Abstract Book of the 8th International Conference on Advanced Research in Education
Year: 2025
DOI:
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Green Entrepreneurship: Facilitating Transdisciplinary and Cross-border Educational Programmes
Demeur Fiona, Guevara Marite, Petersen Martin, Attems Marie-Sophie, Greene Adam, Randecker Luca, Farinea Chiara
ABSTRACT:
To address society’s urban challenges and the intensifying impacts of climate change, disciplinary bound education must be rethought to develop impactful, holistic solutions through innovative transdisciplinary approaches to learning. Urban Shift (UShift), funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union, has developed an experimental Living Labs educational programme and Living Curriculum, utilising green entrepreneurship as the vehicle for learning. Rooted in the principles of the EU Green Deal, UShift fosters collaboration among Higher Education Institutions, Vocational Education and Training institutions, business partners, and learners. By bringing together architecture and design, media, and business students, as well as adult learners from four educational institutions across Europe, UShift provides a dynamic ecosystem for transdisciplinary cross-border learning. Through challenge-based learning, the Living Labs programme engaged 80 learners across two iterative batches to co-create start-ups and solutions for pressing urban issues such as urban heat islands, food waste and circularity, extreme weather events, and mobility. The Living Curriculum, a result of setting up and testing the Living Labs programme, is characterised by an iterative, participatory development process, incorporating real-time feedback from learners, trainers, and urban experts. This reflective approach ensures adaptability to stakeholder needs while maintaining systemic and sustainable methodologies. Learners are encouraged to develop entrepreneurial mindsets and practical solutions through experiential learning and design thinking. This curriculum is designed to develop green labour market skills, including digital, green, business, and transdisciplinary competences, preparing participants to become EU Green Deal ambassadors and leaders of sustainable urban transformation.
keywords: challenge-based learning; co-created curriculum; design thinking; higher education; start-up education