This module, optionally to be undertaken in the third semester, serves as a basis for an individual Master’s Thesis, if successfully completed with a minimum grade of 5.0. The sustainable operation within a self-chosen area is critically analysed and applied. It contains a research question, an in-depth theoretical investigation as well as a conceptual outline for a Theoretical Report and a Technical Report. In the Preliminary Study the supervision consists of directing the preparation of the thesis proposal and the research design as well as the development of the student’s clear conceptual position. The Preliminary Study needs to be completed at the University of Liechtenstein and is reviewed before a panel of experts of the related research unit.

The Preliminary Study, optionally to be undertaken in the third semester, serves as a basis for an individual Master’s Thesis. It contains a research question and a theoretical investigation that serve as a conceptual outline for the Theoretical and Technical Report of the aspired Master’s Thesis. Site, programme and user profile for a design proposal are evaluated and proposed.

After successful completion of the course, students will be able to

Minimum 75% compulsory attendance, continuous assessment and regular meetings with instructors.
The final grade is calculated according to the weighting of the following components: final submission (80%) and oral presentation (20%).

This module, optionally to be undertaken in the third semester, serves as a basis for an individual Master’s Thesis, if successfully completed with a minimum grade of 5.0. The sustainable operation within a self-chosen area is critically analysed and applied. It contains a research question, an in-depth theoretical investigation as well as a conceptual outline for a Theoretical Report and a Technical Report. In the Preliminary Study the supervision consists of directing the preparation of the thesis proposal and the research design as well as the development of the student’s clear conceptual position. The Preliminary Study needs to be completed at the University of Liechtenstein and is reviewed before a panel of experts of the related research unit.

The Preliminary Study, optionally to be undertaken in the third semester, serves as a basis for an individual Master’s Thesis. It contains a research question and a theoretical investigation that serve as a conceptual outline for the Theoretical and Technical Report of the aspired Master’s Thesis. Site, programme and user profile for a design proposal are evaluated and proposed.

After successful completion of the course, students will be able to

Minimum 75% compulsory attendance, continuous assessment and regular meetings with instructors.
The final grade is calculated according to the weighting of the following components: final submission (80%) and oral presentation (20%).

This seminar presents the principles of urban planning that allow us to situate the production of architecture within its political, economic and social context. In order to create the kind of architecture that positively transforms the status quo, we require a deeper understanding of these processes, from planning processes to transdisciplinary engagement with the wide range of stakeholders. Students engage with concrete applications for translating scientific knowledge into urban and architectural design, utilising both local and global case studies.

Lectures, oral presentations, textual analysis, written assignments

After successful completion of the course, students will be able to

Minimum 75% compulsory attendance and continuous assessment.
The final grade is calculated according to the weighting of the following components: final submission (80%) and oral presentation (20%).

The Advanced Studio - Urbanism, Architecture and Society focuses on the connections between people and space, and how this knowledge provides us with the tools to confront urgent societal challenges. It thus aims to equip students with the ability to investigate urban conditions and propose spatial design solutions across a wide range of scales, through research resulting in design outcomes. The studio is usually linked to current research projects and aims for design projects that meet society’s most urgent challenges.

Guided project work in the design studio. A seminar week focussing on the studio topic is an integral part of the design studio.

After successful completion of the course, students will be able to

BSc AR 24: Successful completion of all four foundation studios (Grundlagenstudios)
MSc AR 24: none

Minimum 75% compulsory attendance, continuous assessment, midterm and final reviews.
The final grade is calculated according to the weighting of the following components: design project (80%) and final presentation (20%).

• The purpose of this course is twofold: First, invited talks by researchers from other institutions (and, occasionally, from the University of Liechtenstein) bring students in touch with cutting-edge research in their field. Second, students learn how to give an academic discussion of a paper using one of the talks as an example. The discussion will be delivered immediately after the talk in the research colloquium, and students will receive feedback on their performance. Our goal is to provide research colloquia for all specializations, but the course may not be offered for all specializations in each academic year. Students from two specializations may be gathered into one colloquium for organizational reasons. Key topics covered are: Current research in business economics Structure and content of an academic paper discussion

Presentations, discussions with feedback.

