Content

Size of the whole module is 15 credits (ECTS). It consists from the following courses *): 

Rural development around Europe and Rural Policy in Europe (3 ects): After completing the Study Programme the student is familiar with the heterogenous concept of a "rural area" and the circumstances threats and opportunities) for rural development policy. The student is also able to acknowledge the key steps of the development of rural policy in Europe and the central features and tools of rural (development) policy in the contemporary Europe.

Process Management and Communication (3 ects): After completing the sub-module the students 1) are aware of the qualifications and competences of experts of rural development 2) recognize the life cycle and stakeholder groups of development processes of rural areas 3) get acquainted with projects, a central tool of rural development.

Rural Urban Interaction (2 ects): This module is about the mutual interrelation between rural and urban areas in economic, ecologic and social terms. Rural development increasingly has to deal with various urban influences on what is perceived as rural lifestyle. You will hear about the historical shaping of rural and urban areas and their present and future interactions, about suburbanisation as an urban issue in rural areas and urban agriculture as a rural feature within urban areas. We will discuss regionalisation as an important access to future rural urban cooperation and try to find out the key issues for a sustainable coexistence of rural and urban development.

Quality of life in rural areas (2 ects): The objective is to get to know the concept of wellbeing and to make an attempt to measure it. The students will be aware of elements and differences in rural wellbeing both on local and international level. The module includes a case study and visits to local villages.

Project (5 ects): The objective of the Project is to introduce the students to the practice and field work of rural development, demonstrate the role and function of a “project” as an element of longer term development processes and acquaint the students into the forms and methods of interaction with various stakeholder groups of rural development.

The objectives are in PDF format in the Module Brochure.

*) Changes on the contents are possible