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Description
We will introduce a new course Sustainable Development in 10 majors (Political and Social Sciences) at University of Warsaw, Universitas Opoliensis and University of Wroclaw. The project will be delivered in partnership between 10 Polish academics (direct beneficiaries), universities from Iceland and Norway, an international foundation based in Svalbard and experts on sustainable development (SD). Students attending the new course will be the project’s final beneficiaries. Following a series of meetings, training workshops in Poland, Iceland and Norway, and individual work of the academics, we will develop 10 syllabuses, an innovative coursebook including audiovisual resources, also filmed in Iceland and Norway, and the recommendations on a large-scale introduction of education on SD in humanities at universities in Poland (to be sent to 30 universities in Poland). The course and its coursebook will be promoted at the nationwide university conference and the HumanDOC Film Festival.
Summary of project results
The project has been implemented fully in line with the assumptions; we have developed and permanently introduced the innovative subject “Sustainable Development” (SD) to curricula related to the field of social and political sciences, which is taught in a total of 13 humanities faculties, including international relations, political science, journalism, Global Studies, national and international security at 3 universities in Poland: University of Warsaw (Institute of International Relations), University of Opole (Faculty of Political Science and Social Communication) and University of Wroclaw (Institute of International Relations).
Simultaneously, we trained a total of 11 lecturers from the above-mentioned universities on various aspects of sustainable development during workshops with experts in Poland and workshops with academics and scientists in Iceland and Norway.
The result of these trainings was the development of 10 Subject Cards in accordance with the requirements of the National Qualifications Framework, based on which it was possible to permanently introduce a new subject – SD – to the academic curriculum of the above-mentioned courses at three universities.
The result of the project is the development and publication (printing 300 copies and preparing a digital version) of a multimedia textbook containing didactic materials resulting from the above trainings and audiovisual material produced with the participation of partners from the Donor Countries. The handbook with the recommendations regarding education in the field of sustainable development in Polish higher education were sent to 30 universities in the country.
The project results contributed to:
- strengthening the human potential – we raised the competences of 11 lecturers at 3 universities, we established cooperation of 3 universities in Poland, 2 universities in Iceland and 1 in Norway.
- expanding the knowledge base by introducing a new subject in 13 faculties at 3 universities in the country, and this subject is supported by an innovative multimedia textbook – developed and published in the above-mentioned project.
Summary of bilateral results
As originally assumed, the perspective of universities from Iceland and Norway was crucial for the project success, as these countries have been world leaders in the implementation of sustainable development solutions for years. They have extensive experience in this field; in these countries we can observe phenomena that are a consequence of the climate catastrophe (melting glaciers) and have an impact both locally and globally (they contribute to raising the water levels in the seas and oceans, affect fauna and flora, migrations, international security, etc.) Project participants benefited from the knowledge and experience, which partners from donor countries shared as part of training and consultations. All these translated into a more effective development of Subject Cards, which later on were reflected in high quality content of the multimedia handbook. Additionally, the knowledge of partners from the Donor countries also supported the production of audiovisual materials, allowing for the development of a shooting plan and locations needed to be used as a part of the works. At the same time, the film crews participated in training, which ultimately translated into increasing their knowledge and awareness in the area of sustainable development, especially taking into account the perspective of donor countries. Further work on future educational projects with some of the partners is planned.