• After successful completion of the course, students will Professional competence Prepare and deliver a discussion of a research paper at a research seminar. - Social competence Interact with scientists in different phases of their career. Formulate critical questions in a neutral and professional manner. - Personal Competence Reflect on one’s own performance and professional behavior.

For the specialisations in Economics and Finance the module is offered as part of the Finance Research Seminar. The module coordinator for ECO and FIN is Assistant Prof Dr Sebastian Stöckl. Please register for the desired module directly in the module.

Finance Research Seminar

For the specialisations in Entrepreneurship and Management and Information Systems the module is not offered internally at the moment. The process flow for external modules can be found on
uni.li/legal. It is not possible to register directly for the desired module here. The module coordinator for ENT and IS is Prof Dr Michael Hanke. If you have any further questions, please contact doktorat@uni.li.

This module supports doctoral students by through offering hands-on guidance for the PhD process by the Programme Director, and introducing students to the methods of research required for completing a PhD through peerto-peer exchange. Participants receive an introduction to current work at the Liechtenstein School of Architecture, and guidance on how to conduct topics from fieldwork to literature review, archival research, scientific writing, and develop their broader career trajectory. To receive 5 ECTS credit points, students must participate in all module sessions, formulate a written seminar paper, and complete an oral presentation defending this work.

The module will alternate between inputs by participants and invited guests, reading and discussion sessions, tutorials, and peer-review sessions. A total of five input lectures and/or tutorials will be offered during the course of the module, which is coordinated by the PhD Programme Director. These inputs are structured around themes such as: literature review, archival research, qualitative research methods, design and action-research methods, teaching methods in architecture and planning, the dissertation writing process, formulating a research plan with a timeline and milestones, postdoctoral scientific writing and dissemination, or options for developing an academic career path.

The course aims to develop a range of skills that help PhD candidates to be more effective in their dissertation research, as well as to work on a broader range of transferable and widely applicable skills that will be useful in their future lives and careers, qualifying them as competent researchers beyond the assembly and execution of their dissertations. This module is required for PhD students at the Liechtenstein School of Architecture to complete during the first four semesters of their studies (within the Preparation Phase). It must be visited once for credit points and can be repeated as an elective pending approval of the PhD candidate’s supervisory team; however, all enrolled doctoral students are encouraged to participate in this yearly seminar regularly, in order to support and guide one another.

After completing the module, students will be able to

• comprehend the key research topics and broad spectrum of the methods of scientific research at the Liechtenstein School of Architecture and in their specialist area;
• understand and be conversant in the ontological and epistemological foundations of their research work;
• conceive a research design and formulate research questions with their associated methods;
• have mastered the fundamental scientific writing skills required to formulate a scientific paper;
• present and defend their work to their peers in the scientific community;
• connect with colleagues at various stages of the PhD process and their scientific careers.

Die Vorstudie beschreibt den geplanten Forschungsweg im Rahmen des Doktoratsstudiums. Ihre Inhalte orientieren sich an den Curricula der jeweiligen Programme.

Zudem muss die Vorstudie den Richtlinien zum Verfassen wissenschaftlicher Arbeiten an der Universität Liechtenstein entsprechen.

Im Kolloquium zur Vorstudie präsentiert die Doktorandin oder der Doktorand das Dissertationsprojekt und erläutert die Gründe für den gewählten Forschungsansatz.

Die Note für die Vorstudie ergibt sich aus dem Durchschnitt der Bewertungen der Betreuerin bzw. des Betreuers und der Zweitbetreuerin bzw. des Zweitbetreuers.

This optional module allows for various kinds of research studies. It is closely connected to the five units of the Liechtenstein School of Architecture and is usually part of ongoing research projects. The supervision consists of directing the students towards clear results within a given field of research. The individual study is reviewed within the respective unit.

