part 1 of the course taking place at the FHV will take place on Thursday evenings during the first part of the winter semester 2024/25. The second part to India will take place in Frebruary (February 11-20, 2025, including travel days).

      Good knowledge of English required.

     For the study trip, continuous presence in India must be ensured (departure no later than February 11, 2025 and arrival in Austria no earlier than February 20, 2025). The on-site program in India will take place from February 12 to 19, 2025.

     The program costs in India amount to approx. 1.200,- EUR***, this covers the accommodation and food costs on site, the travel costs as well as fees and any other program costs in the country! Including a visit to the famous Taj Mahal and Red Fort!

     *** depending on the number of participants as well as possible slight inflationary changes.

     For our study trip to India the fulfillment of all travel requirements (incl. required vaccinations) is mandatory.

     Travel, visa and vaccination costs (estimated at approx. 960 EUR) as well as insurance and personal expenses are additionally to be paid by yourself and to be organised individually.

     The program costs incurred are tax deductible.

     If the trip cannot take place due to uncertain conditions, it will be cancelled at the latest three months before the trip date. Please note this in the cancellation policy of your travel booking. The program costs paid to FHV will be refunded to you in this case. As part of the course, an adequate substitute program (project work on the topic of sustainability with online participation of experts from India) will be offered at the FHV.

For more information on the trip to India, visit FHV Inside: India 2025

A hybrid info date on Friday, 20 October 2023, 1-2 p.m. in the startupstube (next to room U2 12) will allow for your own questions and a personal exchange with Stefanie Chen.

THE 17 GOALS | Sustainable Development (un.org)

Home — SDG Indicators (un.org)

A comparative analysis of the National Integration Evaluation Mechanism in 14 EU countries - DIVERSITY DEVELOPMENT GROUP (diversitygroup.lt)

India | Climate Change : Awareness about the risks to livelihood, health and environment are most important. | Global Development Network (gdn.int)

• Face-to-face - attendance is mandatory.
• Travel to India is an integral part of the course and thus mandatory.
• All presentations, documentation and reports will have to be in English.