Course to trigger green, digital and longevity skills among HE students
The course enabled students from different HE areas to get contemporary skills in the fields of climate change, digital transition and the use of technologies, and the issues of longevity and ageing and prepare them for an ageing population.
Emergent Societal Challenges and Sustainable Development
Learning Path | Polytechnic Institute of Viseu | 2025
Course Overview
Shaping the future — together.
This short course was part of the project COBLAGES – Using Community-Based Learning to Prepare Higher Education Students for an Ageing World (2023-1-PT01-KA220-HED-000165596).
It provided higher education students with cutting-edge skills to address some of today’s most pressing societal and sustainability challenges, focusing on:
The course required approximately 45 hours of work — 5 hours synchronous, 23 hours asynchronous, and 17 hours face-to-face — over five weeks (06/01/2025–14/02/2025), corresponding to 3 ECTS.
Synchronous sessions (via Zoom) were held on:
AimThe course aimed to develop green, digital, and longevity skills among higher education students.
Learning OutcomesBy the end of the microcredential, participants had:
Course Content
MethodologyEach topic included e-activities with readings, videos, and forum discussions, as well as individual and collaborative assignments.
Course Timeline & ActivitiesWeek 1 – Introduction (6–12 Jan 2025, online)Participants familiarized themselves with the course structure, Moodle platform, and introduced themselves on the Forum.
Week 2 – Longevity and Aging (13–19 Jan 2025, online)
EvaluationAssessment was summative, based on the completion and quality of e-activities for each topic.
Grades were expressed on a scale of 0–20, with a minimum passing score of 10.
TopicWeightLongevity and Aging25%
Digital Technologies for Society25%
Climate Change and Action25%
Sustainable Rural Communities25%Evaluation criteria included:
Closing NoteParticipants successfully completed the course, gaining the skills and perspectives needed to respond creatively and responsibly to today’s societal challenges.
The COBLAGES Learning Path strengthened their capacity to act as professionals and citizens ready to make a difference in an ageing, digital, and sustainable world. 🌍✨
Learning Path | Polytechnic Institute of Viseu | 2025
Course Overview
Shaping the future — together.
This short course was part of the project COBLAGES – Using Community-Based Learning to Prepare Higher Education Students for an Ageing World (2023-1-PT01-KA220-HED-000165596).
It provided higher education students with cutting-edge skills to address some of today’s most pressing societal and sustainability challenges, focusing on:
- Digital technologies
- Climate change
- Longevity & ageing
- Sustainable rural communities
The course required approximately 45 hours of work — 5 hours synchronous, 23 hours asynchronous, and 17 hours face-to-face — over five weeks (06/01/2025–14/02/2025), corresponding to 3 ECTS.
Synchronous sessions (via Zoom) were held on:
- 7 January 2025 – 17:00
- 14 January 2025 – 17:00
- 20 January 2025 – 17:00
- 28 January 2025 – 17:00
- 4 February 2025 – 17:00
AimThe course aimed to develop green, digital, and longevity skills among higher education students.
Learning OutcomesBy the end of the microcredential, participants had:
- Identified and understood key challenges related to longevity, digital transformation, climate change, and rural development.
- Mastered main agendas and responses addressing these challenges.
- Proposed practical, innovative, and sustainable solutions.
Course Content
- Longevity and Aging – demographics of ageing, breaking ageism, intergenerational learning and relationships.
- Digital Technologies for Society – coding, artificial intelligence, digital literacy, data visualization, disinformation.
- Climate Change and Action – design, life-cycle management, waste, resilience, adaptability.
- Sustainable Rural Communities – isolation, loneliness, desertification, and strategies for local development.
MethodologyEach topic included e-activities with readings, videos, and forum discussions, as well as individual and collaborative assignments.
- Synchronous (5h): introductory online sessions launched each topic.
- Asynchronous (23h): individual and group e-activities such as research, reflection, and discussion on collaborative platforms (with ongoing feedback).
- Face-to-face (17h): workshops and collaborative sessions held at the Polytechnic Institute of Viseu to consolidate learning.
Course Timeline & ActivitiesWeek 1 – Introduction (6–12 Jan 2025, online)Participants familiarized themselves with the course structure, Moodle platform, and introduced themselves on the Forum.
Week 2 – Longevity and Aging (13–19 Jan 2025, online)
- E-activity 1: Analysis of demographic indicators using Eurostat and census data.
- E-activity 2: Forum discussion on challenges and opportunities of an ageing society.
Resources: EC Green Paper on Ageing, WHO Global Report on Ageing, UN World Social Report 2023.
- E-activity 3: Critical analysis of narrative and mixed-format podcasts.
- E-activity 4: Creation and reflection activity using Generative AI tools (ChatGPT, DALL·E, Synthesia) to address ageing-related topics.
Resources: European AI Alliance, Stanford AI Index, UNESCO AI Ethics, OpenAI blog.
- E-activity 5: Forum discussion on definitions and local experiences of climate change.
- E-activity 6: Interactive reflection using IPCC video materials on VideoAnt.
Resources: IPCC AR6 Report, NASA Climate Change, WHO Factsheet.
- E-activity 7: 300-word summary on strategies for sustainable rural development.
- E-activity 8: Exploration of EU good practices via the Rural Pact Community Platform.
Resources: IntechOpen, Local Economy journal, RUDECO training manuals.
- 11 Feb: Guided visit to the historic city center and a rural senior community.
- 12 Feb: Workshops on Longevity and Digital Technologies.
- 13 Feb: Workshops on Climate Change and Rural Communities.
EvaluationAssessment was summative, based on the completion and quality of e-activities for each topic.
Grades were expressed on a scale of 0–20, with a minimum passing score of 10.
TopicWeightLongevity and Aging25%
Digital Technologies for Society25%
Climate Change and Action25%
Sustainable Rural Communities25%Evaluation criteria included:
- Accuracy and relevance of information
- Scientific rigor
- Depth of analysis
- Critical and reflective thinking
Closing NoteParticipants successfully completed the course, gaining the skills and perspectives needed to respond creatively and responsibly to today’s societal challenges.
The COBLAGES Learning Path strengthened their capacity to act as professionals and citizens ready to make a difference in an ageing, digital, and sustainable world. 🌍✨
