Changes. Exploring Critical Sustainable Development Education from Global Perspectives (DAAD Model Project 2025-2029)

The educational project "Changes. Exploring Critical Sustainable Development Education from Global Perspectives" will be realised from 2025 to 2029 and is funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).

“Changes” aims to create an international, transcultural and interdisciplinary cooperation network between universities from different regions of the world, namely Argentina, Indonesia, Canada and South Africa. It will offer both student teachers and university lecturers new opportunities to deal with global challenges in the field of sustainable development from an international perspective.

The project starts with a kick-off conference in September 2025 during which academics from all partner universities exchange their educational approaches and perspectives on issues of sustainable development. Following on from this, they are working with their international colleagues to develop joint concepts for intercultural and interdisciplinary courses, which are to be implemented in subsequent years.

The network will make it possible to create low-threshold offers that appeal to students and academics who are both less mobile and less internationally oriented. It will include a variety of mobility opportunities such as semesters abroad, topic-focused theses and guest lectureships. To support mobility experiences, special attention will be paid to their preparation and follow-up, including language and intercultural workshops.

By integrating international and interdisciplinary perspectives into teacher education, the project helps to empower both future teachers and teacher educators as change agents for sustainable development.

Our four partner universities, three of which are located in countries of the Global South, are situated in different regions of the world, each facing distinct challenges related to the 2030 Agenda. This cooperation allows students and university members to critically question and reassess the perspectives and modes of argumentation they are accustomed to.

In Argentina, climate change and environmental degradation are among the biggest challenges, alongside violence, crime, poverty, social inequality, and political instability. These issues are addressed in both research and teaching, with current key issues including decarbonisation and responsible water management.

The Indonesian island of Lombok faces the ecological, economic, and social challenges due to over-tourism and the rapid growth of the gold mining industry, which exacerbate the existing environmental crisis.

Our partner university on Lombok, the Universitas Mataram (UNRAM), is located in Mataram, the capital of West Nusa Tenggara province. The university offers a broad range of programmes and currently enrols just over 26,000 students.

Visit the UNRAM website: unram.ac.id/en/

In Canada, water scarcity, wildfires, and rising temperatures are significant consequences of climate change. Temperature increases in Canada are more than twice the global average, and more than three times as high in the Canadian Arctic. The region has already undergone dramatic changes, such as the melting of the Arctic ice sheet and the thawing of permafrost. At the same time, the indigenous population—similar to Argentina—demands policies that prioritise the conservation of species and biodiversity.

The Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR) is located in the city of Trois-Rivières in the French-speaking province of Quebec. It currently has about 15,000 students.

Visit the UQTR website: www.uqtr.ca (in French)

In South Africa, with its coal-based energy supply and energy-intensive industries, mining has significant consequences for the environment and social progress. As a predominantly dry country, South Africa also faces the challenge of sustainably managing its available resources. The expansion of renewable and decentralised energy systems, food security, and the management of scarce water resources are at the centre of economic, social, and political debates.

The University of Pretoria, also known as Tuks/ Tukkies, is one of the largest universities in South Africa with more than 56,000 students and one of the oldest continuously operating universities in the country.

Visit the University of Pretoria website: www.up.ac.za