Year 2022 has been full of action in Climate University community. Nine new members joined the network and we launched a new course Biodiversity.now, as well as Una Europa Micro-Credential in Sustainability.

In September 2022 a new coordination team started to work for Climate University. Please find our introductions here:

“Hi! I am Laura, coordinator of the Climate University network from the very beginning. We started to build Climate.now course in 2015 and have grown ever since. I am a university lecturer in atmospheric sciences at the University of Helsinki Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research.”

“Hi, I’m Bernhard, a university lecturer in Computational Aerosol Physics at the Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research at the University of Helsinki. I help coordinate the Climate University network and search for opportunities for new international collaborations. I’m teaching in the CU courses Sustainable.now and Climate Communication, and I am also involved in developing a Joint Bachelor in Sustainability programme within the Una Europa alliance.”

“Hi I’m Janne, a late-stage PhD student of sustainability science and one of the (Finnish) coordinators of the Climate University network. My engagement with CU began with being part of the authoring team behind Leadership for Sustainable Change -course and I have ever since been sharing some teaching responsibilities of this and other CU courses as well. I firmly believe education is our one sure recipe for the sustainability transformation, and that is why I am part of CU and also a researcher of sustainability science and education.”

“Hello! My name is Janina, a PhD student from INAR (Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research), University of Helsinki, Finland. I am the one who helps and operates with Digicampus in the Climate University network.  My background is in meteorology, but I had a shift towards climate change topics in my PhD and this led me to teaching one of the Climate University courses (high school version of Climate.now). I have worked with Digicampus for a few years now and I am happy to help however I can!“

We wish you relaxing holidays! And for the next year – put into your calendars Climate University Annual Meeting 6.-7.11.2023 in Helsinki!

Please find here many opportunities to study Climate University courses this spring!

Courses with scheduled lectures:

Leadership for sustainable change, 5 ECTS, 17.1.-5.3.2023

University of Helsinki students register with course code ATM373, Tampere University students register with course codes HAL.YPAL.341 or KAT.VAST.328 or LFC.360, University of Jyväskylä students register with course code CEMS2610 and Hanken stundents register with course code 22089-E. Other Climate University students register here and others via open university here.

SystemsChange.now, 5 ECTS, 18.1.-10.5.2023

University of Helsinki students register with course code ATM379, Tampere University students register with course code HAL.YPAT.341, University of Turku students register with course code MAAN7741 and Aalto students register with course code MS-EV0008. Other Climate University students register here and others here.

ClimateComms.now, 2 ECTS,  16.1.-5.3.2023

University of Helsinki students register with course code ATM382, other Climate University students register here, and others here.

Statistical tools for climate and atmospheric science, 5 ECTS, 11.1.-31.5.2023

University of Eastern Finland students register with course code 3352755 (”Sovelletun fysiikan tilastollinen data-analyysi / Statistical Data Analysis for Applied physics”), other Climate University students here and others here. Registration ends 3.1.2023 at 23:59.

Solutions.now, 5 ECTS,  March-May 2023 

LAB students register with the course codes LA00BU68-3002 /AMK or LA00BU68-3003 /YAMK, Metropolia students with the course code XX00DW15-3005 (registration period 28.11.2022-28.2.2023), Turku UAS students register with the course code TE00BR31-3002, University of Helsinki students with the course code ATM380. Other UAS students in Finland register via Campus Online here, other Climate University students register here. Please note that Climate.now, Sustainable.now or similar knowledge is required as pre-requisites.

Kestävyys.nyt / Sustainable.now 

1. Oulun yliopistossa on tarjolla Kestävyys.nyt nimellä Kestävän kehityksen perusteet: NP00AF43 Kestävän kehityksen perusteet, 3-5 op, 1.1.-13.3. Lisätiedot täällä, hakuohjeet ja -lomake täällä. Also available in English: Principles of Sustainable Development, 3-5 ECTS. Further information from here, application guideline here.
2.  Itä-Suomen yliopistossa: Johdatus kestävän tulevaisuuden opintoihin A osa (3 op) ja B osa (2 op). UEF tutkinto-opiskelijoille: A osa jatkuvasti auki etäsuoritteinen (kurssikoodi 5319404 ); B osa 27.03.2023 – 19.05.2023, vaatii läsnäoloa, A osa vaaditaan edeltävinä opintoina, (kurssikoodi 5319406). Avoimen kautta saatavilla: Avoin yo: A-osa ; Avoin yo: B-osa. Kestävyysopintojen verkoston kumppanikorkeakouluille (Jyväskylän yliopisto, Itä-Suomen yliopisto ja Turun yliopisto): kurssi suoritettavissa ilmaiseksi, ilmoittautuminen verkoston www-sivun kautta.

