Actors from academia and practice: Together for SDGs
Service learning – theory meets practice
Studying often means: learning, exams, theories. But what if students apply their knowledge directly? This is exactly what service learning makes possible – a teaching method that combines academic knowledge with practical projects. As part of the Sustainability Challenge, students work transdisciplinarily with companies and organizations on sustainable solutions and actively contribute to the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“The Sustainability Challenge is not only an exciting format for translating existing knowledge on the topic of sustainability from the lecture hall into practice. It also offers students, teachers and practice partners the opportunity to creatively develop new ideas and create knowledge. I look forward to contributing to action-oriented learning in order to shape sustainable change.” – Julia Wesely
Sustainable mobility for the village center
Two USLL scientists, Yvonne Franz and Julia Wesely, are also supervising one of the Sustainability Challenge projects. As mentors to four students who are implementing their project as part of the “Schöcklland climate and energy model region”. The focus of “Dorfzentrum nachhaltig mobil” is the redesign of the town center of the Styrian municipality of Stattegg. Extensive changes are currently taking place here, including the construction of a new school and health center. The students’ project aims to take advantage of this opportunity to expand the structural changes by developing a sustainable transportation concept for the town. In addition to the key stakeholders, starting with the mayor, the local population will also be actively involved in order to jointly promote sustainable transport in the region.
“Sustainability is not only measured by words, but rather by actions. The Sustainability Challenge makes an important contribution to jointly developing the necessary skills from brainstorming to the implementation of sustainable practices. I am delighted to be able to contribute my expertise from the perspective of geographical urban research and to develop myself further together with the committed students. Challenge accepted!” – Yvonne Franz
More information on the Sustainability Challenge.
Click here to go to the “Dorfzentrum nachhaltig mobil” project.
