Emission Free European Universities - Strategic Development of Students´ Sustainability Competencies in Engineering Sciences

We applied for this project to actively contribute to the transition toward a low-carbon, low-energy, and resilient society, recognising the critical role of higher education in preparing students for the ecological and energy challenges of the 21st century. Our institution sought to address the need for students and staff to acquire knowledge and competencies in socio-ecological, energy, and climate-related issues, ensuring that future engineers and professionals can integrate environmental considerations into decisions with societal impact. The project enabled us to benchmark and exchange best practices with four European polytechnic universities, fostering innovation in teaching, research, and international cooperation. By participating, we aimed to co-create, experiment with, and optimise sustainability-focused curricula and learning activities, while ensuring their broader dissemination. This approach addresses our institutional needs to strengthen sustainability education, enhance capacity, and embed social responsibility and sustainable development across programs, thereby contributing to both local and European ecological transition.

The project aimed to strengthen sustainability competencies and promote carbon neutrality in higher education. Its objectives included measuring and reducing the carbon footprint of campuses, teaching modules, and mobility practices, while assessing the sustainability awareness of students and staff. By developing, transferring, and co-creating innovative teaching modules, immersive learning tools, and practical activities, the project integrated sustainable development and social responsibility into curricula. It also focused on benchmarking and sharing best practices, optimising methods, and ensuring international dissemination to foster broader adoption across Europe. Ultimately, the project sought to equip students, staff, and institutions with the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary to actively contribute to the ecological and energy transition.

The project implemented a series of coordinated activities across four work packages to advance sustainability in higher education. WP2 developed an open-source Carbon Footprint Calculator with methodology, conducted carbon footprint assessments of four partner campuses, and implemented a sustainability awareness survey, complemented by the creation of the EFEU Sustainability Awareness Index (EFEU SAX). WP3 focused on the transfer, adoption, and co-creation of teaching modules to optimize campus carbon footprints, consolidating these into a best practices publication. WP4 included a mobility survey analyzing the impact of teaching methods on emissions, the development of software to compute CO₂e from student and staff travel, mobility workshops with Leiria City Council, and a Leading Practice Publication on sustainable mobility. WP5 advanced sustainability competencies through documentation of best practices in digital courses, development of immersive 3D classes and educational games, and the implementation of a summer school combining academic and practical learning experiences.

The project advanced carbon neutrality and sustainability competencies in higher education through four key work packages. WP2 delivered the open-source EFEU Carbon Footprint Calculator with methodology, campus footprint assessments, and a staff–student sustainability awareness survey, complemented by the EFEU Sustainability Awareness Index (SAX). These tools established baselines, highlighted gaps, and informed institutional changes. The outcomes facilitated the DHBW’s appointment of a Climate Officer and IPL’s revised mobility policies, with the calculator also adopted by five external universities. WP3 focused on curriculum innovation, producing transferred, adopted, and co-created teaching modules. Notable outcomes were the EFEU Blended Intensive Program (BIP), annual Climate Fresk workshops, and a consolidated Best Practices Publication. WP4 addressed mobility, implementing a survey, developing CO₂e computation software (with online/offline access), running workshops with Leiria City Council, and publishing Leading Practices in Sustainable Mobility. WP5 enhanced teaching innovation by documenting best practices in digital education, developing immersive 3D classes and the EFEU Serious Game (integrated into My Earth in 180 mi