The objective of this thesis is to develop a decision support system capable of measuring and evaluating the wider socio-economic and environmental impacts of selected transformative policies and their interactions. To achieve this, the first step is to establish a deep and holistic understanding of the types and interactions of these wider impacts through participative mapping techniques, considering the perspectives of all relevant social groups with participants from case studies in selected case study areas. The resulting causal loop diagrams will represent the unique decision options and priorities in the selected case studies allowing to identify policy leverage points. Building on this foundation, the second step involves critically reviewing existing performance indicators and developing new ones to measure the socio-economic and environmental impacts of selected transformative policies. These indicators will be designed to be sensitive to key social factors, including gender, age, abilities, income, and ethnic background, ensuring an inclusive approach to policy evaluation. Finally, these indicators be tested for the assessment of policy scenarios in selected case studies.
BOKU, the only Austrian university in the area of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, has vast experience in coordinating research and educational EU projects and managing student and staff exchanges in various scholarship programmes. BOKU is actively engaged in the European University Alliance EPICUR. It has experience with Knowledge Alliances, Capacity Building and Jean Monnet Projects as well as Strategic Partnerships in ERASMUS Programmes. BOKU is co-ordinating and actively participating in several H2020- and HEu-projects, Christian Doppler Laboratories, and also has several ERC starting grant professorships and one UNESCO Chair.
The Institute of Transport Studies (ITS) is part of the Department of Landscape, Water and Infrastructure at BOKU. Its expertise includes the development of strategies and policies towards sustainable mobility behaviour and the modelling and assessment of the socio-economic and environmental impacts of transport systems and policies.
Proficiency in written and spoken English (proof required), German is a strong plus to engage with stakeholders
Requirements to be admitted in the doctoral programme can be consulted here.
Univ. Prof. Astrid Gühnemann’s research focus is on the development of methods to model and analyse long-term impacts of transport policies, strategies, infrastructure investments and technological changes. This includes System Dynamics modelling and multi-criteria assessment methods. Astrid has extensive teaching and supervision experience in Germany, the UK and Austria.
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