Virtual Exchange Model for Climate Change and Sustainability Education in Intercultural Teacher Training

ongoing

This ‘Teach4Sustainability’ project leverages virtual exchanges as a transformative, inclusive, and youth-centered learning format to empower teacher trainees with the competencies, confidence, and intercultural perspective needed to act as sustainability change agents. The project uses digital collaboration, intercultural dialogue, and problem-based learning across six higher education institutions: two from Europe (Germany and Spain) and four from Sub-Saharan Africa (Ethiopia, Nigeria, Rwanda and The Gambia). Focusing on Climate Change and Sustainability Education (CCSE), the core objectives are to: 1. Build pedagogical and digital competencies among teacher trainees; 2. Co-create and test a 6-topic CCSE curriculum with virtual field trips and inclusive tools; 3. Facilitate intercultural collaboration among at least 2,500 participants; 4. Strengthen institutional and cross-continental capacity for CCSE; 5. Promote EU values through open, equitable knowledge sharing. Key activities: 1. Joint needs assessment on CCSE and virtual learning gaps; 2. Curriculum design, co-creation, and facilitator training; 3. Delivery of moderated virtual exchange cycles with gamified and interactive elements; 4. Evaluation of learning outcomes using digital badging and recognition tools; 5. Dissemination through open educational resources (OER), webinars, and policy briefs. Expected outputs: 1. Accessible, culturally relevant CCSE curriculum; 2. A tested model for virtual exchanges in teacher training; 3. Documented learning outcomes and gains in soft skills (e.g., critical thinking, collaboration, and digital literacy); 4. Curated OERs and dissemination packages for replication. Expected impacts: 1. Over 2,500 future educators and faculty staff trained; 2. Embedded virtual pedagogies practices in partner institutions; 3. Stronger EU–Africa education ties and systemic change through intercultural exchanges.