ESD

The decade for Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) launched by UNESCO (2004- 2014) has enabled its development in primary and secondary education as well as in research. ESD is integrated to varying degrees in different countries at the university level and there is potential for intensified implementation in the future (Leal Filho, 2015; Sprenger & Nienaber, 2017).

University students are already citizens, however at university they are in the process of professionalization. Raising their awareness of global change is a lever to enable them to take into account sustainability issues in their future professional lives.

The project proposes to develop ESD at university level by supporting university teachers through digital and innovative teaching practices improving the quality of higher education, increase excellence and contribute to the development of a knowledge society (Bologna Convention, 1998).

The challenges posed by COVID creates two new challenges for universities: i) to implement blended teaching practices and ii) to ensure the effectiveness of these practices.

Sustainability and ESD are closely linked to values, norms and attitudes that differ culturally, commonalities and differences have to be worked out in a dialogue.