European University For Transition
Summary
Ecological issues (climate change, loss in biodiversity, scarcity of resources, etc.) and their social consequences (growing inequalities, poverty, conflicts, forced migrations, etc.) call us to promote a paradigm shift, to redesign our production and consumption patterns, our lifestyles, and thus adjust the curricula in higher education, and to explore how economic and legal tools can be applied to these challenges. That is the ecological transition in the education field.
The European University For Transition (EU4TRANSITION) Erasmus + project aims at developing and implementing innovative learning and research practices (e.g. new curricula, teaching methods, institutional network). It addresses key topics relevant for our contemporary ecological transition at local and European level such as the governance transition, the main controversy of the ecological transition, the economic transition, ethics and spirituality, construction, energy, local economy, finance, community, local transition, agricultural transition, climatology and empowerment by the sciences of engineering.
In doing so, EU4TRANSITION will focus on the development of a "European University in Transition" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2008) who accompany the ecological, but also economic, social and legal transitions (4 main domains). Our purpose is to develop innovative, multidisciplinary, pragmatic and holistic approaches for teaching and learning in the field of « Transitions » and facilitate the exchanges, flows and co-creation of knowledge and, more specifically, skills.
In working together partners will challenge structures, organization and methods that are taken for granted, in order to experience and test common « modules » of teaching/researching on ecological transition and develop new common forms of training/researching and certification, and even create the foundations for a new common Open and Virtual European University for Transition.
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Summer School
June 19th-23rd, 2023
Forges, France
Once a year, the partners involved in the project test their intellectual productions during a one-week Summer School. The next Summer School will be organized and hosted by Campus de la Transition, in Forges in France.
In this 5-day training, we will offer participants an opportunity to experience the teaching material developed for our pedagogical guide (IO1) and master course (IO2). Participants will benefit from the research outcomes (classes, workshops…). In return, they will provide feedback and an additional critical look, in order to make them more suitable.
We welcome students from the project partners. Do not hesitate to manifest your interest directly to any partner, or by contacting us:
News
Multiplier event
November 24th, 2022
Utrecht, Netherland
On November 24th, 2022, the Utrecht team of EU4TRANSITION organized a dissemination event (multiplier event) in the Oranjerie of De Moestuin in Utrecht. The event was hosted by Stichting Waardenwerk, an association dedicated to the diffusion of Humanistic Studies and the Humanization of Organizations. This year’s conference was dedicated to the topic of ‘Earth Work’ (Aardewerk), which means, to ecohumanism and the work that needs to be done in a time of ecological crisis.
Some 80 persons from different Dutch organizations assisted to this event. EU4TRANSITION was given the opportunity to take part and to promote its international project. Caroline Suransky and Henk Manschot spoke about the philosopher Bruno Latour, who constitutes an inspiring source for the master classes and pedagogical tools the Utrecht team is creating for EU4TRANSITION.
After many speakers giving presentations on topics related to the ecological crisis, such as eco-depression in young people and new forms of sustainable economy, Fernando Suárez Muller and the EU4TRANSITION team were invited to explain all the ins- and outs of our project. People from different organizations were given the opportunity to sign the dissemination list while enjoying a sustainable meal. The interest in EU4TRANSITION was overwhelming.
Also some students from the University of Humanistic Studies participated in the conference and helped to organize this dissemination event of EU4TRANSITION.
We want to thank professor Harry Kunneman and the other organizers of this conference on Aardewerk to give us this platform for diffusion of the vision and mission of EU4TRANSITION !
Multiplier Event - Erasmus Days Seminar
October 14th, 2022
ESSEC Business School, Cergy-Pontoise, France.
October 14, 2022, the intermediary results of the Erasmus + partnership called European University for Transition were presented at ESSEC Business School.
Lasting one afternoon with a conference, workshops and a cocktail, the seminar was an opportunity to present the expected outputs of the project: a master course on transition, a teaching guide to teach transition and a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC).
The international dimension of the partnership was highlighted by the participation of speakers from Stichting Universiteit Voor Humanistiek and Universidad Pontifica Comillas, both partners to the project.
