Abstract:

This paper presents an innovative international learning experience that has been developed by six European universities and one non-European to teach a common course in an unconventional, remote way, to geographically-separate groups of students.

The objective of this two week summer programme is to give the students a deeper knowledge of the relation between sustainable development and the economic/financial conditions on a global scale encouraging them to propose creative solutions for real problems in a global context
The course has already been running for last six years with success. Now partners propose a new and unique pedagogical approach for the benefits of the students considering lessons learned during previous experiences.

It aims to be a challenge to propose solutions to real problems in a global context using Project Based Learning methodology working seriously on the strengthening of student´s transversal competences and measuring them.

The projects will always take into account the human factors and will be referred, for example, to the topics:
- The global economic system.
- Sustainable development.
- Limited natural resources.
- Climate change.
- Clean tech.
- Energy in a global context.

Nowadays we are living a global crisis affecting the international context. Two important concerns regarding this situation are sustainable development and the economic and financial conditions. This course will allow students to have a deeper knowledge of the current situation on these matters and will sensitize them to the current context positioning themselves as professionals.

The TESS course is operated with the support of the T.I.M.E. (Top Industrial Managers for Europe) Association and the European Commission's DG Education and Culture, through the Erasmus Lifelong Learning Programme.

The students are in constant communication with the lecturers, independent upon where they are, and with their fellow students at the other campuses.

The projects that students have been working on have been:
• Make a middle-sized city sustainable!
• Stand-alone energy system for clinic power supply in developing country.
• District-heating solutions for rural areas.

And the course have been designed to strength the student´s competences (Critical thinking; Problem solving; Collaboration; Communication).
The results and best practices are shared in this communication.

Keywords:

Project Based Learning, Sustainability, Innovative Educational, International Environment.