Sustainability in technology and engineering subjects – competence development with students in practice

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT?

The project aims to strengthen sustainability competencies, within the three dimensions, among both teachers and students in upper secondary education, with a particular focus on Engineering and Technology. This is achieved through competence development of teachers, development of sustainability-oriented teaching courses and increased integration of practice-oriented learning forms such as business collaborations and study tours.

WHO IS BEHIND?

Funder is: Ministry of Education. Danish Agency for Education and Quality

Partners:

1. Youth Village

Role and task: Facilitation of workshops, procedural, didactic and pedagogical sparring. Facilitation of competence development seminars 1 and 2. Sparring with the teachers on the developed teaching material continuously during the project period.

2. EUC Northwest

Role and task: Associate professor and study advisor. Teaches and participates in this project course with competence development and development of teaching materials.

3. Himmerland Vocational and Upper Secondary Education (HEG)

Coordination in relation to teachers in technology and engineering subjects

WHICH COURSES ARE PARTICIPATING?

The following programs from Techcollege participate:

• HTX teachers and students, especially in Engineering and Technology subjects

THE PROJECT IN NUMBERS

Total project budget: DKK 1,482,124.80.

Techcollege's total budget: *Of which self-financing: DKK 335,980.80.

Project period: 01.01.2025 – 31.12.2027

WHAT ACTIVITIES ARE PART OF THE PROJECT?

• Seminar series: Competency development for teachers physically and online.

• Development of sustainability-oriented teaching courses with sparring from the Youth Village:

• Study tours: Practical knowledge and teaching that supports students' action skills and links to students' project work.

• Participation in professional events and networks

• Products: Teaching materials and courses

WHAT ARE THE EXPECTED RESULTS OF THE PROJECT?

1. Competence improvement for teachers: 10 teachers complete 2 iterative competence development courses, 1 annually. The competence development courses are offered openly nationally online to all engineering and technology teachers, through DEG and UNESCO by agreement to a network of 45 upper secondary schools that have science subjects across htx and stx. The goal is for 50 teachers to participate in total per year. Success criteria: 80% of teachers indicate that they have gained increased knowledge and better pedagogical tools to integrate sustainability into teaching. Implementation of 10 new teaching materials or courses with a focus on sustainability.

2. Improved student learning and engagement: Students must work on one project per year that integrates sustainable approaches, materials or methods. The success criterion is that 75% of students indicate increased understanding of, for example, sustainable construction processes and materials through evaluations.

3. Strengthened collaboration with business and research institutions: Strengthened collaboration is established with at least 3-5 new companies and research institutions such as: AAU-Build and AAU-CPH. Study trips are carried out: company visits or visits to knowledge institutions for all classes annually during the project period. Positive feedback from companies or others about the students' work and commitment.