Craft & Structure Unit:
As part of the Independent Studies program, questions related to building with clay and wood will be explored. The work is part of the earth HUB, a platform that consolidates and continuously develops regional expertise in earthen construction.
The earth HUB aims to promote innovative construction approaches and foster interdisciplinary exchange. A particular focus is placed on clay-wood construction, which combines ecological and social sustainability. The project encourages close collaboration between regional stakeholders, researchers, and students to develop practical solutions as well as scientifically sound insights.

Key Objectives of the earth HUB:

• Highlight exemplary projects and regional strengths to unlock their potential.
• Link interdisciplinary knowledge from the University of Liechtenstein (LSA) and its partners to create synergies for research and practice.
• Address the challenges of the “construction transition” (Bauwende) with stakeholders from industry, academia, and society at both regional and European levels.
• Explore the potential of eco-friendly building materials, particularly the combination of clay and wood.

The earth HUB serves as a central platform for advancing sustainable construction approaches and promotes the combination
of clay and wood as forward-thinking building materials.
The material combination of clay and wood is increasingly regarded as a groundbreaking solution for sustainable construction.
It offers numerous advantages, such as low-carbon building, high fire safety, thermal efficiency, and flexible construction
possibilities. The earth HUB is dedicated to exploring how these properties can be optimally utilized to foster innovative building
culture and sustainable architecture in the region and beyond. This study project enables students to delve deeply into the world of sustainable construction and actively contribute to the further development of environmentally friendly building methods.

Self-defined design or research studies, developed individually or in groups agreed upon with research units and under the guidance of mentors. The size of the module is determined by the respective unit.

After successful completion of the course, students will be able to

Minimum 75% compulsory attendance, regular meetings with instructors, continuous assessment, portfolio and final review.
The final grade is calculated according to the weighting of the following components: final submission (80%) and oral presentation (20%).

Individual appointments will be set with the tutor.

The course "AI and Machine Learning in Finance" introduces students to the exciting world of artificial intelligence and machine learning, specifically focusing on their application in investment strategies. Building on basic concepts learned in previous courses, this course explores essential methods of supervised and unsupervised learning, teaching students to analyse large datasets for innovative financial insights. The course includes practical R -codes to help students set up their own ML-driven investment strategies.

Key topics covered in this course include:

• Introduction to linear model selection and regularization
• Resampling methods and model assessment
• Basics of tree-based methods
• Fundamentals of neural networks and deep learning
• Essentials of unsupervised learning
• Applying machine learning techniques to factor investing

• Interactive lectures
• Hands-on coding sessions and workshops
• Real-world data applications and projects using Colab and Kaggle
• Group discussions and presentations
• Case studies of ML-driven investment strategies.

After successful completion of the course, students will:

Professional competence

• understand the basics of supervised and unsupervised learning in finance.
• recognize how machine learning techniques can be applied to investment strategies.
• gain practical experience in using ML-driven approaches for analysing financial data.

Methodological competence

• apply fundamental machine learning techniques for financial data analysis.
• use R and provided R-codes to create and test ML-driven investment strategies.
• assess the performance of machine learning models in financial applications.

Social competence

• work effectively in teams on projects related to machine learning in finance.
• communicate basic machine learning concepts and their financial applications.
• participate in discussions on the ethical use of AI in finance.

Personal competence

• engage in self-directed learning and research in machine learning and finance.
• develop problem-solving skills for financial data challenges.
• reflect on the role of AI in modern finance.

Technological competence

• gain confidence in using R for implementing machine learning models.
• apply technology to enhance financial analysis and decision-making.

