Become a designer of the future to make the world a better place.

Are you looking for meaningful studies beyond classical study formats? Are you concerned about the climate crisis? Do you want to use your knowledge and skills for a socially just and sustainable social development? Then the certificate "Transformation - Orientation - Future" is just right for you. It provides the perfect opportunity to embark on a challenging, inspiring and meaningful study journey. The two-semester program is designed to prepare young people for tackling the world's current challenges and help them acquire transformational skills for creating livable, sustainable futures. From day one, you will be encouraged to question the familiar and think and act in a transformative manner. Internships and practical projects, participatory and innovative teaching methods, the transdisciplinary structure, and the wide range of coaching offers will help you acquire a broad range of transformative skills. Completing the certificate can be immediately followed by the study program of the planned Bachelor's degree in "Social-Ecological Transformation" with a focus on "Sustainability" or "Applied Theology". However, certificate graduates are also free to study any other degree program at the KU that is compatible with the skill set and content of the completed certificate.

We can make a difference.

If you are ready to embark on a unique journey of transformation and personal growth, then the “Transformation - Orientation - Future” (TrOZ) certificate is just right for you.

Contents

The certificate program focuses on personal development and the practice of skills in the field of social-ecological transformation. In interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary courses, you will learn to perceive and critically reflect on social change, to foresee future developments, to deal with complexities, to co-create transformative processes, and to develop action orientations for complex realities of life characterized by multiple crises.

The study content is diverse and includes, among others, basics of transformation and sustainability sciences, ethical reflections, ethnographic methods, sociological, hermeneutical and religious interpretive knowledge, scenario techniques, project management, intercultural experiences, leadership skills, inter- and transdisciplinary work, as well as various topic-specific contents depending on the chosen specialization and modules.

The certificate places a special focus on personality development. By developing interpersonal skills such as reflective self-expression, mindful team interaction, and responsible behavior, you will not only be able to contribute professional expertise and social understanding to your work, but also gain skills that you will benefit from for a lifetime.

In order to support you in the process, we offer special workshops on "Interpersonal Skills" and "Values". In addition, you can rely on our coaches to provide guidance and advice, in groups or one-on-one, to challenge your abilities and accompany you in growing in your personality.

Structure

The program consists of a first orientation semester and a second orientation semester, which, on the one hand, offers familiar study formats such as seminars or lectures, but on the other hand, opens up a variety of experiential spaces and allows for project work in the fields of sustainability, social issues, media or religion.

First orientation semester

Weeks with blocked courses, camps, and internships take place during the first orientation semester . Among other things, students will visit selected transformation sites where they can act as "change agents" and practice sustainable lifestyles and provide impetus for a social-ecological transformation. You experience places of transformation, reflect on what you have learned with coaches and develop background knowledge as well as patterns of interpretation and action in lectures and seminars. At the end of the first semester, you will learn how to develop an idea into a project.

There are four phases in the first orientation semester:

1. During introductory camp, you will get an introduction to transformational science and transformative ethics and visit transformation sites to gain experience and learn an "art of social change."
2. During the internship phase, you will reflect on your experiences together with coaches.
3. In the intermediate camp, you will acquire in-depth background knowledge during the internship phase and learn to develop interpretive and anticipatory skills.
4. In the final camp, you will work on your ability to act. The focus here is on project management seminars and workshops.

Second orientation semester

In the second orientation semester, you will have the opportunity to enroll for regular study formats. You will also work on various project work in the areas of sustainability, social issues, media and religion. Here you can test your skills and develop your personality further. By working out and implementing independently chosen group projects, students acquire skills relevant for shaping the future ("future skills"). Your individual preferences will be accompanied by critical reflection. At the end of the second semester, students have the option of majoring in sustainability or applied theology and can choose to pursue a Bachelor's degree in “Socio-cultural Transformation”. It is also possible to transfer to another university program and have already acquired ECTS credits accredited there. 

You can complete the internships and project work at home or abroad. You can also receive guidance and support during these phases online. The KU International Office has a broad international network and can arrange stays abroad. We also have some internationally active partners on site who are available as internship providers.

You will complete a required internship of several weeks in various fields during the first semester of the certificate program. During this time you will be accompanied by coaches that help you reflect on your experiences.

The second semester includes various project work in the sustainable, social, media or religious fields. These should serve to test preferences and are accompanied by critical reflection.

Career prospects

The certificate is the ideal starting point for a career in a field focused on social-ecological transformation and sustainability. As a graduate, you can then directly enter the planned Bachelor's degree program in "Social-Ecological Transformation" with a focus on sustainability and applied theology, or another degree program at the KU that matches the skill set and contents you have acquired.

The "Transformation - Orientation - Future" certificate and the Bachelor's degree program in "Social-Ecological Transformation" provide skills that ideally fit the growing demand for professionals and managers with transformation and change management skills in education-related and pastoral sectors. This also includes the ability to act and communicate in multi-professional teams and to integrate transdisciplinary research and development processes in planning and conceptualization. There are no clear job descriptions yet that match with this specific skill set. What is certain, however, is that the challenge of a socio-ecological transformation will take on a high priority.