Ma­jor grant to boost stu­dents' green com­pet­ences across dis­cip­lines

Climate change, resource scarcity and the green transition present a challenge to companies, organisations and society, which calls for graduates who can collaborate across disciplines and turn knowledge into practical solutions.

Thanks to a grant of DKK 95 million from the Novo Nordisk Foundation, all Danish universities and the University of the Faroe Islands are now joining forces in the STRIVE U. initiative, which is designed to enhance interdisciplinary teaching and sustainability in higher education.

At CBS, Dean of Education Anna Thomasson sees the initiative as an important investment in the programmes of the future.

“The green transition requires us to bring different disciplines together. At CBS, we already work with sustainability across our programmes, but STRIVE U. gives us an opportunity to deepen collaboration with other universities and create new learning experiences where students can work on real societal challenges across disciplines,” says Anna Thomasson.

New opportunities for students and teachers

STRIVE U. will make it easier for teachers to develop new interdisciplinary courses and teaching activities. The aim is to create more learning environments where students from different academic fields work together on sustainable solutions.

The initiative includes a funding pool to support the development of new teaching projects, as well as a shared platform for knowledge sharing and competence development across universities.

For CBS, the project supports the university's goal to integrate sustainability even more firmly into the programmes.

“Sustainability is not a separate academic discipline but a perspective that should inform the decisions made by future leaders and companies. That is why it is important that our students learn to collaborate across disciplines and understand the complex connections that shape the green transition,” says Jens Riemer, Head of CBS Green Office.

Historic collaboration

STRIVE U. is the first collaboration of its kind between all Danish universities and the University of the Faroe Islands. The aim is to develop new teaching approaches and, in the long term also create lasting change in university education.

Through the collaboration, the universities will be able to share experiences and develop joint solutions, ensuring that successful teaching activities benefit students across institutions.