Short paper presentation (10%), Homework presentation (40%), Empirical project (50%); Attendance is mandatory (80%)

Das Modul bildet die Grundlage für die weiterführende Wissensvermittlung im Rahmen des LL.M.-Studiengangs.
Ziel des Moduls ist es somit, ein grundlegendes Verständnis für die rechtlichen Rahmenbedingungen wirtschaftlichen Handelns zu schaffen. Das Modul vermittelt eine fundierte Einführung in die wirtschaftsbezogenen Bereiche des Strafrechts sowie in die theoretischen Grundlagen der Wirtschaftsphilosophie. Im ersten Teil des Moduls werden zentrale Konzepte der Wirtschaftsphilosophie behandelt. Die Studierenden setzen sich mit dem Begriff und Gegenstand dieses interdisziplinären Feldes auseinander, erhalten einen Überblick über die historische Entwicklung wirtschaftsphilosophischer Denkweisen und erarbeiten grundlegende Begriffe und Fragestellungen. Besonderes Augenmerk gilt der Wirtschaftsethik und deren Bedeutung für wirtschaftliches Handeln, insbesondere im Spannungsfeld zwischen Gewinnorientierung und moralischer Verantwortung.
Im zentralen, zweiten, genuin strafrechtlichen Teil des Moduls liegt der Fokus auf dem allgemeinen Strafrecht und Wirtschaftsstrafrecht unter Bezugnahme auf die relevanten Normen des liechtensteinischen Strafgesetzbuches. Behandelt werden die massgeblichen Rechtsquellen, Strafzwecke und Grundprinzipien des Strafrechts, die Teilung der Delikte, der Deliktsaufbau sowie die Voraussetzungen für strafbares Verhalten – sowohl bei vorsätzlichen als auch bei fahrlässigen Delikten. Weitere Schwerpunkte sind das Versuchsstadium, die Beteiligung mehrerer Personen sowie mögliche Strafmilderungs- oder Ausschlussgründe. Zudem werden die Rechtsfolgen strafbarer Handlungen thematisiert, einschliesslich der unterschiedlichen Sanktionsarten und ihrer Bemessung.
Abschliessend wird im dritten Teil des Moduls das materielle Verwaltungsstrafrecht behandelt. Die Studierenden lernen seine Systematik und Funktion kennen, erarbeiten die Unterschiede zum allgemeinen Strafrecht und setzen sich mit den relevanten materiell-rechtlichen Bestimmungen des Verwaltungsstrafgesetzes auseinander. Fallbeispiele aus der Praxis sorgen für eine anwendungsorientierte Vertiefung des Gelernten und bereiten optimal auf berufliche Herausforderungen vor.

Das Modul behandelt folgende Themenbereiche:
• Einführung in die Wirtschaftsphilosophie
• Grundlagen des Strafrechts und Wirtschaftsstrafrechts: Einführung in das liechtensteinische Strafrecht mit Fokus auf Rechtsquellen, Deliktskategorien sowie Aufbau und Elemente des vollendeten vorsätzlichen Delikts (Tatbestand, Rechtswidrigkeit, Schuld, Irrtumslehre)
• Besondere Aspekte der Strafbarkeit: Fahrlässiges Delikt, versuchtes Delikt und Rücktritt vom Versuch, Beteiligung mehrerer Personen, Strafaufhebungs- und Strafausschlussgründe
• Rechtsfolgen strafbaren Verhaltens: Strafen und vorbeugende Massnahmen, Konfiskation, Verfall und Einziehung, Strafbemessung sowie bedingte Strafnachsicht und Entlassung
• Grundlagen des Verwaltungsstrafrechts

Interaktive Vorlesung mit eingehender Diskussion.

Die Studierenden verfügen über die notwendigen Kenntnisse, um den weiterführenden Modulen des LL.M.-Studiengangs folgen zu können. Sie sind mit den gesetzlichen und theoretischen Grundlagen des Strafrechts, insbesondere des Wirtschaftsstrafrechts, sowie des Verwaltungsstrafrechts vertraut. Zudem verstehen sie zentrale Fragestellungen und Grundbegriffe der Wirtschaftsphilosophie.