Developing Innopreneurship, Sustainability and Culture

<< Background >>Universities play a key role in addressing today’s urgent societal and environmental challenges. However, sustainability education remains fragmented, with few holistic and practice-oriented learning approaches in place. We applied for the DISC project to address this gap by fostering sustainability literacy, competence-based learning, and innovation across higher education. The project responds to the growing need for interdisciplinary, transnational collaboration in tackling the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), while empowering students and educators to lead sustainable development initiatives within their communities. It also tackles the digital and green transition in HE by promoting blended learning, validation of competences, and real-world project engagement. Furthermore, there was a strong need to connect academic knowledge with civic and business practice, and to engage HE institutions in fostering a sustainability culture both within and beyond the classroom.<< Objectives >>The DISC project aimed to strengthen the role of higher education in promoting sustainable development by developing interdisciplinary, competence-based learning formats. Our objectives were to: (1) create courses and modules on sustainability and innopreneurship; (2) develop and pilot design-based collaborative learning (DBCL) and design-based collaborative research (DBCR) approaches that link students with real-world sustainability challenges; (3) provide continuing professional development (CPD) for HE educators, equipping them with competences for education for sustainable development (ESD); (4) establish an open online platform for sustainability learning, networking, and knowledge exchange; and (5) foster transnational cooperation between HEIs, business, and civic actors. Through these actions, we sought to advance sustainability literacy, embed the SDGs in higher education, and contribute to a more resilient, innovative and socially responsible academic culture.<< Implementation >>The DISC project implemented a coordinated set of activities across 4 main work packages. Under WP2, we conducted a European survey and interviews on ESD practices, developed a competence framework for sustainability learning, collected innovative learning formats and OERs, and compiled a list of emerging job profiles related to sustainability.In WP3, two core courses were developed: one for educators and facilitators (CPD), and one for learners. These courses applied the DBCL and DBCR methodologies, integrating the SDG Explorer self-learning module and competence validation along the LEVEL5 taxonomy. Student pilots were carried out across five countries, involving 276 students in 32 sustainability projects/prototypes.WP4 focused on the development of the DISC Hub, a 6-part online platform providing access to 2 online courses (for education professionals and students), sustainability project exhibitions, DISC Expert Community, etc. Under WP5, we launched the DISC Label system, created 13 course concepts based on the DISC Label, and established the DISC Network for ongoing collaboration and valorisation.Coordination and dissemination were supported by regular online meetings, 3 transnational partner meetings, and 3 conferences.<< Results >>Within DISC Project, two modular courses were developed: Facilitating Education for Sustainable Development (for educators) and Innopreneurship for Sustainability (for students). They were piloted in five countries, involving 276 students and 20 trainers. In total, 32 student-led sustainability projects were developed—several in collaboration with NGOs, municipalities, or schools—one of which successfully secured Erasmus+ KA2 funding.The DISC Competence Framework—relating to EU GreenComp/EntreComp frameworks and LEVEL5 taxonomy, consists of 30 competences. Over 100 entries recorded in the Open Educational Resources (OERs) Repository for ESD, 40 profiles of DISC Expert Community, and the DISC Learning Suite were published via the DISC Hub. A comprehensive EU-wide survey and focus groups involving students and faculty (202 responses, 55 interviewees) helped set the foundation of the project development. The Facilitating ESD course was offered as Erasmus+ KA1-course on the European https://provide-eu.org platform. Additionally, the project launched the European DISC Network and defined 20+ SDG-aligned job profiles, reinforcing future career orientation.