BUP Teachers' Course 2024-2025
The focus of the course is to improve the implementation of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and Agenda 2030 in the learning methods in Higher Education. The participants will get tools on how to integrate the UN Sustainable Development Goals into their own teaching and study programs in a hands-on way.
The emphasis during the course is primarily to strengthen goal number four which is ‘Quality education’, but also the other SDGs can come into question. The course includes basic facts on sustainable development, with the main focus on ESD and teaching methodology, including e-learning, and peer learning. By planning, developing, and presenting how each participant will better integrate ESD in their own teaching, the objective and outcome of the course are kept on a concrete level. The course also gives tools for feedback and critical reflection.
The course is organised by BUP Finland and it is free of charge for participants from BUP participating universities. Applicants from outside the BUP are also welcome but will pay a fee.
The application deadline is 19 August 2024.
Photo: Cecilia Lundberg
Application form
Apply to attend.
Course information
Visit the BUP Finland's website.
Structure of the course
Participants will complete online material, exercises, and discussions in groups as well as participate in workshops.
The two in-person workshops are the following:
- 8-10 October 2024 at Åbo Akademi University, Finland.
- February/March 2024 (time and place to be decided during the first workshop).
Change project
Each participant will develop a so-called ‘Change project’ during the course. The ‘Change project’ is based on an already existing course, study program, or a future teaching experience. The idea is to change the content to better integrate ESD. The planning and implementation of the ‘Change project’ will be the main outcome of the course. All the participants will have the support of a critical friend and peer reviews via the e-platform Moodle and during the workshops.
Cycle 1
E-learning on Moodle. Introduction to sustainability and ESD. Preliminary planning of the Change project (1 month, 0.5 ECTS).
Cycle 2
Workshop I with focus on SDG, ESD methodology and Design Thinking. Presentation of the plans and further development of the Change project (2-3 days in September/October, 1.5 ECTS).
Cycle 3
Development of the Change project at the home university. Preparation for presentation of the project (including implementation plan, teaching and learning methods). (October–February, 2 ECTS).
Cycle 4
Workshop II with focus on critical reflection. Presentation, reporting and peer learning together with the course. Discussion how to take the Change project forward. (2 days in February/March, 1.5 ECTS).
Cycle 5
Post course work in implementation of the Change project at the home university. Possibility to publish the project reports on the BUP website and/or in a scientific journal.
A complete fulfillment of the course will generate a certificate corresponding to 5 ECTS by the Centre for Lifelong Learning at Åbo Akademi University, Finland. 5 ECTS corresponds to 135 h and includes all the cycles/parts described above.
Practical information
The course is free of charge (incl. accommodation and meals) for teachers from BUP participating universities. A course fee of 800 euro per person (incl. accommodation and meals) applies for other participants. However, all the participants have to cover their own travel costs.
For the selection of participants, a short motivation text (approx. 3,000-4,000 characters) and a preliminary description of the 'Change project' (approx. 1,000-2,000 characters) is required (included in the application form).
We are aiming for a broad international diversity with as many countries and universities represented as possible. However, we encourage 2-3 persons from the same university/institution to apply. The total number of participants is limited to 30.
Contact and more information
The course organiser is The Baltic University Programme‘s Associate Secretariat at Åbo Akademi University, Finland. If you have questions about the course, do not hesitate to contact bup-finland@abo.fi.
Marketing material
We welcome you to share information about the BUP Teacher's Course and invite you to use our marketing material which can be found in our Google Drive folder with marketing material.