At the forefront of EUTOPIA’s efforts to promote sustainable wellbeing is Professor Teresa Calvão, from NOVA School of Science and Technology (NOVA FCT). As Lead of the Connected Community Sustainable Well-being for People & Planet / Caring Communities, she shares her insights on the role of interdisciplinary collaboration, external partnerships, and innovation within the alliance.
1) What is the role of the Connected Community Sustainable Well-being for People & Planet / Caring Communities in promoting interdisciplinary approaches to sustainable wellbeing?
Within the framework of the EUTOPIA European University Alliance, the Connected Community (CC) Sustainable Well-being for People & Planet / Caring Communities operates as a transnational and inter-university ecosystem. Its primary role is to foster and strengthen collaboration among students, academics, and researchers from a wide range of disciplines in order to rethink and co-design sustainable wellbeing on university campuses, while also engaging external stakeholders. Only through this kind of collaborative and interdisciplinary approach can holistic solutions be developed to address the complex challenges of sustainability and public health.
A good example of this approach was the workshop “Sustainable Wellbeing Cultures on University Campuses”, held in Lisbon on 18 June. The event brought together participants from NOVA University Lisbon, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (Barcelona), and TU Dresden. Master’s and PhD students, researchers, and academic staff from different fields discussed ways to promote Sustainable Wellbeing Cultures on university campuses, sharing diverse experiences and perspectives from their respective countries.
2) How are partnerships with external organisations structured, and what added value do they bring both to the community and beyond academia?
The partnerships developed within this Connected Community are not based on a rigid hierarchy. Instead, their defining characteristic is a collaborative approach. The project brings together faculty members, students, and researchers from NOVA School of Science and Technology (NOVA FCT), Universitat Pompeu Fabra (Barcelona), and TU Dresden.
The initiative also involves collaboration with the services responsible for the green infrastructure on the NOVA FCT campus, with the aim of enhancing campus sustainability and strengthening the ecosystem services provided by this green infrastructure. Particular emphasis is placed on cultural and recreational ecosystem services, including the physical and mental health benefits that can significantly contribute to the wellbeing of the university community.
In addition, the Connected Community cooperates with environmental NGOs dedicated to nature and biodiversity conservation, which support efforts to improve the ecological quality of the campus.
Within the framework of this CC, several master’s theses and internships have been carried out both on the NOVA FCT campus and in nearby nature conservation areas where these NGOs are actively involved. These collaborations have had a very positive impact, offering opportunities for joint supervision, real-world validation of research, and the potential publication of scientific articles.
3) How do these collaborations and initiatives contribute to educational and scientific innovation within EUTOPIA?
As mentioned above, these collaborations have enabled the development of master’s dissertations based on real-life case studies, addressing challenges brought forward by both internal and external stakeholders. This approach strengthens students’ critical thinking and problem-solving skills by exposing them to practical and socially relevant issues.
Students who have participated in internships and master’s projects within these themes have often expressed a strong interest in continuing to work in related fields. They also tend to demonstrate a greater commitment to participation, not only in academic activities but also in environmental volunteering and Citizen Science initiatives.
These experiences therefore contribute to pedagogical innovation by promoting experiential learning and interdisciplinary collaboration, while also advancing scientific innovation through applied research with tangible societal impact.