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INEX Sustainability Challenge represents an interdisciplinary course offered by the four biggest universities of Vienna. It consists of four blocks following an innovative learning and teaching concept. By coordination of diverse disciplines and integration of experts the aim of sustainable development is brought into the curricula of the participating universities. In the mind of the participants a common base of knowledge will be developed, while common experiance will hopefully remain in the hearts of these future decision makers.
Academic content, TU Vienna: Planning and building are characterized by intensive change caused by climate change and reactions on it. It has become mandatory to look on the environmental impact of buildings over their lifetime - from construction to demolition and recycling or reuse. But - how do "Buildings for the future" look like? Do innovative ideas and design meet the challenge of sustainable building? Are there any concepts to deal with e.g. the growing gap between rich and poor in a constructive way? In the context of this course outstanding architecturally and technically solutions will be presented. Their contribution to sustainability will be discussed, starting with the ecological passive house standard, continuing with energy plus solutions, participative models, climate conscious design, the use of renewable energy supply and renewable building materials. Finally, an overview over the latest trends in the field of building assessment will be given - including economic aspects.
The course "Sustainability Challenge" is characterized by the interactive design of the four course blocks. The sessions include presentations by experts, discussions, group work, and evaluations in panel discussions. Beyond the usual learning capabilities INEX Sustainability Challenge speaks to the ability of learning context, as a joint field trip is planned. Note: The number of etcs-points is increased to 4! For lecture halls, facilities are offered by the participating universities. This allows not only to learn firsthand interdisciplinarity, but also opens the possibility of previously unknown classrooms outside the usual university know. About this particular format of the course problem-solving skills, conflict resolution skills, experience, knowledge, lateral thinking, teamwork and design skills are trained. The prevailing largest economic and financial crisis of capitalism requires new ways of thinking and values: the time for such a measure is not targeted education could be better. The INEX Sustainability Challenge fills the resulting vacuum with a sustained conceptual saddle solid project plan, which a long-term approach to funding alone is reason. The implementation of the INEX Sustainability Challenge includes a broad set of actions which leads from advertising and editorial campaign to raise awareness in the university environment, the implementation of the subject in the university curricula, as well as a final publication, to the inclusion of the so trained change agents in further projects.
