Training for transition: an interdisciplinary course at the University of Liège

In a world facing systemic environmental, social and economic upheaval, the University of Liège has strongly affirmed its educational commitment to transition.

© I-Huart

Since the start of the 2024-25 academic year, all bachelor students have been offered a new compulsory 2 ECTS cross-disciplinary course entitled "Sustainability and Transition", the fruit of collective construction and reflection.

The course comprises two distinct but complementary parts. The first part, common to all faculties and worth 1 ECTS, offers a global understanding of current issues through a cross-disciplinary approach, popularized and accessible to all, whatever the student's original discipline. This first credit takes the form of a SPOC (Small Private Online Course) and is accessible to all students and staff via the eCampus platform. The second part of the course, also credited with 1 ECTS, is organized by each faculty for its students and aims to link learning with their specific discipline. It enables students to delve deeper into solutions applicable to their field of study. This approach is designed to encourage practical involvement, sometimes in connection with university or social initiatives.

A SPOC designed to introduce students to complexity (^1st credit)

The first credit is designed as an introductory, popularized and multidisciplinary course. It is organized around three interconnected modules:

1. Environmental and social findings - Taking stock of the Earth system (climate, biodiversity, soil, oceans, etc.) and the human system (inequalities, health, economy, governance, etc.).
2. Systemic causes - Analysis of the root causes of current upheavals (human-nature relationship, dominant narratives, economic model, consumption, urbanization, governance), with a transversal focus on the food system.
3. Possible solutions - Introduction to the concepts of sustainability and transition, identification of key players, international dynamics (ODD, COP, IPCC...), technical and social levers for action.

Collective construction

The creation of this SPOC is in line with the mission of CARE numérique, which supports the integration of digital teaching tools in higher education, by promoting innovative learning approaches.

The design of the course mobilized some fifty experts from all faculties, as well as a number of scientific collaborators from civil society, to ensure rigorous, multidisciplinary scientific coverage of the issues addressed.

A dedicated course coordination team ensured the coherence of the course and a systemic vision of learning.

What's next? The second credit in action in faculties

In addition to the SPOC, a second credit is being implemented by faculties specifically for their students. It aims toanchor learning in their specific discipline through courses, projects, workshops, conferences, case analyses or concrete initiatives.

SPOC registration

Open student

For those who do not have this course in their EAP, the application for enrolment as a free student must be submitted on the usual form, with the agreement of the course coordinator, Sybille Mertens (via durabilite.transition@uliege.be) and the approval of the Dean of the student's Faculty of enrolment. This registration is free of chargeit can be submitted up to December¹ for Q1 and up to May¹ for Q2.

Staff members

All staff members have access to course content. Registration is via ARH registration form.

Citizen

Registration via the FunMOOC platform from January 2026. Simply create a free account.