934312 Facilitating change for sustainable development

Type
Lecture and seminar
Semester hours
4
Lecturer (assistant)
Gillay, Arthur , Hauser, Michael , De Faria, Alexandre
Organisation
Development Research
Offered in
Sommersemester 2025
Languages of instruction
Englisch
Content

Change that builds sustainable agriculture and resilient food systems has long been a global priority. But designing effective change processes requires facilitators to understand of how change in complex systems possibly happens. This includes the forces that sustain the status quo and the strategies needed to overcome resistance to change. This course focuses on facilitating transformative change within households, communities, organisations and food systems by conceptualising change as the co-evolution of complex adaptive systems. It does so by drawing on diverse change theories and process models. Facilitators can combine these theories and models to help actors co-create impact pathways that are innovative, inclusive and resilient to setbacks. Since change is dynamic and non-linear, this course emphasises the importance of adapting facilitation strategies flexibly. Eventually, participants will develop the knowledge and skills for co-designing evidence-based, theory-led and impactful change designs.
Previous knowledge expected

Participants should have an interest in the design of human-centric change processes and transitions in complex systems. Active engagement in discussions, group work, and online check-ins is expected, along with a willingness to explore readings, videos, and other learning resources. Additionally, students should be committed to a mini project focused on designing and facilitating change processes.
Objective (expected results of study and acquired competences)

1. Analyze how change happens in complex systems by comparing conventional development models with alternative approaches.
2. Apply facilitation designs to engage stakeholders, foster ownership, and co-create innovative impact pathways.
3. Identify key learning principles and group dynamics that influence effective change facilitation with adult groups.
4. Evaluate challenges in translating program goals into real interactions and propose strategies to navigate resistance and setbacks.
5. Organize facilitation designs into design families and explore their role in building collaborative leadership and sustainable development.
You can find more details like the schedule or information about exams on the course-page in BOKUonline.