Sustain4EU – Enhancing European Civic Practices and Sustainability

Short Project Description

The purpose of the modules is to foster research and teaching methods among young researchers within the European Union. As a priority, the modules advance work on academic research and increase interest in the EU, particularly based on graduate-level questions related to their professional lives. Jean Monnet Modules are short teaching programs, courses, or specific subjects in the field of European Union studies offered at higher education institutions, which provide crucial support to research activities.

The Sustain4EU module is a learning curriculum that aims to strengthen:

• awareness of the challenges facing the European Union, which are primarily linked to the consequences of a lack of responsible action within the social and natural environment;

• the role of EU citizens in mitigating these consequences and their contribution to social cohesion and environmental sustainability.

The thematic foundations of the module are built on identifying problems related to the degradation of the social environment (inequality, exclusion, poverty…), the natural environment (pollution, loss of biodiversity, deforestation…), and individuals facing increasing personal risks, which are chiefly the result of individualization and career disorientation.

The very title of the module reflects the purpose of its activities – to activate sustainable behavior at an individual level that will enable the sustainable development of the EU through:

• Learning: providing cutting-edge knowledge, open-access learning materials, research results, etc., in a way that reflects the co-creation of knowledge among academia, stakeholders, and students.

• Acting: promoting action research on sustainability and EU civic practices by translating theory and knowledge into practice through student research initiatives, thereby also promoting civic engagement.

• Connecting: offering opportunities for sharing experiences and knowledge among all actors by organizing active social cooperation at local and transnational European levels.

The activities are directly linked to recent social science research and texts that emphasize the role of social relations and reflexivity (cf. Archer/Donati 2015 – Relational Subject), which enable the emergence of common goods and ensure a more cohesive, inclusive, and sustainable environment. Within this context, a special emphasis is placed on an individual’s personal development, skills, and competencies, which are crucial for adapting to market demands, employment, and modern risks. Sustain4EU draws on the existing theoretical and research experience of the Module coordinator and the rest of the team, who enrich the contents with interdisciplinary knowledge.

Sustain4EU is a learning activity that includes two research-oriented courses at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. It enables the inclusion of students from various programs and study cycles into diverse learning activities, successfully linking academic theory and knowledge with research activities that stimulate the socio-civic component. All activities are based on innovative learning tools and communication approaches.