Marine Spatial Planning and Integrated Coastal Management as drivers for a more international, interdisciplinary and interactive approach to higher education

Abstract

Environment and sustainability issues are becoming increasingly important world-wide. They also determine future career options of students. This change demands a modified portfolio of competences students should develop during their higher eduction studies. Within a multidimensional field between interdisciplinarity, internationalisation and interactivity various pathways can be taken to realise according adjustment of higher education settings. In this paper, we will present an example for successful innovation and adaptation to emerging needs. We refer to the case of an interdisciplinary module tailored to a international student group by creating interactivity in an online learning environment. The module has its topical drivers in Marine Spatial Planning and Integrated Coastal Zone Management. Both societal challenges provide multiple options to connect  plus innovate existing (disciplinary) study programmes in an institutional framework.