The second rollout of the Train-the-teachers course within the TEACH4SD Project marked a significant expansion in both reach and interdisciplinary collaboration.
The course moved beyond theoretical frameworks, adopting a deeply applicative approach that focused on transforming educators into catalysts for change through five specialized workshops conducted between November 2025 and January 2026 within Romanian Vocational Center (CoVe): Gheorghe Asachi Technical University of Iasi (TUIASI), Gheorghe Asachi Technical College and Iasi Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Regarding the course conducted at higher education institution level, while the pilot phase focused exclusively on the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Building Services, this second iteration successfully brought together 21 attendees from various faculties across TUIASI. This diversity of academic backgrounds enriched the dialogue, allowing for a multifaceted explorations of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD).
“This second rollout shows that integrating sustainability into higher education requires more than curriculum updates – it calls for a cultural shift. Through TEACH4SD, we are building a community of educators ready to embed sustainability at the core of their disciplines. The strong interdisciplinary engagement proves that, with the right framework, academics can move from isolated efforts to systemic transformation – exactly the multiplier effect European cooperation projects aim to achieve”
according to Ioana Olteanu, manager of the TEACH4SD project at TUIASI.
The curriculum was skillfully integrated, guiding participants from foundational principles to complex, future-oriented action plans. The journey began with an introduction to ESD and SD profiling, followed by immersive experiences like a nature-connection walk and rigorous systems thinking exercises to embrace sustainability’s inherent complexity. The middle stages utilized high-engagement tools, such as the Climate Fresk and specialized SD card games, to help trainees identify learnable elements and link sustainability values to their specific disciplines. This culminated in the “Envisioning Sustainable Futures” workshop, where attendees collaborated on “What-if” scenarios and built concrete action plans for integrating ESD into their teaching over the next decade.
”I have noted in particular the high level of engagement and peer-to-peer interaction that defined this rollout. Rather than being passive learners, participants were active contributors to the sessions, which functioned as a participatory laboratory where reporting and reflection were central. The synergy between faculties created a vibrant environment where complex interconnections were mapped in real time”
according to Associate Professor George Bârjoveanu, the trainer.
Associate Professor Laura Dumitrescu, also trainer in the course declared that:
”It was inspiring to see how fellow academics begin to embrace sustainability as a guiding framework for their disciplines, creating a strong community of ESD ambassadors ready to generate a lasting multiplier effect across our university.”
Through this training, we are proud to have built a community of academics dedicated to fostering innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the continuous enhancement of international educational standards: “I have gained perspectives and concrete tools that I can integrate into my teaching activities, to help students better understand their role in the transition to sustainable development”, ”The Train-the-Teachers course was an inspiring experience with a profound professional and personal impact. It highlighted the need for a change in educational vision, making sustainability a central pillar of academic training.”, ”Taking part in the TEACH4SD project was a truly rewarding experience.”, ”The training provided a coherent methodological framework and examples of best practices for designing sustainability-oriented teaching activities, with a direct impact on developing our students’ green skills.” – are only few thoughts from the participants.
The transition from ”learning about” to ”acting for” sustainability was palpable, leaving the TUIASI academic community with a robust, practical roadmap for fostering a sustainable mindset in their students.
