They are especially important for the overall spatial development in Germany. However, rural areas are subject to constant change for a variety of reasons. This includes demographic change, which is leading to a change in population numbers and population structure. Settlements in rural areas and their infrastructures must be rebuilt accordingly and adapted to current demands. The globalisation of markets, climate change and declining biodiversity urgently require adjustments in the management of agricultural and forestry land, but also measures to better cope with the more frequent extreme weather events in the future. The changeover to renewable energies requires suitable locations, especially in rural areas, e.g. for wind turbines, solar plants and power lines. At the same time, the increased production of biomass on agricultural land leads to conflicts of use with the production of food. These and many other measures are indirectly or directly interdependent and therefore require well-structured planning and reorganisation processes and the use of suitable methods and instruments in each case to deal with these future tasks in rural areas.
The modules described below in the above-mentioned Bachelor's and Master's degree programs provide students with the professional foundations to be able to sustainably design such processes.