Since challenges of sustainable development have a high degree of complexity and uncertainty, different perspectives, approaches and knowledge resources are needed to deal with them and to develop options for action. Therefore, in research and teaching on sustainable development interdisciplinarity (cooperation of representatives of different disciplines or subjects) and transdisciplinarity (cooperation of science and practice) are required. This article gives an overview of the concepts of sustainability sciences and transdisciplinarity as well as the importance of transdisciplinary research and teaching. In addition, transdisciplinary project-based courses at the University of Vechta are described, and based on this experience, potentials and hurdles of transdisciplinary collaboration of civil society organisations and universities are reflected.

Keywords
Transdisciplinarity, Cooperation of Civil Society and Universities, Sustainability Sciences, Project-based Courses