Joint forces behind innovative master’s programme

“I started sketching this idea during a train journey between Brussels and Hamburg in 2021, and thereafter we were a group within the university alliance CIVIS who continued to brainstorm at various workshops,” says Alasdair Skelton, professor at the Department of Geological Sciences and one of the driving forces behind the Master’s Programme in Transdisciplinary Studies of Climate, Environment and Energy.

“We are facing a climate crisis that poses major challenges for society – for example, caring for the environment while meeting society’s energy needs. Solutions are interdisciplinary and we need education that is interdisciplinary where students learn to speak each other’s academic language. There are plenty of specialists in different fields, but to solve questions about, for example, carbon dioxide storage in the bedrock a geologist may need to understand an economist and vice versa. With this kind of education, we are building bridges between disciplines and by offering the programme at different universities in Europe, we are strengthening international cooperation. Issues about climate, environment and energy also need to be solved globally, it is not enough to think nationally, says Alasdair Skelton.

“In addition, the programme is transdisciplinary, which means that we bring in actors from outside academia”, he adds.

First semester in Stockholm

The new master’s programme has been developed in a collaboration between the eleven CIVIS universities in Europe and educators at two African partner universities. Stockholm University is the coordinating university for the programme and students will study the first semester on site at Stockholm University.

“During the first semester, we lay the foundation and examine climate, environmental and energy challenges from natural science, social science and humanities perspectives. The aim is, among other things, for students with different disciplinary backgrounds to meet and share their knowledge with one another,” says Alasdair Skelton.

During semesters two and three, students choose from nine different study tracks, each of which takes place at two other universities in Europe. This could, for example, be a specialisation in environmental humanities and law, which is offered at the universities of Salzburg and Bucharest, or a specialisation in environmental risks, where the courses are held in Lausanne and Rome. In the final fourth semester students complete their degree project at the university of their choice within their subject specialisation.

Hope to contribute with solutions

Cecilia Lundholm, professor in educational science with a specialisation in teaching and learning in the social sciences at the Department of Teaching and Learning, has contributed to the development of how social science subjects and law can be included in the new programme.

“These subjects focus on solutions and therefore it is important to include them. I have focused on what I believe students need to know about climate, environment and energy in professional contexts such as companies, organizations or authorities”, she says.

A block during the first semester will therefore include topics such as the role of states and non-governmental organizations in climate work, environmental legislation and the interaction between climate and economy.

Pioneering work

The work on the new programme has been pioneering work, and a lot of fun to design together, says Cecilia Lundholm.

“Working across faculty and national borders is of course a challenge. At the universities within CIVIS, there are different structures and traditions, I have tried to think from the students’ perspective to make it as good as possible for them.”

The fact that the students have a bachelor’s degree in different subjects also place demands on the teaching staff, and challenges of teaching and learning have been discussed in the working group.

“Some students have not studied natural sciences at all, others have no or little knowledge in the domains of political science and economics, which really forces us to think about the design of the teaching. It will be interesting to see if we end up at the right level”, says Cecilia Lundholm.

Challenge to harmonize regulations

Joakim Edsjö, professor at the Department of Physics and section dean for the mathematical-physical section at the Faculty of Science, has been primarily responsible for establishing the program. He has led the work both at Stockholm University and in the interim board created among the participating CIVIS universities.

“It is a different mission and a bit like being the ’spider-in-the-web’ to try to make sure that everything falls into place”, he says.

The biggest challenge has been to harmonize the different regulations that exist within CIVIS and the rules of the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master programme.

“We have also had problems with our Swedish legislation not being fully synchronized with the requirements from the EU. Internally at Stockholm University, it has also been necessary for both academia and the administration to join forces in a new way.”

To address the challenges, the group has drawn on the preparatory work done within CIVIS’ various units, for example at the Education Unit, where similarities and differences were previously identified and proposals for draft agreements produced to serve as a basis. The interim board, which was created among the participating CIVIS universities, also included both academics and administrative staff from all universities, which has been an important piece of the puzzle in ensuring that administrative and academic issues go hand in hand.

“Internally at Stockholm University, my role has largely been about ensuring that the right people are talking to each other and that they are given the resources and time to devote to do the work.”

Useful lessons learnt

Joakim Edsjö believes that much of the work and the lessons that have been learned will be useful for future joint programmes.

“A tip for others who are considering joint programmes internationally is not to underestimate the administrative issues that need to be resolved, as they are often linked to the academic issues. Collaborating with universities where we already have established collaborations, such as CIVIS or Stockholm Trio, also makes it easier. Of course, you should also find it fun to collaborate and take on the challenges that collaboration entails”, says Joakim Edsjö.

Anna Sobek, professor and Head of the Department of Environmental Science, has led the work forward together with Joakim Edsjö and is happy to see the results of the intensive work:

“With the major challenges we face today, with climate change as a very concrete example, society needs to educate people who can contribute to finding sustainable ways forward. This master’s programme is our contribution to this.”

Anna Sobek is convinced that the programme is also good for Stockholm University.

“We are involved and contribute to society in a very concrete way – together with our partners in CIVIS, and the work has also required us to find new ways to collaborate within the university, between disciplines, and not least between academia and administration. I hope that the paths trodden can lead to continued good cooperation within our university.”

Alasdair Skelton says he is impressed with how Stockholm University has managed the project, with all the different routines and traditions that exist at the eleven universities.

“Stockholm University is good at seeking consensus, and breaking down decisions into different parts, taking one decision at a time, that has been a successful way to get everyone within CIVIS to join this”, he says.

More information

Master’s Programme in Transdisciplinary Studies of Climate, Environment and Energy

CIVIS – European Civic University Alliance

Watch the episode of Panorama from march 2024, Joint master’s create new possibilities