Learn to Change project organized training in digital storytelling and sustainability pedagogy in Portugal

International online workshop to discuss sustainability challenges and initiate co-creation

The digital storytelling and sustainability pedagogy training kicked off on 15 October with an international online workshop focused on discussing sustainability challenges, digital storytelling cases, and co-creation practices. The workshop brought together seven tourism industry players and more than 40 higher education students and teachers from Finland, Portugal, Hungary, the Netherlands, and the Czech Republic.   

In the workshop discussions, the following top 3 sustainability issues were identified: 1) supporting small local businesses, 2) tackling regional inequality, and 3) changing business models and tourist actions that cause environmental damage and harm local communities.

The industry representatives found collaborative digital storytelling an excellent and inspiring solution to engage local and international audiences and to broaden their knowledge and awareness of sustainable services. University education and students were seen as key in creating a more sustainable tomorrow: “Students are of great importance when we want to break with old rules and write new rules.” 

Learner-centered and participatory approach to foster sustainability competencies

Based on the workshop results, university teachers continued discussions and made preparations for upcoming co-creation projects in a training event in Castelo Branco, Portugal, on 20-22 October.

The training focused on 1) the digital storytelling process, 2) the multi-stakeholder co-creation process, and 3) sustainability competencies development. Teachers were asked to identify with the student role in collaboration projects and experiment with selected co-creation tools. Among other things, they took a trip to a local geopark, Barrocal, to do background research and ideate concepts for digital storytelling projects. The participatory and experiential approach was a success: “It was very insightful to take the student role.”

According to feedback, the training attendants appreciated the opportunity to form international networks, share knowledge and resources, and learn about each other’s sustainability goals and perspectives. All stakeholders were enthusiastic about future co-creation, which they saw as enriching, exciting and “a good opportunity to change”.

Learn to Change builds multidisciplinary co-creation networks

Haaga-Helia is the lead coordinator of the Erasmus+ funded Learn to Change project, carried out in partnership with four other European universities. The training events also included stakeholders and universities external to the partnership. The aim is to create an international research and collaboration network that builds and nurtures multidisciplinary university-industry cooperation for sustainable change.

The training programme was designed by Principal Lecturer Tanja Vesala-Varttala (project manager) from Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences and Professor Margarida Morgado from Escola Superior de Educação de Castelo Branco, in close collaboration with colleagues from Haaga-Helia, Polytechnic Institute of Castelo Branco, Saxion University of Applied Sciences, Budapest Business School, and University of Chemistry and Technology in Prague.

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