One of the greatest challenges of our time is the increasing pressure on our societies as the climate changes and the Earth’s resources must suffice for both humans and animals. To equip future generations, schools and other educational institutions need to collaborate with local communities and create authentic learning environments where pupils develop skills such as problem-solving, creativity, and cooperation. This reality is at the very heart of the ECIU University course 'Beyond Classroom Walls: Sustainability Education in a Changing World'.

In this year’s course, students worked directly with Skattkammarön in Norrköping – an innovative “rain or shine” school that conducts outdoor teaching year-round. The school uses a large number of learning environments in the surrounding area, including natural settings, museums, and science centres. The course participants were tasked with developing new ways for the school and the city’s stakeholders to collaborate on environmental and sustainability education. The goal was to create engaging activities that involve several community actors and make sustainability learning both concrete and relevant for children and young people.

The result? A dynamic and eventful week in which students from a range of European countries and educational backgrounds gathered at Linköping University (LiU) to explore sustainability in a way that few university courses offer: through encounters, site visits, outdoor education, and collective problem-solving. A real example of how sustainability teaching can take place beyond the classroom walls – and how powerful learning becomes when situated in real-world environments.

It became a week filled with new perspectives, laughter, cultural exchange, and insights that the participants say they will carry with them far into their future careers. For many students, this opened the door to entirely new ways of thinking, collaborating, and experiencing knowledge.

A new perspective

For Daneyal, an engineering student from India who specialises in sustainable transport systems, the course was directly connected to both his interests and his future professional life.

“The course provides a holistic perspective on liberalism, modernism, and sustainability. All of this is relevant to my studies and my interests. I have truly gained a completely new perspective on all these areas,” he says.

The course included study visits to old school environments and ways of living in Gamla Linköping Open-Air Museum, as a contrast to a modern school like Skattkammarön. After visiting both older and newer sustainable environments in and around Linköping, he says he now sees urban development and transport systems in new ways.

“These days have given me a new way of thinking about how we can make things more sustainable in every aspect.”

Broadening horizons

For some participants, the course’s structure was entirely new. Deborah, a chemical engineering student from Nigeria who studies in Lithuania, explains that outdoor pedagogy was not something she had experienced before.

“I had never taken part in outdoor-based teaching before. It is very different – and very interesting. The course has completely exceeded my expectations, and I am truly glad I came.”

Her thesis focuses on microplastics in soil and their effects on ecosystems and human health. She says the course’s practical approach gave her new tools for her own work.

“Now I can go out into the real world for inspiration – not just search online. It opens up completely new opportunities for how I can continue working on my master’s thesis.”

A meeting of disciplines, cultures, and ideas

One of ECIU University’s core concepts is interdisciplinary learning, something several students highlight as one of the greatest strengths of this course, too. Stella from Nigeria, who studies biotechnology, describes it as essential.

“We come from different study backgrounds – biotechnology, chemical engineering, engineering, all sorts. This allows us to solve problems together in a broader way. If I solve something from the perspective of biotechnology, I might miss other viewpoints, but together we find more general and complete solutions.”

She also describes how enjoyable – but sometimes cold – it was to carry out outdoor activities in January.

“The course is great fun. But perhaps it should be held in spring,” she laughs.

The international aspect

Esther, who studies biology at Linköping University, joined the course not knowing it was from ECIU University. For her, the international aspect came as a pleasant surprise.

“It is great fun to talk to students from other parts of the world. Everyone has different backgrounds and perspectives. It makes the discussions much richer.”

She also believes the course’s short format makes it easier for more Swedish students to participate in international learning experiences.

“A five‑week course with five days on site is a perfect introduction to studying abroad. I could absolutely imagine doing something like this again.”

Learning for the future – here and now

The course’s combination of place-based learning, international environment, and focus on real sustainability challenges clearly shows that knowledge about sustainability is not just found in theoretical studies, but is also about experiences, encounters, and daring to think differently. The students repeatedly mention how inspiring and enriching it has been to see different sustainability solutions in practice – and to do so together with people from different parts of the world.

Perhaps Deborah summarises it best:

“There is not much to think about when deciding whether to take a course like this. You should simply go for it. It is inspiring, challenging, and very rewarding. It helps you think outside the box and prepares you for real-world problems – no matter which career you choose.”

For anyone looking to strengthen their CV, broaden their perspectives, meet new people, and gain a completely new view of learning, the ECIU University course offerings are an opportunity not to be missed.

Author: Therese Winder. Photos provided by Linköping University.

You can explore more ECIU University courses on our digital experience platform. See what it has to offer – and find opportunities of tomorrow, today.