C.I.V.I.S Sustainability Challenge: an interdisciplinary learning initiative for real‑world impact – CIVIS – Europe’s Civic University Alliance [Μετάβαση στο περιεχόμενο](#main) ![](https://civis.eu/build/assets/circle-01-CEiLnzkH.svg) ![](https://civis.eu/build/assets/circle-09-B3BMjMVU.svg) ![](https://civis.eu/build/assets/circle-10-DJMNX6l7.svg) [ ![CIVIS – Europe’s Civic University Alliance](https://civis.eu/build/assets/civis-CCpvK1nT.svg)](https://civis.eu/el) - [ Ανακάλυψε ](https://civis.eu/el/discover-civis-alliance) - [ Τι είναι το CIVIS; ](https://civis.eu/el/discover-civis-alliance/what-is-civis) - [ Το έργο μας ](https://civis.eu/el/discover-civis-alliance/our-work) - [ Αποστολή, Όραμα & Αξίες ](https://civis.eu/el/discover-civis-alliance/our-institutional-journey) - [ Διακυβέρνηση & Διαχείριση ](https://civis.eu/el/discover-civis-alliance/governance-andamp-management) - [ Ποιος είναι Ποιος ](https://civis.eu/el/discover-civis-alliance/who-is-who) - [ CIVIS Association ](https://civis.eu/el/discover-civis-alliance/civis-association) [Ανοιχτά εργαστήρια & Συμμετοχή των πολιτών ](https://civis.eu/el/discover-civis-alliance/our-work/open-labs-civic-engagement) - 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[Ανακαλύψτε τη Συμμαχία του CIVIS ](https://civis.eu/el/discover-civis-alliance) 2. [Το έργο μας ](https://civis.eu/el/discover-civis-alliance/our-work) 3. [Ανοιχτά εργαστήρια & Συμμετοχή των πολιτών ](https://civis.eu/el/discover-civis-alliance/our-work/open-labs-civic-engagement) 4. C.I.V.I.S Sustainability Challenge: an interdisciplinary learning initiative for real‑world impact C.I.V.I.S Sustainability Challenge: an interdisciplinary learning initiative for real‑world impact ==================================================================================================== The **C.I.V.I.S.** (Creative, Innovative, Visionary, Interdisciplinary, and Socially responsible) **Sustainability Challenge** (or CSC) is an interdisciplinary, challenge-based learning experience connecting university resources towards developing impactful solutions to **real-world challenges**. Developed within the European Civic University Alliance, it is coordinated by the Université libre de Bruxelles and implemented at **6 partner universities** in Europe and Africa. The project addresses the growing need for hands-on, socially responsible education that bridges teaching, research, and societal impact. It engages students from diverse disciplines to work alongside local stakeholders, such as NGOs, municipalities, and civil society organisations, in an intensive 48-hour challenge, combining academic knowledge, civic engagement, and innovation. Promising solutions will be encouraged to further develop through incubators and mentoring programmes, and Open Labs. Part of the Open Labs, the Challenge provides a scalable model for interdisciplinary, participatory learning across the CIVIS Alliance. [Learn more about the project](https://civis.eu/storage/files/civis-sustainable-challenge.docx) Main Beneficiaries & Social Impact --------------------------------------- ### Main Beneficiaries - **Students** (final-year bachelor’s, master’s, and postmaster’s) from all disciplines at CIVIS partner universities. - **Local stakeholders** (NGOs, municipalities, social enterprises, community organisations) involved in defining and evaluating challenges. - **Academic staff and researchers** engaged in interdisciplinary teaching and participatory research. Participation takes place through **open calls**, preparatory learning modules, **onsite 48-hour challenges**, mentoring sessions, and a **hybrid inter-university final**. Approximately **20–50 students per university** are typically involved in local challenges, with finalists advancing to the final CIVIS-wide event. ### Social Impact The CSC strengthens sustainability skills, teamwork, leadership, and ethical reasoning among student participants, while fostering **civic engagement** and cross-cultural collaboration. For stakeholders, it delivers fresh ideas, actionable solutions, and stronger university–community partnerships. At the institutional level, it contributes to curricular innovation and scalable models for challenge-based learning, reinforcing CIVIS Open Labs’ mission to cocreate knowledge with and for society. Core Methodology ------------------ The CSC uses a **Challenge-Based Participatory Learning** approach, combining interdisciplinary teamwork, stakeholder cocreation, real world case studies, mentoring, and reflective practice. Students work on authentic sustainability challenges through intensive workshops and prototyping, supported by academic, professional, and civic partners. Events in the Project ---------------------- **Event Name** **Date(s)** **Location** **Description (purpose, audience)** Open Lab Brussels Sustainability Challenge **20 and 21 March, 2026** Open Lab Brussels, Usquare campus 48-hour hackathon for selected students from ULB CIVIS Sustainability Challenge at UofG **6 and 