Abstract
This article discusses the redesign of higher education in economics against the backdrop of the current polycrisis. Starting from the observation that there is a growing disconnect between economic research, teaching and the challenges of a world characterised by uncertainty, a framework for a sustainable economic education is developed. At its core are the principles of real-world relevance, epistemic openness and the capacity for performative agency. From this, three concrete building blocks are derived: the open interpretation of economic phenomena, participatory teaching and learning formats, and the fostering of reflective and capable individuals. The aim is an economic education that empowers students to deal productively with uncertainty and to actively help shape processes of social change.
© 2026 Rouven Reinke, Lukas Bäuerle, published by ZBW – Leibniz-Informationszentrum Wirtschaft
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
