Mission and Goals

The DLGS aims to prepare the next generation of transformative leaders in spatial sustainability sciences, providing a high quality interdisciplinary environment for developing the academic and professional skills required to meet the diverse challenges related to spatial change dynamics and the global human-ecological crisis. DLGS graduates are trained to take up early career positions in academic, governmental, business or civil society organizations where they can contribute to foster spatial sustainability transformations.

The 3 core goals of the DLGS are therefore:

• Scientific excellence: Guide fellows to develop doctoral theses well beyond the current scientific state-of-the-art;
• Sustainability impact: Enable fellows to produce results of significant practical relevance and impact on spatial sustainability transformations;
• Professional qualification: Enable fellows to take a sustainability leadership role in the future.

These goals are further underpinned by 7 operational objectives

• Deepen theoretical and methodological knowledge in one scientific core discipline;
• Promote engagement with other scientific disciplines and develop interdisciplinary competence within the wider field of sustainability science;
• Develop management- and organizational capabilities for doing efficient and effective research;
• Convey key skills and techniques for scientific research, writing, publishing and networking;
• Facilitate peer-to-peer exchange and knowledge co-creation between fellows;
• Develop competence in transdisciplinary research and science-practice interactions, involving diverse stakeholders;
• Support the development of transformative leadership skills to navigate collective pathways towards sustainability.