DIPSU

Digital Pedagogy as Capacity Building for Sustainability Agents in South Africa (DIPSU) promotes awareness, competence, and literacy in sustainable development, as well as digital skills and ethical digital citizenship among staff and students at the partner universities. The aim of the project is to develop educators’ digital sustainability skills and promote ethical digital practices, while supporting global transformation processes in sustainability and education.

More information

Partners

The DIPSU project partners include four higher education institutions: Haaga-Helia and Tampere University from Finland, as well as Tshwane University of Technology from South Africa. The collaboration combines pedagogical and technological expertise and supports the development of education for sustainable development in both countries

Implementation

Activities include a study trip from South Africa to Helsinki, workshops and masterclasses held in South Africa and online. The workshops focus on data literacy, the use of digital tools, inclusive learning, and peer pedagogy. Ethical digital citizenship is also addressed through the lenses of Ubuntu ethics, Indigenous knowledge, AI ethics, and digital rights.

Goals

As a result of the project, digital learning materials, a pedagogical roadmap, and an AI integration tool will be produced to strengthen the capacity of South African higher education institutions for providing inclusive and digitally supported sustainability education.

Websites

TFK programme website
TFK announcement and description of the funded DIPSU project (pdf, 191 KB)

Meet the DIPSU Team

Team members

Sini Bask PhD, is a Senior Lecturer and special education teacher with a background in social services, performing arts, philosophy, and wilderness guiding. She specializes in vocational and special needs education, promoting equal access to learning and employment. At Haaga-Helia, she trains special education teachers and contributes to projects on educational technology, inclusion, and global education. As International Activities Officer, she coordinates seminars, partnerships, mobility programs, and international collaboration for the School of Professional Teacher Education.

Contact Sini:
+358 294471656
[email protected]

Heli Koskinen is a Coordinator at Haaga-Helia’s School of Professional Teacher Education. She plans and manages continuing education projects in collaboration with pedagogical experts and leads Haaga-Helia’s Africa network with pedagogical specialists. Heli is passionate about fostering international collaboration to address global educational challenges together with partner universities in the Global South.

Contact Heli:
+358 294471653
[email protected]

Päivi Aarreniemi-Jokipelto (Doctor of Science, Tech.) works as a Principal Lecturer in Haaga-Helia School of Professional Teacher Education. Her areas of expertise include digital pedagogy and technology, mobile learning, iDTV learning, e-learning, distance learning, blended learning, teacher training and export of education. Päivi has worked as a lead expert in digital learning, design for learning and teacher training programmes. She has trained e.g. Brazilian, Saudi and Colombian teachers. The most recent programme is the Master’s Degree programme for university directors and deans in South Africa.

Contact Päivi:
[email protected]