Continuously available online courses:

Una Europa Micro-Credential in Sustainability, 10 ECTS

Una Europa Micro-Credential in Sustainability is a 10-cr module, consisting of five continuously available courses: Introduction to sustainability, Climate.now, Biodiversity.now, Political Economy of Sustainability and Sustainability and the Arts.

Introduction to sustainability, 3 ECTS

Introduction to sustainability (based on Climate University course Sustainable.now) is continuously available as Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) via University of Helsinki. Registration via course learning platform.

Biodiversity.now, 2 ECTS

The course is continuously available between 2.1. and 31.5.2023. Course registration is free for all and open via UEF open university here.

Climate.now / Ilmasto.nyt, 2 ECTS

Climate.now (2 ECTS) is continuously available as Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) via University of Helsinki here.

Climate.now / Ilmasto.nyt (2 ECTS) can also be studied in University of Eastern Finland with course code 3352711, either in English or in Finnish. Course is also open via open university here.

Kiertotalous.nyt / Circular.now, 3 ECTS

Kiertotalous.nyt / Circular.now course is available on a continuous basis – University of Helsinki students can register with the course code MAAT-051, other Climate University students here and others here (see the last link also for more info). The course is available both in English and in Finnish.

Leadership for sustainable change, 2 ECTS

Leadership for sustainable change is also available on a continuous basis for University of Helsinki students (course code ATM383, see course page for more info) and for Climate University students (registration here).

Courses with restricted access:

Climate.now for University of Jyväskylä students (course code CEMY5120) 9.1.-30.1.2023

Society needs new competences to tackle the challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss and the sustainability crisis – Representatives from 27 Higher Education Institutions met in Tampere

In the beginning of November, it was time to get together with the Climate University community for an annual meeting. In the meeting the network news were discussed, and future plans workshopped. The meeting was especially aimed at Climate University coordinators and course teachers, but everyone interested to get to know more and to be involved was warmly welcomed. The event was organized prior to the Unifi and Arene sustainability and responsibility seminar in Tampere.

Figure 1. Participants posed for a group photo in the end of the meeting. 

The aim of the Climate University network is to foster climate and sustainability teaching and learning in higher education as well as in society. Climate University provides free, high-quality online courses for universities and everyone who wants to make the sustainability transition in the society real. Currently, there are 27 Finnish higher education institutions as partners in the network. Climate University has developed materials to altogether ten courses, some of them in Finnish and English languages. In addition to these, the first course is now available also in Swedish (Klimat.nu). 

New network members and future plans

In the meeting we celebrated the two new members of the network, Högskolan på Åland and Åbo Akademi. Iryna Herzon from the University of Helsinki, representing Biodiversity education network and the new Biodiversity.now course, discussed the importance of the biodiversity to life and introduced the new course. Natalia Korhonen from Finnish Meteorological Institute presented a new course topic: Living with changing climate and Anna Lintunen from the University of Helsinki introduced another new course theme Forests and climate change, both courses in preparation by several collaborators.  

Figure 2: 27 Higher Education Institutions in Finland involved in the Climate University network. 

Laura Riuttanen from the University of Helsinki coordinates the entire network.  Laura presented the new initiatives and collaboration possibilities.  

The workshops focused on developing current courses and sharing experiences from the past implementations of Climate University courses. In addition, initiatives made on new Climate University courses were discussed. New ideas, inspiring discussions and future plans were designed. The discussions will continue and as an example, network wide framework about vision, goals and action plan will be sent to the network coordinators by the end of the year. 

Sanomisen Paikka at Tampere-talo

In the evening, an open Sanomisen paikka -panel discussion was held at Tampere-talo in Finnish. Panelists discussed biodiversity, which is being depleted at an alarming rate due to the unsustainable use of natural resources, climate change, habitat fragmentation, and other human activities. What does this mean for the future? What can each of us do? This event was named as ‘Katoava Luontomme’. In the end, Idän Proffa, which is the alter ego of post-doctoral researcher Samuli Junttila from University of Eastern Finland, performed a song, which pulled together the entire discussion. Junttila strives to convey researched information and increase awareness of the deteriorating state of the environment. Understanding the effects of climate change and biodiversity loss requires, in addition to knowledge, empathy and feelings, which can be conveyed through music. Idän Proffa’s story started with the need to communicate his doctoral research and a music video, which was later also awarded with Science Magazine’s Dance your PhD award, however the project has become an important personal tool for him to deal with the emotions caused by climate change. 

