Recent global movements indicate a rapidly growing awareness and eagerness of the European youth to actively engage with securing a sustainable future for all. Even though the need for a holistic, interdisciplinary and cross-sector approach to sustainability has been increasingly recognised on research and policy levels, the trickle-down to higher education has been slow. Active8-Planet builds a knowledge alliance jointly developing, implementing and assessing the impact of a new Active8-Planet learning model based on 4 principles of planet-centred development: (1) Interdisciplinary & Intergenerational Co-creation, (2) People-centred Design, (3) University-Business Collaboration, (4) Environmental Ambition and Action. In “7+1 Team Projects”, students, teachers/researchers, and company professionals will be applying and refining the collaborative approach to co-create practice-based interventions in the areas of sustainable mobility, circularity in built environment, and health & wellbeing. Bridging between sectors, disciplines and generations, the project will provide a platform for transforming the isolated and discipline-specific knowledge into collaborative climate and sustainability actions. As a result of learning activities, the project will raise the first cohorts of dedicated, risk-taking young individuals (the “Planeteers”) becoming ambassadors of the Active8-Planet principles and active co-creators of their sustainable future. By adopting a robust and elaborate dissemination and exploitation strategy, the impact of the project’s activities, results and partnership will be sustained beyond its lifetime, in particular by: institutionalising the learning model in existing courses using ECTS system; developing an agenda to cultivate new 7+1 Team Projects; and transferring the collaborative approach into research, development, and innovation projects.
To consolidate and capitalize on the existing fragmented knowledge in planet-centred development by developing a roadmap for the Active8-Planet learning model, programme and curriculum design; To facilitate and foster interdisciplinary, intergenerational, multi-stakeholder and cross-sectoral cooperation in 7+1 project teams; To provide evidence of the replication potential and educational impact for HEIs and companies; To ensure sustainability and transferability of key project outcomes.
Despite the growing recognition at research and policy levels of the necessity for a comprehensive, interconnected approach to sustainability, the integration of these principles into higher education curricula and learning methods has been slow. To tackle the respective challenges, the Active8-Planet project has explored, experimented with, implemented and evaluated unconventional and innovative teaching and learning methods that aim to empower and mobilize students toward climate actions.
<< Background >> Despite the growing recognition at research and policy levels of the necessity for a comprehensive, interconnected approach to sustainability, the integration of these principles into higher education curricula and learning methods has been slow. To tackle the respective challenges, the Active8-Planet project has explored, experimented with, implemented and evaluated unconventional and innovative teaching and learning methods that aim to empower and mobilize students toward climate actions. << Objectives >> To consolidate and capitalize on the existing fragmented knowledge in planet-centred development by developing a roadmap for the Active8-Planet learning model, programme and curriculum design; To facilitate and foster interdisciplinary, intergenerational, multi-stakeholder and cross-sectoral cooperation in 7+1 project teams; To provide evidence of the replication potential and educational impact for HEIs and companies; To ensure sustainability and transferability of key project outcomes. << Implementation >> The 2 implemented and evaluated learning cycles (study years 2021/2022 and 2022/2023) involved eight diverse interdisciplinary, intergenerational, transnational, and cross-sectoral 7+1 team projects. Learning cycles consisted of four iterative phases: (1) challenge exploration; (2) Researching and discovering the unmet needs; (3) Analysis and interpretation of data; (4) Co-creation of concept. << Results >> Active8-Planet Conceptual Framework, Methodology, Resource Book & Active8-Matrix. Development of the Active8-Planet card game. Development and implementation of the Active8-Planet evaluation and quality assurance strategy. Development of the Active8-Planet animation. Delivery and evaluation of the 2 Active8-Planet learning cycles. Sustainability strategies and policy recommendations. Successful organization and delivery of the two Active8-Planet events (15-17 May 2022 and 14-16 May 2023).