7 March 2026** Advanced Research Centre (ARC), University of Glasgow 2-day hackathon for students from Glasgow Sustainability Challenge at UAM **2 and 9 March 2026** Cantoblanco Campus 2-day activity for selected students from UAM NKUA Sustainability Challenge **27 and 28 March** **2026** Makerere University Uganda **5 to 7 March 2026** Innovation & Invention Centre Two days activity in the Innovation Lab Take-Aways ----------- The project brings together interdisciplinary and international student teams to address real societal challenges through a strong collaboration between universities and local stakeholders. Designed in a hybrid local-to-global format, it reduces its environmental footprint while maintaining broad international engagement. Moving from ideas to impact, the initiative provides structured follow-up support through incubators and fab labs, ensuring that promising concepts can evolve into tangible solutions. As a replicable model aligned with CIVIS Open Labs and the UN SDGs, it offers a sustainable and scalable framework for future challenge-based collaborations. ![Local stakeholder partner](https://civis.eu/storage/files/civis-coms-unit-details-13.jpg) > Working with students brought fresh perspectives to our sustainability challenge and opened new paths for collaboration with the university Local stakeholder partner Partners --------- **Université libre de Bruxelles** Academic The Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB) is a leading research-intensive university committed to critical thinking, academic freedom, and social responsibility. Through its teaching and research activities, ULB actively contributes to interdisciplinary approaches addressing contemporary societal challenges, including sustainability, environmental responsibility, and education for social change. **National and Kapodistrian University of Athens** Academic The Environmental Education Lab (EEL), based in the Department of Educational Studies, School of Philosophy, at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), is a research and academic hub advancing knowledge and critical engagement in Environmental and Sustainability Education. **Universidad Autónoma de Madrid** Academic and Stakeholders UAM is a leading public research university committed to academic excellence, innovation, and social responsibility, with a strong focus on interdisciplinary approaches to sustainability, inclusion, and social transformation. Tangente is a cooperative group that promotes sustainability and ecosocial transformation through the social economy and inter-cooperation. **University of Glasgow** Academic and non-academic Combination of Glasgow Goes Green Week (at UofG), CfSS, ARC, and others. **Makerere University Kampala- Uganda** Academic, Government and NGO’s, Donors, Government owned with a population of about 80,000with all disciplines. ### Academic and administrative coordinator of the CSC ![Academic and administrative coordinator of the CSC](https://civis.eu/storage/files/universite-libre-de-bruxelles.png)- Sandra Rothenberger - [Email](mailto:sandra.rothenberger@ulb.be) ### Academic and administrative coordinator of the CSC ![Academic and administrative coordinator of the CSC](https://civis.eu/storage/files/universite-libre-de-bruxelles.png)- Jean-François Desoutter - [Email](mailto:jean-francois.desoutter@ulb.be) ### Co-coordinator for CSC at UAM ![Co-coordinator for CSC at UAM](https://civis.eu/storage/files/universidad-autonoma-de-madrid.png)- Leyla Angélica Sandoval Hamón - [Email](mailto:angelica.sandoval@uam.es) ### Director of University Institute of Education Science, UAM ![Director of University Institute of Education Science, UAM](https://civis.eu/storage/files/universidad-autonoma-de-madrid.png)- Alfonso García de la Vega - [Email](mailto:alfonso.delavega@uam.es) ### Director of Games and Gaming Lab (UofGGamesLab), University of Glasgow ![Director of Games and Gaming Lab (UofGGamesLab), University of Glasgow](https://civis.eu/storage/files/university-of-glasgow.png)- Timothy Peacock - [Email](mailto:timothy.Pecock@glasgow.ac.uk) ### Role: Director of Environmental Education Lab - Department of Educational Studies / Academic Coordinator for CSC at NKUA ![Role: Director of Environmental Education Lab - Department of Educational Studies / Academic Coordinator for CSC at NKUA](https://civis.eu/storage/files/national-and-kapodistrian-university-of-athens.png)- Maria Daskolia - [Email](mailto:mdaskol@eds.uoa.gr) ![](https://civis.eu/storage/files/makerere-university.png)- Anthony Tibaingana - [Email](mailto:anthony.tibaingana@mak.ac.ug) ![CIVIS – Europe’s Civic University Alliance](https://civis.eu/build/assets/civis-CCpvK1nT.svg) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Europe’s Civic University Alliance ![Co-funded by the European Union](https://civis.eu/build/assets/co-funded-by-the-european-union-DSKLW1us.png)Views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). 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