Hållbar stadsplanering

The vision of Globala Gymnasiet is that students, when graduating, will have an understanding of the world, including its challenges and opportunities, as well as the meaning of sustainable develo...

The vision of Globala Gymnasiet is that students, when graduating, will have an understanding of the world, including its challenges and opportunities, as well as the meaning of sustainable development. One of the school’s goals is to enhance the work within ESD, which includes developing the staff’s competencies and advancing the school’s interdisciplinary projects. There is a need to update these projects based on the current global situation to ensure they are relevant and engaging for students. Cygnus Gymnasium’s development areas include both acquiring and sharing new knowledge, with a focus on a scientific approach. By conducting the degree project in collaboration with Globala and focusing on sustainable city planning, teachers hope to increase students’ engagement in their studies and improve their scientific writing. Another goal for Cygnus is to develop the competence of global citizenship. Aeres aims to expand its network to include universities in Sweden. They hope that collaboration with Globala will lead to increased interest in exchanges between the countries. A common challenge faced is managing students’ climate anxiety. We hope that an exchange will give them insight that they are not alone in their commitment.

The project's two main activities spanned one week in each country. The first activity took place in Stockholm in November 2023, with students and teachers from Cygnus Gymnasium visiting Sweden. During the week, the Swedish and Dutch groups participated in a joint program focused on sustainable city development and current challenges. The program included guest lectures, study visits, and lessons where students, in mixed groups, discussed various topics and questions related to their degree projects. Additionally, activities were included to help them get to know each other better. Since September the students have had digital meetings and email contact to prepare for the joint work. The second activity took place in January 2024, in Amsterdam and Almere, where the group participated in a similar program with study visits, guest lectures, and lessons. This week also included a day at Aeres in Almere, with guest lectures and a study visit. The focus during this week was somewhat different since the students had progressed further in their studies. Digital contact was maintained continuously between the participants during the period between the two activities.

The project created a multidisciplinary initiative on sustainable cities, involving students from Globala and Cygnus working together on their degree projects. This collaboration enhanced students' hope regarding climate change, motivated them to envision a sustainable future, and helped them realize their active role in achieving it. It also increased the students' ability to collaborate across borders, strengthened their EU identities, and deepened their understanding of the role of science in finding interdisciplinary solutions to urban sustainability challenges. By showcasing the relevance of science to sustainable development, the project aimed to motivate students to pursue science studies post-high school. The participating teachers gained knowledge in Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) through study visits and lectures, and their professional development was furthered by sharing best practices and working methods. The success of the project, which included improved administrative competence for mobility projects and the school's participation in various training sessions, has led to continued efforts and the expansion of similar projects within the organizations in the future