eNaBlS: Collaborative Learning for Environmental Sustainability

In response to the escala­ting need for coope­ra­ti­ve learning in the realm of envi­ron­men­tal sus­taina­bi­li­ty, the Horizon Europe project ‘Education and Nature-Based Solutions: enable society to bend the curve for bio­di­ver­si­ty’ (eNaBlS) is leading the way in estab­li­shing a foun­da­ti­on for net­wor­king and col­la­bo­ra­ti­on. Focusing on bio­di­ver­si­ty and Nature-based Solutions (NBS) education, eNaBlS seeks to foster trans­di­sci­pli­na­ry dialogue and deepen the inte­gra­ti­on of NBS concepts within academic insti­tu­ti­ons, voca­tio­nal schools, pro­fes­sio­nal spheres, and society at large.

At the core of the acti­vi­ties is the estab­lish­ment of Living Labs, serving as exemplars of an inclusive approach that ensures diverse per­spec­ti­ves are heard and valued. By coll­ec­ting a wide array of inputs and embracing a diversity of values and knowledge, eNaBlS aims to main­stream bio­di­ver­si­ty and NBS in higher education and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). The project’s strategy involves deve­lo­ping and scaling new forms of teaching, learning, and capacity-building that emphasise a rela­tio­nal, systems-oriented, and applied approach.

The project promotes multi-actor col­la­bo­ra­ti­on and the adoption of a whole insti­tu­ti­on approach (WIA). Under this approach, uni­ver­si­ties transform into their own Living Labs, with the initia­ti­ve spanning across curricula, pedagogy, didactics, pro­fes­sio­nal deve­lo­p­ment, insti­tu­tio­nal practices, school/­uni­ver­si­ty-community rela­ti­on­ships, and insti­tu­tio­nal ethos, vision, and lea­der­ship. This holistic strategy breaks down silos, bridges sectors, and marks a paradigm shift in education towards sus­taina­bi­li­ty competencies.

Beyond the academic sphere, eNaBlS aims to con­tri­bu­te to addres­sing urgent sus­taina­bi­li­ty chal­lenges, neces­si­ta­ting trans­for­ma­ti­ve changes in com­mu­ni­ties, business models, and life­styl­es. Moreover, the project seeks to confront specific crises, such as bio­di­ver­si­ty and climate chal­lenges, at various decision-making scales. Aligned with the EU bio­di­ver­si­ty strategy for 2030 and the EU climate adap­t­ati­on strategy, eNaBlS stands as a pio­nee­ring force in the pursuit of a more sus­tainable future.

The con­sor­ti­um, led by University of Hohenheim, brings together orga­ni­sa­ti­ons from 8 countries (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Greece, Lithuania and the Netherlands). 3s role will be the deve­lo­p­ment of training modules for VET and adult learning.