International Perspectives on Education for Sustainable Development (IPoESD)
Thinking about education for sustainable development on an international scale and helping to shape it from a student’s perspective: The University of Applied Sciences Potsdam is working with partners from Kenya and Europe to establish new structures for sustainable teaching.
The student-initiated project ‘International Perspectives on Education for Sustainable Development’ (IPoESD) positions Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) as a strategic priority for the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam in both teaching and international collaboration. The focus is on how students from all Departments can develop practical skills across the three dimensions of sustainability: environmental, economic and social. A distinctive feature of the project is student co-governance: the initiative is co-initiated, co-designed and co-managed by students.
The project links the FHP with the Technical University of Kenya (TUK), the National Museum of Kenya (NMoK) and European partners within the framework of the International Digital Network University (INU). At its heart is a three-day conference open to the wider university community (ESD forum) in October 2026 on the FHP campus, at which Kenyan students and lecturers will be guests and, together with FHP staff and other international partners, will organise workshops, presentations and discussion sessions. In the long term, the aim is to establish an interdisciplinary online seminar in the field of Education for Sustainable Development, which will be integrated into the curriculum and open to all students at the participating universities.
Project Goals
The project has four objectives, which together are intended to create sustainable structures for international cooperation in the field of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). The aim is not merely to organise individual events or sign agreements, but to establish lasting networks, teaching formats and partnerships that will continue to have an impact beyond the project’s duration.
Project Activities
The project activities are divided into four areas, which will be carried out from June to December 2026.
Networking & interdisciplinary collaboration
Lecturers from various departments at the FHP are working together with their Kenyan partners at the Technical University of Kenya (TUK) and the National Museum of Kenya (NMoK), as well as their European partners at the International Digital Network University (INU), on content and formats in the field of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). The collaboration takes place regularly via online platforms and brings together perspectives from different disciplines and continents.
Joint conference with international partners
In October 2026, lecturers and students from the Technical University of Kenya (TUK), as well as representatives from the National Museum of Kenya (NMoK), will visit the FHP for a joint programme. Together with FHP staff and European partners from the International Digital Network University (INU), they will organise a conference (ESD forum): a university-wide event featuring workshops, presentations and discussion sessions on international perspectives on Education for Sustainable Development.
Long-term partnerships and collaborations
The FHP builds on an existing partnership with the Technical University of Kenya and is strengthening this partnership as part of the project. Furthermore, the collaboration with the National Museum of Kenya will be formally established through a Memorandum of Understanding, and that with the INU partners through a cooperation agreement. Both agreements lay the foundations for long-term and structurally secure collaboration.
Joint online seminar on education for sustainable development
From June to September, all partners of the International Digital Network University (INU) will work together to develop a curriculum for an interdisciplinary online seminar on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD).
Project Management
Project participants
Student co-governance
Nicolai Bach
Student Vice-President
nicolai.bach@fh-potsdam.de