Here is a list of the courses offered by the Sustainability Transition Policy team. For questions about a specific course, please contact the responsible lecturer. As we are still building up the course portfolio, this page will be updated and expanded as we go.
Winter Semester 2025/2026
| Course | Bachelor/Master & Study program | Description | Course type | Time & Place | Lecturer(s) |
| European critical Materials Supply Chains | Master(Economics, IBS, Management, Sozök) | The global supply chains that underpin critical materials are highly complex and deeply intertwined with geopolitics. This course provides an overview of the key concepts and approaches in the study of critical mineral supply chains, drawing from International Relations and International Political Economy. Students will gain tools necessary to analyses political, economic (market), and strategic developments in material supply chains and to mitigate impacts. They will apply their knowledge into various (real) case studies. Register here: https://www.studon.fau.de/campo/course/546547 | Seminar | Wednesdays from 08:00-9:30 Starts 15.04.2026 In LG 3.155 | Dr. Moniek de Jong |
| Global Energy Politics | Bachelor (Political science) | Without energy supplies, the way in which we live our lives in the developed world would be dramatically altered. The goal of this course is to provide an overview of the main concepts and approaches in the study of global energy politics. Grounded in the field of International Relations and related sub-fields (e.g., Geopolitics, International Political Economy), this course will equip students with a framework for understanding and analyzing the political stakes and trade-offs involved in addressing the global energy challenge of ensuring secure, sustainable and affordable access to energy supplies for all. Register here: https://www.studon.fau.de/campo/course/540551 | Seminar | Thursdays from 13:15-14:45 Starts 16.04.2025 In Erlangen, room KH 0.024 | Dr. Moniek de Jong |
| International Politics: Global Sustainability | Vorlesung & Übung (Deutsch, Literatur auf Englisch) | Dieser Kurs befasst sich mit dem internationalen politischen System und konzentriert sich dabei auf Global Governance der Nachhaltigkeit. Wir diskutieren die Inhalte und Auswirkungen globaler Strukturen, wie sie durch die Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), das Pariser Abkommen und internationale Menschenrechtsverträge festgelegt wurden, für Staaten, Unternehmen und Bürger und reflektieren kritisch über die Stärken und Probleme globaler Nachhaltigkeits-Governance. https://www.studon.fau.de/studon/goto.php?target=lcode_okyND4vr | SozÖk Studierende, und Studierende von anderen Programmen | Vorlesung: Montags 15.00-16.30 Vorlesungssaal Mensagebäude, Andreij-Sacharow-Platz 1 Übungen Dienstags in drei Zeitslots um 13.15, 15.00 und 16.45 in verschiedenen Räumen in Lange Gasse. | Prof. Dr. Johan Lilliestam, Prof. Dr. Almut Schilling-Vacaflor |
| International Politics | IBS and IES students, and any interested student from other programmes | This course discusses the international political system, focusing on global governance of sustainability. We discuss the contents and implications, for states, companies, and citizens, of global sustainability governance structures as established by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Paris Agreement and international human rights treaties, and critically reflect on strengths and problems of global sustainability governance. https://www.studon.fau.de/studon/goto.php?target=lcode_7N3HnQXf | Lecture+exercise (English) | Lecture: Wednesdays 8.00-9.30 in LG H6 Exercises Wednesdays in three slots starting 13.15, 15.00 and 16.45 in different rooms in Lange Gasse | Prof. Dr. Johan Lilliestam, Prof. Dr. Almut Schilling-Vacaflor |
| STP thesis seminar | All students accepted for writing a thesis at the STP chair. | In this seminar, we discuss how to write a bachelor or master thesis, with a particular focus on building the thesis report. How do I write a good text, what contents goes where in the repost, and how do I make useful figures that get my results and findings across? We also solve problems in the context of each individual thesis based on discussions and peer feedback. https://www.studon.fau.de/studon/goto.php?target=lcode_FAYH3zeA | Colloquium (English) | Location: zoom, on 4 Friday mornings starting on 17 April at 9.00. | Prof. Dr. Johan Lilliestam |
| Trade and Sustainability | Bachelor (IBS, IES, Sozök, Political Science, BWL, Economics) | In this course, we will look at how global trade impacts the environment and economic development. Using case studies of different products like soy, solar panels, and steel, we will look at trade between Europe and Brazil, China, the US and more. The course will explore how different actors including country governments, civil society and businesses react to sustainability and development changes, and supply chain regulation. By the end of the course, students will be able to compare how these cases compare with theories about international trade. They will understand under which contexts globalization has positive or negative environmental impacts, and consider supply chain management in terms of environmental and reputational risks. They will also better understand regulations like CBAM, the CSDDD, and Lieferkettengesetz, and how these affect European businesses’ position in global markets. See on StudOn: https://www.studon.fau.de/campo/course/506268 | Lecture + exercise | Tuesdays from 9:00-12:30 In Lange Gasse room 5.153 | Dr. Silvia Weko |