Der Kurs ist im Distanzmodus angekündigt und findet - unabhängig, ob der Campusbetrieb eingeschränkt ist oder nicht - in jedem Fall als "distance learning" statt. / This PI takes place remotely as distance learning - regardless of whether the operation on campus is restricted or not.

Sustainability is a prominent concept at both the national and international level. Its importance has recently been restated with the formulation of the Sustainable Development Goals in 2015. This course is offers an interdisciplinary perspective by discussing how several aspects of social, economic, and ecological sustainability are linked to national and international law, including the law of the European Union. More specifically, this course shows to what extent law can, on the one hand, promulgate sustainability and, on the other hand, retard the implementation of sustainability goals.

While this course provides a first insight into international law, which may be useful for future courses such European law or other elective courses, it does not focus on the interpretation of laws or the examination of legal application. Instead, this course follows an integrative perspective on law and sustainability encouraging business lawyers-to-be to reflect on their own professional role in society and both the possibilities and limitations of legal provisions in general.

After completing this sustainable economics and business course for lawyers, the students are able to describe different aspects of sustainability and how these aspects are linked to corresponding legal provisions - both at the national and the international level. Further, students will be aware of current (legal) pitfalls and catalysts when it comes to implementing the concept of sustainability.

Engaging in this interdisciplinary discourse on law and sustainability, students learn to assess legal provisions from different perspectives. Throughout the course, students acquire the toolkit to employ their legal education with the call for action with respect to a long-term sustainable development. They learn to suggest legal constructs such that sustainability goals can be met. Writing assignments and presentations are designed to foster critical thinking. Feedback from the course instructors and lively class discussions will help students to recognize and develop these skills.

Particular emphasis is placed on teamwork skills and reflective thinking and experiential knowledge.

Examination-immanent courses (PI) have compulsory attendance. Please mind that attendance in at least 4 synchronous online sessions is necessary to complete the course. In case of absence, the lecture has to be informed.

Synchronous online sessions are scheduled for:

• Monday, November 2 (10:00 - 12:00)
• Thursday, November 12 (10:00 - 12:00)
• Thursday, November 19 (10:00 - 12:00)
• Thursday, November 26 (10:00 - 12:00)
• Thursday, December 3 (10:00 - 12:00)
• Thursday, December 17 (10:00 - 12:00)

Please note that this course takes place remotely as distance learning.

The course consists of both synchronous ("live") online sessions and asynchronous online sessions. Within each online session, students will read, discuss, and reflect upon legal aspects related to sustainability. In synchronous online sessions, topics will be discussed interactively, both in plenum and in small groups (i.e. breakout sessions). Tasks of asynchronous online sessions includes various types of tasks, e.g. questions to readings, research tasks, or MC quizzes, can be solved flexibly within the time period of the session.

In December, students will work in groups and apply their understanding about legal aspects of sustainability to a selected case study. The course will conclude with group presentations of the case study in the last session of the course.

The course language is English.

Course performance will be evaluated multi-dimensionally. 3 criteria are to be considered in the overall assessment:

- active participation in synchronous online sessions (30 points),

- individual activities such as readings, MC quizzes, and open questions in asynchronous online sessions (30 points), and

- group presentation of case study and discussion in the last session of the course (40 points).

As long as the minimum attendance requirement is fulfilled, absences may not directly affect the final grade. Yet, there can be indirect negative effects from being absent. This applies in particular when students cannot participate at graded activities during the course.

At the end of this course, points are converted to grades based on the following scale:

• 90-100 Punkte: sehr gut
• 80-89 Punkte: gut
• 70-79 Punkte: befriedigend
• 60-69 Punkte: genügend

katharina.pfaff@wu.ac.at