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EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (ESD) IN PRACTICE (FROM GLOBAL GOALS TO CLASSROOM ACTION)
Introduction and Description
This course offers a comprehensive professional development opportunity for educators, school leaders, and adult education professionals seeking to strengthen their capacity to respond to contemporary global challenges through education. Grounded in internationally recognised frameworks for Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the programme addresses the growing role of education in fostering sustainable, inclusive, and democratic societies.
Education for Sustainable Development is approached as a transformative and holistic educational paradigm that integrates environmental, social, economic, and ethical dimensions of sustainability. Participants explore how ESD moves beyond isolated topics or environmental awareness activities, positioning sustainability as a guiding principle for curriculum design, pedagogical practice, institutional development, and leadership. Particular emphasis is placed on understanding the SDGs as an interconnected framework that reflects the complexity of global challenges and provides a common reference point for educational action at local, national, and European levels.
The course places strong focus on systems thinking as a core competence for educators, supporting participants in analysing sustainability issues through lenses of interdependence, complexity, and long-term impact. In parallel, the programme highlights values-based education and the ethical responsibilities of teaching, examining how education can promote democratic participation, social justice, responsibility, solidarity, and global citizenship. Participants are encouraged to critically reflect on their professional role as educators and leaders shaping learners’ values, attitudes, and competences for sustainable futures.
Methodologically, the course combines theoretical input with participatory, reflective, and practice-oriented approaches. Through collaborative inquiry, case studies, interdisciplinary planning, and guided action-planning, participants translate global sustainability agendas into concrete classroom practices and institutional initiatives. Whole-school and organisational approaches are addressed, with attention given to leadership, institutional culture, policy alignment, and long-term sustainability strategies relevant to both formal education and adult learning contexts.
The programme is offered in both 5-day and 10-day formats, allowing institutions and participants to choose an intensive or more extended learning pathway. Both versions maintain strong academic coherence and practical relevance, while differing in depth, pacing, and opportunities for applied project development.
The course is fully aligned with Erasmus+ priorities, particularly environmental sustainability and the green transition, inclusion and diversity, democratic participation and European values, and the development of key competences for lifelong learning. It supports educators in strengthening their professional competences, fostering innovation in teaching and learning, and contributing to institutional and systemic change in line with European education objectives.
Objectives
Conceptual and Theoretical Understanding
Participants will be able to:
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Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of Education for Sustainable Development as a transformative educational paradigm grounded in international policy and research.
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Critically analyse the Sustainable Development Goals as an interconnected and systemic framework relevant to education systems and learning communities.
Systems Thinking and Interdisciplinary Practice
Participants will be able to:
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Apply systems thinking concepts and tools to interpret complex sustainability challenges in educational and societal contexts.
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Design interdisciplinary and cross-curricular learning experiences that reflect the interconnected nature of sustainability issues.
Pedagogical and Methodological Competence
Participants will be able to:
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Integrate learner-centred, participatory, and inquiry-based pedagogies aligned with ESD principles.
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Facilitate transformative learning processes that promote critical thinking, reflection, and learner agency.
Values-Based and Ethical Education
Participants will be able to:
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Embed ethical reasoning, democratic values, and global citizenship within teaching and learning practices.
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Address controversial and “wicked” sustainability issues through inclusive dialogue and critical reflection.
Whole-School and Organisational Development
Participants will be able to:
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Contribute to the design and implementation of whole-school or organisational strategies for Education for Sustainable Development.
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Apply leadership and change-management principles to support long-term sustainability initiatives.
Professional Reflection and Action
Participants will be able to:
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Reflect critically on their professional role and responsibility in fostering sustainable futures through education.
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Develop and present a classroom-based, institutional, or organisational ESD action plan aligned with their professional context.
Preparation
After registration participants will receive pre-course questionnaire which will be used by the trainer to learn about participants’ teaching backgrounds and to assess their exact needs. Before the beginning of the course a basic reading list will be suggested to participants to prepare for the training. Participants will also be asked to prepare a presentation about themselves, their professional context and their culture. The presentation will be presented on the first day of the course to facilitate networking opportunities. Participants will receive information about the country they are going to visit in order to prepare them for their cultural experience.
