Abstract:

In a globalized world were there are urgent needs such as climate change and the fight against non-communicable diseases such as obesity and malnutrition, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) represent a major challenge. University may play a fundamental role in the achievement of these goals: on the one hand, from an formative perspective and, on the other, on its role of transferring new developments to society. Both roles need to be considered in Higher Education curricula.

An education which intends to incorporate sustainability issues from their different perspectives i.e. social, economic and environmental, must place the focus on the student and the use of active and innovative methodologies which get the student close to real contexts. Students may then have the opportunity to develop competences which help better understand their context and the challenges to be faced, in order provide solutions.

In this context, the goals of the present work were to increase students awareness on SDG through Challenge Based Learning (CBL) activities, and reinforce the impact of this methodology on related transversal competences such as contemporary issues knowledge or professional, ethical and environmental responsibility. To this aim, different CBL activities were planned in three courses of Agri-Food Engineering and Biotechnology Bachelor and Master degrees. Contribution of CBL approaches to SDG awareness and related competences development was assessed by means of specifically designed surveys which were launched before and after completing each activity.

Results of the present work have proved CBL to be a valuable methodology to increase students awareness on SDG and develop related transversal competences in close to real life contexts.

Keywords:

Sustainable Development Goals, Challenge Based Learning, Active methodologies, Higher Education, Contemporary issues.