Figure 3. Sanomisen paikka event was organzed at Tampere-talo in collaboration with Biodiversity education network. 

Feelings and atmosphere during the meeting

Although online education and tools provide many resource efficient and climate friendly opportunities for collaboration, it was very much appreciated to meed in person and have the opportunity to share views and discuss together. Thank you to Atmosphere and Climate Competence Center for the servings and very nice dinner at Telakka. 

Next meeting

Next Climate University network meeting will be held in November 2023 attached to Unifi & Arene sustainability seminar in Helsinki. Before that, we hope to meet at Sustainability science days in May, and at coming courses! 

Authors: Mika Nieminen and Eija Syrjämäki (TAMK), Laura Riuttanen (UH)

Vi har glädjen att välkomna två nya medlemmar till en del av Climate University-nätverket: Åbo Akademi och Högskolan på Åland! Det är fint att få mera svenskspråkiga medlemmar till nätverket! Vi har också glädjen att öppna den första kursen på svenska: Klimat nu. Kursen har tidigare erbjudits på finska och engelska.

Klimat.nu är en onlinekurs som ger studeranden en mångsidig uppfattning om klimatförändringen; vad det egentligen är frågan om, vilka de fysikaliska mekanismerna är som orsakar klimatuppvärmningen, vilka som är orsakerna till växthusgasutsläppen, hur framtiden ser ut och vilka medlen är för begränsning och anpassning av klimatförändringen. Kursen består av sju moduler med flervalsuppgifter samt övriga uppgifter som fördjupar studerandens förståelse om ämnet i fråga. Studeranden har möjlighet via uppgifterna att också reflektera sin egen roll i klimatförändringen. Kursmaterialet kan studeras självständigt, men om studiepoäng vill anhållas skall kursen studeras via något av universiteten som erbjuder den!

Länk till kursmaterialet: https://digicampus.fi/course/view.php?id=3547

Last Friday October 7^th we launched Una Europa Micro-Credential in Sustainability, in collaboration with Una Europa European Universities alliance, Climate University and Biodiversity education Network Finland.

Una Europa Micro-Credential in Sustainability is a 10-cr module on sustainability, aimed for continuous learners. However, also higher education students can take it as part of their degree. Credits are awarded by the University of Helsinki, on behalf of the Una Europa alliance.

The 10-cr micro-credential consists of five Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs): Introduction to sustainability, 3 cr (built on Climate University course Sustainable.now), Climate.now, 2 cr (built on CU course), Biodiversity.now, 2 cr (the new Climate University course!), Political Economy of Sustainability, 2 cr (provided by Jagellonian University, Poland) and Sustainability and the Arts, 1 cr (provided by the University of Bologna, Italy).

The Biodiversity.now course is developed in collaboration between the Biodiversity education network, Climate University and Una Europa. The production of the course was funded by the Ministry of Education and Culture, Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra Una Europa and Nordplus. The 2 ECTS Biodiversity.now course offers an easy way for students to learn more about the ongoing biodiversity crisis and solutions for it. The intention of the course is to appeal for a wide variety of learners, regardless of their field of study, and therefore the course does not require previous knowledge on biodiversity or biology. The course consists of six modules: Basic knowledge, Biodiversity crisis, Threats and consequences, Biodiversity conservation, Biodiversity here, now and in the future and Reflection. 

The learning goals of the course are for the students to be able to recognize reasons for the ongoing biodiversity crisis and its consequences for the human society and for their personal life, to explore their own connection to nature and the values they assign to it, to recognize a variety of approaches and tools for protecting of biodiversity, increasing of biodiversity and promoting the sustainable use of biodiversity. The last learning goal ensures that students are able to apply the issues to their own field of studies or work and learn how to be part of the solution.  

The overreaching aim is to make students familiar with the biodiversity crisis, its drivers and consequences, and recognize their own leverage points when it comes to halting the biodiversity crisis. 

