The core elective module provides tutorial-style teaching and discussion environments in smaller groups based on lecture themes. Lessons, seminars, and group projects are used to explore important topics in sustainable development in mountainous countries. The study module will give a general understanding of shifting discourses of mountain places linked to current challenges, such as climate change and migration. The course will explore and discuss responses to such challenges. One focus will be laid on tourism: We will analyze its development prospects, economic linkages, and, based on recent studies, induced changes in the host society's socioeconomic structure. There will also be a discussion on the best practical examples of mountain tourism development from the European alpine areas. A second core area of the course offers insights into landscape and conservation research in mountainous areas, their foothills (such as the Prealps), and adjacent regions. It will discuss opportunities and challenges linked to protected area establishment and management and will introduce the students to contemporary approaches to nature conservation and landscape research, both in practice and theory.

Students will strengthen their thematic and theoretical knowledge by connecting them with different methods and put them into practice during a group project assignment. Additionally, they will be expected to undertake self-directed learning to deepen their understanding of the reading materials introduced during class.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Students who complete the course will be able to obtain scientific and practical knowledge:

• Students can effectively collaborate in groups in a cross-cultural environment.
• Students are able to write texts for scientific and non-scientific audiences.
• Students can describe different qualitative research methods and are able to apply some of them in a small research project.
• Students are able to formulate research questions related to the course topics, and to plan and conduct a research project to answer these questions.
• Students can critically discuss current challenges related to sustainable (mountain) development.
• Students are able to connect conceptual approaches with case studies in the Alpine and Caucasus regions.
• Students are able to discuss different development trends and social, ecological, and economic impacts of migration and tourism in mountains.
• Students are able to reflect on the social implications of nature conservation projects.