Abstract:

The transition toward a sustainable society necessitates professionals equipped with systemic sustainability competences. This research initiative, coordinated by the Academic Network for a Green and Innovative Europe (ANGIE), aims to embed sustainability principles into higher education through a harmonized graduate framework addressing the WATERIC domains—Waste, Agriculture, Transport, Energy, Residential activities, Industrial production, and Construction. A comprehensive needs analysis conducted across eight European countries revealed significant shortcomings: limited effectiveness of climate-related communication, fragmented strategies for the green transition, and insufficient preparation of graduates for systemic sustainability practices.

To address these issues, a structured curriculum was developed, comprising 24 units covering the WATERIC fields. Representative modules include Critical Raw Materials, Resources Management, Materials in Circular Economy, Green Buildings, Sustainable Supply Chain Management, Climate Change Mitigation in Energy, Waste Technologies, and Sustainable Agriculture. The program defines learning outcomes which are all aligned with EQF Level 7 and encompass knowledge (circular economy, life-cycle assessment), skills (energy audits, GIS-based analysis, supply chain design), and transversal competences (critical thinking, stakeholder communication, ethical decision-making).

The pedagogical design integrates innovative methods such as Experiential Learning, Problem- and Project-Based Learning, Flipped Classroom, and Interdisciplinary Learning. These approaches combine fieldwork, real-world problem-solving, digital preparation, and cross-sector collaboration, ultimately strengthening systems thinking and applied problem-solving skills. By combining curricular innovation, modern pedagogy, and robust assessment, this initiative outlines a replicable European model. It strengthens both disciplinary knowledge and transversal competences, preparing graduates to act as agents of the European Green Deal.

This paper explores how the sustainability of the WATERIC domains can be translated into academic reference disciplines and defines a master’s program designed to equip bachelor-level graduates with the competences required to embed sustainability principles in enterprises, organizations, and professional practice, thus reinforcing the green transition at both microeconomic and macroeconomic levels.

As part of its contribution to the ANGIE project, the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria (FHOOE) conducted an extensive desk research activity within higher education institutions to identify relevant academic approaches supporting the green transition. Based on this analysis, FHOOE developed two key deliverables: a comprehensive document outlining the disciplines proposed for inclusion in the master’s curriculum, and a dedicated curriculum design focusing on Transport and Logistics within the WATERIC framework. These outputs laid the groundwork for the subsequent project phases, providing the academic foundation for the future joint master’s program “Transition to Green for a Sustainable Society”.

Keywords:

Sustainability Competences, Higher Education Curriculum, Green Transition, Logistics Education, WATERIC Framework, Pedagogical Innovation.