Please find the Una Europa Micro-Credential in Sustainability, as well as registration info – also to Biodiversity.now course, here: https://microcredential-sustainability.una-europa.eu/

Here you can find a recording of the streaming event: https://youtu.be/mFiJHB4dMCQ

Here you can also read some of Laura’s thoughts on how can education collaboration be a substantial part of the sustainability transformation in our societies: https://blogs.helsinki.fi/una-europa-uh/2022/10/07/laura-riuttanen-is-working-for-the-sustainability-transformation-in-una-europa-and-beyond/

PS. Remember to sign in for the Climate University meeting 2.-3.11.!

Laura Riuttanen and Sini Bäckström, University of Helsinki 

It is again time to get together with the Climate University community for our annual meeting! We welcome you to Tampere to meet each other, discuss the network news and workshop future plans together. The meeting is especially aimed at Climate University coordinators and course teachers, but everyone interested to get to know more or be involved is warmly welcomed. The event is organized prior to the Unifi and Arene sustainability seminar in Tampere.  

Venue:  

Tampere University Main Building (Kalevantie 4).  

Program: 

Wed 2.11.  

12 Lunch at Tampere-talo, restaurantTuhto  

• At own cost, 11 EUR 

13 Opening of the meeting, auditorio Päätalo D10b    

• Opening words by TAU and TAMK, live music 
• Network greetings and current topics  
• Introduction to the new course: Biodiversity.now  
• Also streamed online (link to be sent to registered participants) 

14.30 Coffee break  

15.00 Workshops in small groups   

• Meetings for course teachers, workshopping network practices  

17.30 Sanomisen paikka, Tampere-talon aula (in Finnish)   

• Open panel discussion on biodiversity education, to be streamed by YLE  

19.00 Dinner at Telakka  

Thu 3.11.  

8.30 Coffee  

9.00 Workshops in small groups  

•    Meetings for course teachers, workshopping network practices 

10.15 Summary and next steps   

11.00 Lunch at Tampere-talo, restaurant Tuhto 

• At own cost, 11 EUR 

12.00 – Unifi & Arene sustainability seminar starts in Tampere  

Registration closed 14.10. You can still sign up here, especially for online participation, as we cannot guarantee all servings: https://elomake.helsinki.fi/lomakkeet/119427/lomake.html  

Waiting forward meeting you soon!  

FOR ACCOMONDATION AT THE MEETING:

Hotels nearby:

Courtyard by Marriott Tampere City, Yliopistonkatu 57, 33100 Tampere  For 15 % discount of the price of the day, use the code “T2628” in the Special Rates section on the Corporate/Promo/Set field on the website. Distance from the conference venue: 100 m / 2 minutes walking.

Lapland Hotels Tampere, Yliopistonkatu 44, 33100 Tampere e-mail: tampere@laplandhotels.com, tel. +358 3 383 0000 For 15 % discount of the price of the day, use the booking code “01556684” on the website. Distance from the conference venue: 250 m / 3 minutes walking.

Lapland Hotels Arena, Ratapihankatu 54, 33100 Tampere e-mail: arena@laplandhotels.com, tel. +358 3 383 0500 For 15 % discount from best flexible rate use the booking code “01556684” on the website. Distance from the conference venue: 500 m / 6 minutes walking.

Solo Sokos Hotel Torni Tampere, Ratapihankatu 43, 33100 Tampere e-mail: torni.tampere@sokoshotels.fi, tel. +358 20 1234 634 Distance from the conference venue: 450 m / 6 minutes walking.

Original Sokos Hotel Villa Tampere, Sumeliuksenkatu 14, 33100 Tampere e-mail: villa.tampere@sokoshotels.fi, tel. +358 20 1234 633 Distance from the conference venue: 250 m / 3 minutes walking.

Original Sokos Hotel Ilves Tampere, Hatanpään valtatie 1, 33100 Tampere e-mail: Ilves.tampere@sokoshotels.fi, tel. +358 20 1234 631 Distance from the conference venue: 800 m / 12 minutes walking.

Radisson Blu Grand Hotel Tammer,  Satakunnankatu 13, 33100 Tampere e-mail: info.tampere@radissonblu.com Distance from the conference venue: 1,4 km / 20 minutes walking (also bus connections available).

Hotel Scandic Tampere Station, Ratapihankatu 37, 33100 Tampere e-mail: tamperestation@scandichotels.com, tel. +358 3 339 8000 Distance from the conference venue: 700 m / 10 minutes walking.

Hotel Scandic Tampere City, Hämeenkatu 1, 33100 Tampere e-mail: tamperecity@scandichotels.com, tel. +358 3 244 6111 Distance from the conference venue: 800 m / 12 minutes walking.

