Empowering sustainable solutions
SUSTAIN-LIFE Initiatives
SUSTAIN-LIFE Joint Science Center
The Challenge-driven science and innovation work package (WP 2) encompasses SUSTAIN-LIFE’s work to enhance and better integrate life sciences research and innovation being completed across the European University, and to translate this science into real world impact addressing four-to-six strategically chosen challenges for developing sustainable agri-food systems.
The Joint Science Centre (JSC) will be at the core of these efforts, providing the infrastructure for implementation of the Joint science strategy and the Joint innovation and knowledge translation strategy. These strategies will outline specific activities for the European University to enhance research and innovation.
SUSTAIN-LIFE will develop and operate platforms and policies for sharing scientific infrastructure and data, enhance employment quality and mobility among researchers, and enhance doctoral education across SUSTAIN-LIFE.
SUSTAIN-LIFE Change-maker competencies
The Change-maker and challenge-driven learning work package (WP 3) includes SUSTAIN-LIFE efforts to prepare our students to help create the sustainable agri-food systems that the world needs. We will define the critical competencies of change-makers for sustainable agri-food systems. SUSTAIN-LIFE will then develop educational offerings to cultivate these competencies, filling in gaps in the educational offerings across member universities.
SUSTAIN-LIFE will also strengthen the delivery of educational programs across the Alliance, through the development and deployment of a joint teaching and learning strategy and a joint teaching learning centre, as well as the creation of common study program standards and advice for study program improvement. These efforts will place a special focus on using generative artificial intelligence in teaching and learning.
Finally, we will develop strategies for providing greater research-based and challenge-based experiential learning opportunities for students, as key means notably of fostering change-maker competencies.
SUSTAIN-LIFE Credentials
The work package on challenge-driven credentials and student mobility (WP 4) emphasises again the education side of the European University. SUSTAIN-LIFE envisions creating a new form of European credential that will eventually evolve joint European challenge-driven degrees, whereby students who meet the necessary requirements will graduate with traditional credentials from their local university and the European challenge-driven degree from SUSTAIN-LIFE.
SUSTAIN-LIFE will also develop and implement a common lifelong learning strategy addressing the needs of agri-food systems and the interests and circumstances of lifelong learners, informed in part by SUSTAIN-LIFE’s foresight mechanisms.
