New "Sustainability and Transition" course: from theory to practice!

The second part of the "Sustainability and Transition" course, which begins with an online course bringing together 54 experts, will be rolled out within each faculty using a multi-disciplinary, solutions-oriented approach.

This course, unique in Belgium, is divided into two parts: one credit in the form of an innovative online course, available in French and English, coordinated by Sybille Mertens, Advisor to the Rector for Social and Environmental Transition, and the second credit organized within the faculties with a multidisciplinary approach.

The online course, produced by CARE outils numériques, brings together 54 experts and consists of ten-minute video capsules divided into three modules: planetary limits and social needs, a systemic analysis of environmental and social issues with a focus on the food system, and finally the concepts of sustainable development and transition with concrete solutions. Although primarily aimed at bachelor's students, the course is also open to master's students and university staff, with complementary workshops.

The second part of the "Sustainability and Transition" course - also compulsory for bachelor students - stands out for its multidisciplinary approach and its focus on concrete solutions. Each of the university's faculties is autonomous in the organization of this credit, allowing content to be adapted to the specificities of each discipline.

A variety of innovative initiatives have been launched to raise awareness of the issue:

• The Faculty of Psychology, Logopedics and Educational Sciences organizes various conferences on eco-anxiety and climate change, providing students with tools to understand and manage anxiety linked to environmental challenges.
• The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine organizes a day of activities focusing on the concept of "OneHealth", highlighting the interdependence between human, animal and environmental health.
• The Faculté des Sciences offers not only lectures but also participation in collective initiatives such as "Nourrir Liège", encouraging students to become actively involved in local actions in favor of sustainability.
• The Faculté de Philosophie et Lettres is planning a disciplinary workshop to explore sustainability issues in greater depth, complemented by a citizen's workshop to stimulate reflection on how to improve our living environment.
• HEC Liège, ULiège School of Management welcomes new students with its brand new "Welcome Sprint" (3 immersive days at the start of the year in the University and the City), featuring brainstorming sessions and sub-group workshops on business and sustainability issues. Workshops and lectures are also scheduled for the second term, encouraging rapid and thoughtful immersion in sustainability issues.
• The Faculty of Medicine plans to follow the online course (^1st credit) around an initial common theory session (bringing together around 1000 students) during a faculty half-day, followed by a 2h class specific to each stream. Students will then choose an 8h workshop from several interdisciplinary options on a dedicated day.
• The Faculty of Architecture offers a project development workshop where students will develop a proposal in response to a specific question. This workshop will enable them to mobilize the knowledge they have acquired to design a concrete architectural solution.

This diverse and dynamic approach demonstrates ULiège's strong commitment to training students who are aware of and active in the face of today's environmental and societal challenges. Each faculty makes its own unique contribution to this collective mission, enriching students' educational pathways and preparing them to become agents of change in their future professional fields.