From 9 to 13 November, the Latvian Academy of Culture (LAC) is hosting the international microlearning programme “Pathways to Climate-Neutral Campuses: Co-Creating Action Plans for Sustainable Universities” at Gara māja in Riga. The programme brings together students from partner universities of the ACE²-EU European University Alliance to jointly develop practical solutions for reducing universities’ climate impact and promoting sustainable development.
The programme’s concept and academic content have been developed by Rūdolfs Kivlenieks, Visiting Lecturer in Climate Sustainability at LAC, Asnāte Kalēja, Coordinator of the ACE²-EU SPACE Centre, and Gitana Vyčienė and Vilda Grybauskienė, lecturers at Lietuvos inžinerijos kolegija Higher Education Institution (LIK), who are also leading the learning activities.
“Throughout this week, students will explore sustainability and climate neutrality challenges at their home universities, developing proposals and recommendations for the changes needed to address them. The programme not only provides knowledge on these issues but also empowers students to become agents of change within their own universities,” explains programme leader Rūdolfs Kivlenieks.
During the programme, students will not only explore the theoretical aspects of climate neutrality but also work in international and interdisciplinary teams to address real sustainability challenges faced by higher education institutions. The curriculum will cover topics such as energy efficiency, sustainable mobility, waste management, the circular economy, infrastructure development and university governance. The programme will also include visits to external partners and opportunities to explore sustainability initiatives in Riga, including a visit to the sustainability consultancy Sustinere Latvia.
By the end of the programme, student teams will develop climate neutrality action plans or guidelines tailored to specific universities. These will identify key challenges, define strategic objectives and propose concrete measures to achieve them, including implementation timelines, responsible stakeholders and criteria for monitoring progress.
The programme is delivered in a blended format, combining online sessions and in-person learning with independent study and group work. It is taught in English and brings together students from ACE²-EU partner universities representing a wide range of academic disciplines, including environmental sciences, engineering, architecture, project management, public policy, urban planning, education and social sciences.
More information about the programme: https://www.ace2eu.eu/event/pathways-to-climate-neutral-campuses-co-creating-action-plans-for-sustainable-universities/
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them. Project No. 101177596.