This project (2020-1-SE01-KA203-077872) has been funded with support from the European Commission. This web site reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.
The Guidance Document to support organizations and individuals creation of a syllabus for an interdisciplinary Master is available. The document takes into account elements such as a preliminary needs analysis for a specific syllabus, the identification of the necessary teaching resources, the challenges to be solved.
The Master´s program in Complex Systems Thinking for Sustainability is available. The program covers both quantitative and qualitative methods for understanding systems and their transformations. You can choose between deepening your knowledge in systems thinking connected to epistemologies and onthologies of Natural or of the Social Sciences and the Humanities.
The seventh partners' meeting took place in Stockholm (SE) on 8 June 2023 and the main discussed topics have been:
• Validation of the results achieved
• Analysis of the proposal related to the guidance document for setting up a joint curriculum
• Discussion on the organization of the multiplier events
• Analysis of the possibility for the sustainability of the project results
The sixth partners' meeting took place in Kaunas (LT) on 8 June 2023 and the main discussed topics have been:
• Analysis of the course proposals to be included in the curriculum
• Definition of the course composition for the different semester
• Definition of the number of ECTS credits for each course
• Discussion on the organization of the multiplier events
• Proposals for the implementation of the curriculum
Check the video lesson about Educational approaches for the integration of systems thinking and Green Chemistry. The video makes a short and concise presentation of the educational approaches and relevant resource types that may be employed for guiding the integration of systems thinking within the field of Green Chemistry. This integration may drastically promote the aims of green chemistry education regarding the development of higher order thinking skills and sustainable citizenship.
The fifth meeting took place online on 7 December 2022.
During this meeting all the HEIs partners made a presentation of the abstracts of the 4 courses to be included in the joint curriculum, and they discussed about the structure the curriculum will have.
Lorenzo Martellini (Pixel) agreed with the partners on the next deadlines, including giving feedback on Tomas' (Södertörn University) proposed structure and drafting the final version of the Joint Curriculum.
Check the video lesson about Sustainable Development & Systems Thinking. It provides the viewer with an understanding of systems thinking in the context of sustainable development. Scenarios are devised and discussed with the aim of providing the learner with a real world example of systems thinking in practice.
The University of Perugia has uploaded this course review that deals with Sociology of Social Complexity.
Have a closer look here
The Greek's team recently accepted article (by Katerina Paschalidou, Katerina Salta and Dionysios Koulougliotis) entitled "Exploring the connections between systems thinking and green chemistry in the context of chemistry education: A scoping review" just appeared on line in the prestigious journal "Sustainable Chemistry and Pharmacy".
The paper is available at this link
The paper highlights are the following:
- Identified connections between systems thinking (ST) and green chemistry (GC).
- A set of learning objectives contributes to the integration of ST in GC education.
- Several integrative educational contexts and topics were identified.
- The research field is still in its infancy and acceleration is needed.
This work was inspired by our involvement in the Erasmus+ project COSY THINKING which aims at enhancing complex systems thinking skills of university students for sustainable development.
The HEIs partners of the project are uploading the Curricula and Course Reviews related to Complexity Science for promoting Sustainability.
They are available on the Course and Curricula Review section.
The fourth meeting took place in Perugia (IT) on 20-21 June 2022.
Lorenzo Martellini presented to the partners the current situation and the results achieved regarding the Intellectual Output 1: Inventory on complex systems implementation in academic training, and the Intellectual Output 2: Toolkit for sustainable development teaching. Each partner presented the assessment tools (15 questions giving reasons for their choice and relevance).
However, the main activity of the meeting was the discussion and approval of the templates of the Intellectual Output 3 and a presentation, related to this IO, of a sample of internal or external existing courses.
Finally, there was a discussion about the structure of the joint curriculum .
The meeting was also an opportunity for the partners to get to discuss all details related to the next project's activities.
The Greek team of the COSY Project (Ionian University, Department of Environment) recently produced and uploaded on the Project Portal two video lectures which bring out the connections between systems thinking and the fields of Green Chemistry and Applied Chemistry.
The short lectures (ca. 10 min each) are available on YouTube in the following links
https://youtu.be/PQ2hak7Tp8Q
https://youtu.be/MA1HsTCX2Vk
The material presented in both lectures is based on hard evidence provided in the recent educational research literature.
The HEIs partners of the project are uploading the Assessment Tools that will be used by students to verify if they have improved their systems thinking knowledge after their attendance of the course.
They are available on the Assessment Tool section.