The Campus de la Transition, an eco-campus and also a partner to the project, provided a speaker to the conference.
A former ESSEC student made a testimony on her participation into the intensive week organized by the project in 2021 (Autumn school).
ESSEC students provided support in designing and organizing the event, especially the workshops.
The seminar was an event of the Erasmus days 2022.
Multiplier event
October 14th, 2022
CY Cergy Paris Université, France.
On the occasion of Erasmusdays 2022, the Campus de la Transition organized a workshop followed by a cocktail at CY Cergy Paris Université to present the intermediary results of the European University For Transition research project.
With a presentation from the project coordinator of the European University For Transition from ESSEC Business School, participants could discover the history, the aims and the expected outputs of the project (master course on transition, a teaching guide and a Massive Open Online Course), as well as its international team.
They could then experiment the new holistic pedagogy and some new content on ecological and social transition with a course presented by Cécile Renouard, president of the Campus de la Transition.
Transnational Meeting
October 6th to 7th, 2022
Utrecht, The Netherlands.
In this transnational meeting, the partners of EU4TRANSITION came together in Utrecht in order to coordinate on management and the remaining parts of the intellectual outputs.
The kickoff took place with a welcoming word and introduction of rector Joke van Saane, who gave an overview of the position of the University of Humanistic Studies (UvH) in the landscape of Dutch universities. The UvH is a special university, dedicated to humanism and issues related to it. Under Joke van Saane’s lead the university now very much focusses on topics like Sustainability and Pluralism. She therefore strongly supports the vision and mission of EU4TRANSITION, in which universities are invited to work together with schools of transition and eco-villages.
After a visit of the university and library buildings, and after having a wonderful lunch in the center of Utrecht, the partners clarified important matters about coordination tasks and on the state of the art of the intellectual outputs. We all had a dinner in restaurant the Green House of Utrecht.
Next day the director of the Dutch Humanist League (Humanistisch Verbond), Robbert Bodegraven, gave a presentation about the particular position of humanism in Dutch history.
In the afternoon the partners finished their discussions on management matters and intellectual outputs, and then scheduled a work process for the coming months.
The University of Humanistic Studies was very pleased to see its partners working so hard on the project of EU4TRANSITION, and wants to thank them all for their unvaluable inspiring contribution!
Summer School
July 4th to 8th, 2022
Gaia Academy Estonia.
The European University for Transition organized a Summer School, July 4th to 8th, 2022, at Gaia Academy, in Estonia.
The school involved 20 students, staff, lecturers and professors from partner institutions related to education in ecosocial transition. Participants could benefit from the research outcomes (classes, workshops,…) and provide in return an additional critical look to make outcomes more suitable. It was an opportunity not only to test and experiment the intellectual productions achieved during the year, but also to deepen our knowledge and skills on transitioning the way we live, produce and consume.
Autumn School
October 25th to 29th, 2021
Arterra Bizimodu, Spain
The European University for Transition organized an Autumn School week, October 24th to 29th, at Arterra Bizzimodu, an ecovillage in Navarra, Spain.
Involving 22 students, staff, lecturers and professors from partner institutions, the school was an opportunity to test and experiment the intellectual productions achieved during the year.
The objective was multiple:
- to offer participants to learn about the challenges of ecological and social transition;
- to deepen and co-construct the content of the expected deliverables (course and guide to teach transition);
- to test and experiment new educational tools (appropriation exercises, collective governance, etc.);
- to learn from the feedback of students;
- to meet the local actors and practitioners of the Arterra Bizzimodu ecovillage, this being instrumental in understanding studied issues.
Transnational Meeting
October 21st to 22d, 2021
Madrid, Spain
The European University for Transition held a transnational meeting in Madrid, October 21st to 22d, with 12 participants from partners universities and schools.
The purpose of the meetings was to verify that the defined results of the project were on track through :
- Reports on past activities and assessment of the management of the budgets allocated;
- Reflection on group progress and reassessment of experience;
- Evaluation of communication tools and online publications;
- Next steps anticipation.
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The European Commission’s support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents, which reflect the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.