Development of Sustainability Competencies in a Higher Education Semester Program on Smart Sustainable Cities

Abstract

[EN] Cities face enormous challenges regarding their sustainable development. Facing these challenges requires a range of competencies that enable professionals to in-depth analyse problems, envisage multiple futures, reflect on norms and on their own actions and beliefs and develop innovative solutions in a multidisciplinary approach. For students in Higher Education to develop these competencies, an elective semester program was designed and implemented, the learning effect of which was determined through self-assessment by the participating students. Results show that students report slight or strong improvement on most of the six key sustainability competencies, most significantly on self-awareness, strategic and normative competencies. In addition, students learn from the application of design skills in the program. This paper demonstrates a relation between the program components and self-reported growth in sustainability competencies. Further research is deemed necessary to explain exactly how competency development is fostered by the didactical approach and content of the program.