This is the Link to the YouTube Channel:
Cosy YouTube Channel
The third meeting took place online on 17 February 2022.
Lorenzo Martellini presented the overview of the activities to be carried out in the framework of the Intellectual Output 2. All the Universities presented the activities carried out, concerning the Software reviews, the Course Manual Reviews, the Video Lectures and the Interactive Tools.
There has been a fruitful brainstorming on the development of the IO3. Since the main outcome of this Intellectual Output is the creation of a degree course, all partners, after asking who it will be addressed to, agreed that it will be a Master's degree.
At the end of the meeting, all the partners had a clear view of the future project's implementation and the next activities.
The HEIs partners of the project identified interactive tools relevant to Complexity Science, System Thinking and Sustainable Development.
An interactive tool is a teaching aid to foster the interaction between teacher and students or a practical experience involving students.
The Interactive Tools are available on the Interactive Tools section.
The HEIs partners of the project reviewed course material relevant to Complexity Science, System Thinking and Sustainable Development.
The contents and the link where the manuals can be downloaded or purchased are available on the Course Manual section.
The HEIs partners of the project producted video lectures on system thinking approach.
Their purpose is to integrate the information on the web with the expertise of the project partners.
The Video Lecturers are available on the Video Lectures section.
The HEIs partners of the project identificated and reviewed existing software used to analyse quantitative as well as qualitative data relevant to complex systems approaches and connected to the statistics programming tool R.
The 3 main areas are: Technologies, Humanities/Social Sciences, Natural Sciences.
The Software Reviews are available on the Software Review section.
The HEIs partners of the project collected interviews with employers on their perceptions, needs and expectations in terms of the skills, knowledge and competences in complex systems thinking of future workers.
The main economic sectors involved were: Agrifood, Business Support & Lean Solutions, Community Development, Digital Technologies, Energy Production - R&D (Private Sector), Energy Sector, Human health, Human resources, Finance Sectory, Public Sector, Research and Development, Sustainable Energy,
The interviews are available on Interviews section.
The HEIs partners of the project have reviewed and inserted to the portal examples and best practices of curricula and syllabus on how complex systems issues are approached in existing undergraduate courses.
The best practices are available on the Best practice section.
The HEIs partners of the project developed 5 reports presenting the results of the publication analysis.
They are mailny focused on "Theoretical Issues through Green and Applied Chemistry", "Chemistry and Biology, Sociology and Philosophy, Landscape Planning and Design", "Artificial Intelligence, Simulations of Physical Behaviors, Political Science" and "Sustainable Development, Community Development, Sustainable Energy".
The reports are available on the Publications section.
The second meeting took place online on 10 – 11 June 2021. Ann Mutvej, Pier Luigi Gentili and Lorenzo Martellini presented the project and the activities to be carried out to the partners. At the end of the meeting, all the partners had a clear view of the future project's implementation and the next activities, which consist of the finalisation of publications and best practices and the implementation of activities related to the IO2 - Toolkit.
The HEIs partners of the project are working on the development of the Intellectual Output 1: Inventory of Complex Systems Implementation in HEIs collecting and uploading interviews with selected employers on their perceptions, needs and expectations in terms of the skills, knowledge and competences in complex systems thinking of future workers.
Find out more information on the Interviews sections.
During the 10th edition of the New Perspectives in Science Education international conference, held online on 18-19/03/2021, Elisabetta Delle Donne presented the COSY of the project project describing the project aims and activities
The HEIs partners of the project are working on the development of the Intellectual Output 1: Inventory of Complex Systems Implementation in HEIs uploading a collection of examples and best practices on how complex systems issues are approached in existing undergraduate courses.
Find out more information on the Best Practices section.
The HEIs partners of the project are working on the development of the Intellectual Output 1: Inventory of Complex Systems Implementation in HEIs uploading publications referring to 15 thematic areas on sustainable development.
Find out more information on the Publications section.
Different Institutions and organisations are being contacted to join the project in order to contribute to the improvement of the project impact on their target groups and to ensure the project sustainability by continuing using the project deliverables in the next years.
Find out more information on the involved associated partners.
Different researchers and lecturers from HEIs are being contacted to join the project in order to work together with the project partners in order to put into practice the project deliverables in Universities.
Find out more information on the involved academic staff.
The Cosy project has been funded, by the European Commission through the Swedish National Agency for the Erasmus+ Programme, with the aim of providing undergraduate students with competences on complex systems thinking and academic lecturers and managerial staff with knowledge, skills and tools for adapting their educational activities with a specific focus on sustainable development by integrating complex systemic thinking.
