Skip to main content

Enrolment options

Course image
Course summary text:

Welcome to A Cross and inter-disciplinary approach to System thinking – theories and ...

Planning and Development (2026)
Introduction:

Welcome to A Cross and inter-disciplinary approach to System thinking – theories and methodologies

Description: The course intends to facilitate learning opportunities for PhD students to 

  1. participate in conceptual thinking of system thinking as a concept from multiple lenses, from transdisciplinary to multidisciplinary and cross-disciplinary. 
  2. collaboratively work on interdisciplinary research designs surrounding the topic of system thinking in diverse scientific fields
  3. develop open-mindedness and wills to work with alternative perspectives to better understand the complexity of reality to address its challenges and problems.
Course activities: A problem and project-based learning approach is adopted in this course, involving participants working in group on real-life issues identified on their own. The team-based project-work is throughout the course which will lead to an outcome/product of a collectively written research proposal to be submitted. 

Assessment: Work on a collaboratively written cross or inter-disciplinary research proposal (3-4 pages) after Day 1 and 2 of the course, provide peer evaluation before Day 3 of the course. Resubmission 2 weeks after Day 3 after collecting all feedback during Day 3. The design shall illustrate the use of one or more theoretical lens of system thinking and methodological design addressing the value and benefits of cross or inter-disciplinary research collaboration.

Prerequisites: None

Learning objectives: Participants are expected to

  • reflectively conceptualize systems thinking from multiple lenses and its relevance for their current and future research practice,
  • collaboratively propose cross and interdisciplinary research designs to address the complexity of reality in a chosen topic, empowered by the concept of system thinking,
  • critically self and peer evaluate the research designs and propose alternatives to further enhance peer learning in a cross and inter-disciplinary way.

Organizer: Xiangyun Du, Lykke Bertel and Helle Nielsen

Lecturers: 
Aida Guerra, Helle Nielsen, Lykke Bertel, Søren Lykke, and Xiangyun Du

ECTS: 
3.0

Date: 
11, 12  & 13 November 2026 

Place: 
Aalborg University

City: 
Aalborg

Maximal number of participants: 
30

Open for enrolment
: 11 August 2026 

Deadline for enrolment: 21 October 2026

Important information concerning PhD courses: There is a no-show fee of DKK 3,000 for each course where the student does not show up. Cancellations are accepted no later than 2 weeks before the start of the course. Registered illness is of course an acceptable reason for not showing up on those days. Furthermore, all courses open for registration approximately four months before start of the course.

We cannot ensure any seats before the deadline for enrolment, all participants will be informed after the deadline, approximately 3 weeks before the start of the course.

You may find more information in our FAQ: https://phd.moodle.aau.dk/local/page/faq 

For inquiries not described in the FAQ, please contact the PhD administration at phdcourses@adm.aau.dk. When contacting us please state the course title and course period. Thank you.



Year: 2026
ECTS points: 3.0
Open in new window