Follow up
After the course participants will be asked to share what they have learned with the rest of the staff in their schools. Further books and articles to deepen the topic and contacts with some other practitioners all over Europe and in the world will be suggested by the trainer. The methods shared and explored and the bibliography given will allow the participants to complete and improve their educational path.
5 days programme (25 hours)
course sessions (Monday to Friday)
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a focused introduction to climate change as a cross-curricular educational theme, addressing its relevance for contemporary education;
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an overview of interdisciplinary approaches to climate change education, highlighting their pedagogical value and feasibility within existing curricula;
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analysis of why climate change benefits from interdisciplinary teaching, rather than isolated subject-based approaches;
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guided curriculum mapping activities to identify realistic entry points for climate education across different subjects;
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practical examples of integrating climate-related topics across sciences, humanities, social sciences, languages, and the arts;
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support in formulating interdisciplinary learning objectives aligned with curricular and institutional frameworks;
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introduction to inquiry-based and project-based pedagogical approaches suitable for interdisciplinary climate teaching;
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collaborative design of a concise interdisciplinary climate learning unit applicable to participants’ professional contexts;
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strategies for engaging learners with complex climate-related topics in an age-appropriate and responsible manner;
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consideration of inclusion and differentiation within interdisciplinary climate learning activities;
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reflection on challenges and opportunities related to implementing interdisciplinary climate education in real school settings;
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opportunities for peer exchange, feedback, and professional dialogue;
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presentation and discussion of participants’ draft interdisciplinary learning designs;
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guidance on transferring course outcomes into classroom practice and institutional planning;
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alignment with the priorities of the Erasmus+, particularly the green transition, quality education, and innovation.
cultural and social programme
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Teambuilding and networking activities
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City tour or a cultural trip
10 days programme (50 hours)
course sessions (Monday to Friday + Monday to Friday)
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In-depth exploration of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) as a transformative and holistic educational framework
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Comprehensive analysis of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their relevance for education systems
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Understanding sustainability as an interconnected system (environmental, social, economic, ethical dimensions)
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Development of systems thinking competences to address complexity, interdependence, and long-term impact
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Practical tools for integrating ESD across the curriculum and beyond subject-based teaching
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Design of interdisciplinary and cross-curricular learning units aligned with ESD principles
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Exploration of values-based education, ethics, global citizenship, and democratic participation
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Strategies for facilitating dialogue on controversial and “wicked” sustainability issues
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Learner-centred, participatory, and transformative pedagogical approaches
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Approaches to fostering learner agency, responsibility, and civic engagement
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Introduction to whole-school and organisational approaches to sustainability
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Leadership strategies for embedding ESD into school culture, policies, and long-term planning
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Application of ESD principles in adult education and lifelong learning contexts
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Use of reflective tools, learning journals, and peer exchange to support professional growth
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Design and development of classroom-based, institutional, or organisational ESD action plans
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Guidance on monitoring and evaluating sustainability initiatives in education
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Opportunities for collaborative work, peer feedback, and practice sharing
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Reflection on the educator’s role as a change agent for sustainable development
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Preparation of follow-up activities and Erasmus+ project dissemination
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Final presentations, reflection, evaluation, and certification
cultural and social programme
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Teambuilding and networking activities
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City tour or a cultural trip
CERTIFICATE
Each participant will get a course attendance certificate and we will validate the acquired competences on the Europass Mobility upon request. Please note that we have a paperless policy and all the documents will be delivered in digital form.
COURSE FEE
The course fee is 80 € per day. It includes tuition and materials, cultural and social programme, support in preparation and all the administrative work. There are no additional costs or hidden fees. After registration, you will receive a pro-forma invoice which you will have to pay by bank transaction. You will receive the invoice after you attend the course.
SUBSISTENCE
The course fee doesn't include accommodation and meals and participants are responsible to organize them on their own. In some locations we might be able to recommend or organize subsistence for you. Please don't hesitate to contact us to inquire about any specific location.