Namibia and Germany: The Case of Green Hydrogen in the Context of Sustainability Challenges

  • SDG 7 – Bezahlbare und saubere Energie
  • Challenge
  • 3 ECTS
  • 90 h
  • Synchron - Service-Learning
  • kostenlos
#sdg4, #sdg7, #sdg17, #globalsouth, #namibia, #wickedproblems, #germany, #gh2 #GreenHydrogen
zum Kurs

Kursbeschreibung

This seminar is open for students from all disciplines who are curious to explore the relationship between the Global South and North with focus on Namibia and Germany, and their Green Hydrogen endeavour. Green Hydrogen is a future technology, praised for its characteristic as a clean(er) energy source that only emits water vapour and leaves no residue in the air, unlike coal and oil. Both countries, Namibia and Germany, are heavily invested in Green Hydrogen, on political, scientific, and economic level. This international cooperation is a prime example for the economic, social and political complexity that comes attached with the effort to further and achieve sustainable development. At the end of this course, we will have tackled the complexity that runs beneath the glossy promises of Green Hydrogen. What are possible actions to improve the situation or further the efforts between both countries in a mindful and meaningful way? These questions will conclude the seminar, pointing towards reflection, future prospects and activism.

Das wirst Du lernen

After successfully completing the course, you will be able to:

  • recall and deliver basic facts on Namibia and German-Namibian relationship, especially with focus on sustainability challenges.
  • identify and describe measures and initiatives that deal with challenges of sustainable development on different levels of society.
  • reproduce the basic facts about Green Hydrogen as a future technology, and its role in the Namibian-German relations.
  • put the technology in a critical context with debates on Climate Justice and the role of indigenous people.
  • relate the mutual history of Namibia and Germany to present day's relatsionship of both countries.
  • able to work on possible ways to actively contribute to the ongoing debate on Green Hydrogen, together with fellow students.
  • engage with experts and co-moderators in a well prepared and meaningful way. This includes the exploration of learning environments beyond the classroom (e.g. museum, research institute).
  • work together in interdisciplinary and multi-cultural teams and to self-direct your learning process.
  • You engage and communicate with Namibian and German partners in a mindful and productive way and to integrate diverse perspectives on sustainability issues.

Damit wirst Du Dich beschäftigen

The general goals and expected impact of this course are:

  • Achievement of a deeper and nuanced understanding of Green Hydrogen and its role in Namibian-German relations.
  • Raising of awareness for the complexitiy and dimensions of sustainability.
  • Improvement of the understanding among nations and cultures.


So ist Dein Kurs aufgebaut

•    Chapter 1 (2025-04-22): Get together for the SDGs!
•    Chapter 2 (2025-05-06): The SDGs in Namibia and Germany: achievements and challenges
•    Chapter 3 (2025-05-20): The case of Green Hydrogen: what and how?
•    Chapter 4 (2025-05-27): Namibian-German relationship: mediating the past
•    Chapter 5 (2025-06-03): Reparation, restitution and stolen artifacts
•    Chapter 6 (2025-06-24): Indigenous Knowledge and Future Technologies
•    Chapter 7 (2025-07-01): How to tackle complexity and taking action for the SDGs
•    Chapter 8 (2025-07-15): Reflection, wrap-up, action and activities
•    Submission (2025-08-15): Submission of an essay or alternative product/activity

So lernst Du

A self-directed and student-centered learning environment is provided. Working in groups and teams is suggested and supported. The course is considered blended learning, with digital learning material and face-to-face seminar sessions.

All seminar sessions (except Chapter 5) take place at:
University of Stuttgart
Centre for Higher Education and Lifelong Learning (zlw)
Azenbergstraße 16
Room 1.111
70174 Stuttgart, Germany

Students are expected to prepare the face-to-face sessions in advance by means of the learning management system Moodle (inverted classroom). Learning material will be provided.
During the seminar, several guests and speakers are expected to participate (depending on availability) remotely or on site. In some occasions, a visit to external learning environments are possible (e.g. Lindenmuseum, Institute of Energy Economics and Rational Energy Use).

Anbietende Hochschule

Universität Stuttgart

Kursverantwortliche

Dr. Thorsten Braun
Anita Gashi, M.A

Teilnahmevoraussetzungen
Keine
Form des Kursabschlusses

Every student is required to engage actively throughout the course and prepare for each session. A written documentation and reflection will document the learning process.

Alternatively, students may choose to engage in a meaningful activity outside the classroom, related to the seminar topic (e.g. give a presentation to another audience, shooting of a short film, contribute to an ongoing student exchange program with Namibia, engage with a student project or activism related to Namibian-German relations).