Hotel Scandic Tampere Koskipuisto, Koskikatu 5, 33100 Tampere e-mail: koskipuisto@scandichotels.com, tel. +358 3 4108 1626 Distance from the conference venue: 1 km / 15 minutes walking.

Scandic Tampere Hämeenpuisto, Hämeenpuisto 47, 33200 Tampere e-mail: hameenpuisto@scandichotels.com, tel. +358 3 41081628. Distance from the conference venue: 1,9 km / 25 minutes walking (also bus connections available).

Holiday Inn Tampere – Central Station, Rautatienkatu 21, 33100 Tampere e-mail: hotel@holidayinntampere.fi, tel. +358 323 922 000 Distance from the conference venue: 1 km / 15 minutes walking.

Holiday Club Tampereen Kylpylä, Lapinniemenranta 12, 33180 Tampere e-mail: hotellimyynti.tampere@holidayclub.fi, tel. +358 30 68 70 000 Distance from the conference venue: 2,3 km / 30 minutes walking (also bus connections available).

For more affordable accommodation, please check these options:

Dream Hostel & Hotel, Åkerlundinkatu 2, 33100 Tampere email: info@dreamhostel.fi, tel. +358 45 2360 517 for 10 % discount, please mention the code “Tampere University” Distance from the conference venue: 100 m / 2 minutes walking.

Omena Hotel, Hämeenkatu 7, 33100 Tampere A hotel located in the city centre offering rooms in a budget price. Reservation and check-in are done online. Distance from the conference venue: 1 km / 15 minutes walking.

The following courses are available for autumn 2022:

Sustainable.now (5 ECTS) 5.9.-23.10.2022 – University of Helsinki students can register with course code ATM378, other Climate University students here and others here (see the last link also for more info).

Climate.now (2 or 5 ECTS) 31.10.-18.12.2022 – University of Helsinki students can register with the course code ATM302, other Climate University students here and others here (see the last link also for more info).

Lukiolaisen Ilmasto.nyt (2 op) 31.10.-16.12.2022 – avoinna kaikille Oulun avoimen yliopiston kautta, ilmoittautuminen ja lisätiedot täällä.

Kiertotalous.nyt / Circular.now (3 ECTS) available on a continuous basis – University of Helsinki students can register with the course code MAAT-051, other Climate University students here and others here (see the last link also for more info).

Also in October, new 2-3 cr versions of Sustainable.now, Climate.now and Biodiversity.now will become available in collaboration with Climate University, Una Europa and Biodiversity education network Finland. Stay tuned!

Courses with restricted registration:

Ilmasto.nyt / Climate.now (5 ECTS) 24.10.-14.12.2022 – only for UEF students, UEF students can register with the course code 335270.

Statistical tools for climate and atmospheric science (5 ECTS) 31.10.-18.12.2022 – only for UH students, UH students can register with the course code ATM308.

In spring 2023 at least the following courses will come available for cross-studying:

Leadership for sustainable change (5 ECTS) Jan-Mar 2023

ClimateComms.now (2 ECTS) Jan-Mar 2023

SystemsChange.now (5 ECTS) Jan-Apr 2023

Statistical tools for climate and atmospheric science (5 ECTS) 11.1.-23.5.2023

Solutions.now (5 ECTS) Mar-May 2023

Welcome to study! More info about how to study Cimate University courses can be found from the How to study? site.

It’s been almost four years since I began at Climate University as a co-coordinator, and the years as a post-doc have been really an eye-opener into the world of climate and sustainability education. It has been great to work with all of you in designing quality online education together, teaching together, and being a part of this wonderful community of teachers, students, staff and other collaborators gathered around a common agenda.

For a project, I think Climate University has been exceptionally successful, and I’m happy to see the network still going strong and expanding. Especially the newly joined UAS member universities have been a great step forwards, resulting in an even better coverage and of the Finnish higher education field.

For me personally, the time has come to head for new challenges, as I will be transitioning to a new position at LUT after the holidays, into teaching maths and physics for engineering students. Laura will update you on new co-coordinator(s) in the autumn, but this shouldn’t cause the other network members any headaches or new arrangements.

My warmest thanks to all of you friends, colleagues and collaborators. I wish all of you a relaxing summer and good summer vacations, and I am sure we’ll meet with many of you Climate University members in the future, so don’t be strangers!

With best wishes,

Mikko