THE NEW UNIMORE CROSS-SECTORIAL COURSE ON SUSTAINABILITY SKILLS

Abstract

The global situation of the Covid-19 pandemic has changed several aspects of University life and management. The new methods of distance learning show some criticism at the beginning but after teachers and students learn well how to use it.

The University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (Unimore) has therefore decided exploit distance learning for the creation of a new teaching on the issues of Sustainability.

The new teaching was called "Transversal Skills on Sustainability". The aim is to give students soft sustainability skills that are different from those they can acquire in their own course of study. Unimore wants to provide students an overview of Sustainability in its many aspects with particular reference to the 2030 Agenda, the Green Deal and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. The teaching of "Transversal Skills on Sustainability" was delivered, for the first time, in the second semester of the academic year 2020/2021. The course is open to all students of the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia belonging to any degree course and no pre-requisites are needed.

This course is made of 13 Modules offered by several Unimore Departments to address the issue of Sustainability in a complete manner. Each Department offers a thematic module concerning Sustainability in its own field of study and research. The course ranges from engineering issues with renewable energy, waste, air quality, to economics and sustainable finance. In addition, the course deals with issues related to sustainability in the medical, chemical and legal fields and many others. In this first year of delivery, this teaching has proven to be highly appreciated among students. Over 950 students have enrolled in teaching for the 2020/2021 academic year. Enrolled students come from all areas of the university: there are students of engineering, geology, economics, chemistry, but also of medicine, pharmacy, and many others.

The course "Transversal Skills on Sustainability" delivered for the first time in 2020/2021, satisfied both the organizers and the students. There have been some problems related to the organization of the course, to streaming platforms, to the inclusion of credits in university careers, but these problems have been solved and the found solutions will be used to improve the course in the coming years.