The master’s program, created within the EWUU alliance, employs challenge-based education with a focus on sustainability, leveraging a transdisciplinary approach.
Design of the Program
Incorporating design thinking and experiential learning, the program is structured around real-world challenges in collaboration with partners like Akzo Nobel. Students, grouped into interdisciplinary teams of 5-6, are immersed in the heart of their required network by spending several days within partner facilities. This immersion ensures that students are directly engaged with the complexities of sustainability-related challenges that require innovative, non-technical solutions. The selection criteria for these challenges include the partner’s availability, the complexity and relevance to sustainability, and the potential for innovation.
Learning Objectives
The program fosters personal transformation, aiming to develop students into eco-centric rather than ego-centric leaders. It emphasizes building a deep connection with the real world, thriving in uncertainty, recognizing personal talents within diverse teams, and acting as connectors in a transdisciplinary network. These objectives are geared towards cultivating competencies essential for sustainability changemakers.
Successes and Challenges
One of the program’s significant challenges is collaborating with other programs across different universities, each with distinct credit requirements. Attracting a more diverse student body, especially from the humanities, remains a goal to enrich the transdisciplinary learning environment. Despite these hurdles, the program’s pilot has been viewed positively, showcasing the potential of this innovative educational model to equip students with crucial sustainability competencies.
Scale and Structure
Structured as a 30 EC, full-time master’s program spread over 20 weeks or an extended year, the program includes a series of sprints and workshops designed to scaffold students’ learning. These sprints and workshops facilitate iterative prototyping and innovation, allowing students to delve deep into the complexities of their given challenges. Specialized squads within the program enhance the learning experience by organizing field trips, managing an online community, and promoting external communication.
Vision for the Future
The program’s vision extends beyond its current pilot phase, aiming to firmly embed itself within the academic offerings of its participating universities. By fostering an inclusive environment that draws students from a wide range of disciplines, the program seeks to broaden its impact and more effectively address the multifaceted nature of sustainability challenges. Through its innovative structure and collaborative ethos, the program aspires to equip the next generation of changemakers with the skills and insights needed to drive meaningful change.
