Preserving biodiversity, preventing biodiversity loss and promoting nature-based solutions (NBS) are crucial means for the sustainable development of society, both nationally and globally.
Europe has recognised a growing need to develop learning and teaching related to biodiversity and nature-based solutions, interdisciplinary dialogue, embedding and mainstreaming NBS concepts and approaches, networking between different actors, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Launched in January 2024, the eNaBIS project responds to this challenge by creating a foundation for broad educational collaboration across different levels of education, ranging from universities to vocational education, and to society at large through open university education and lifelong learning. The project will set up Living Labs that are based on universities’ educational activities to promote the development of education in the field, the realisation of a nature-positive society and the European Green Deal, and the advancement of business models that support them. The project responds to the objectives of the EU’s biodiversity and climate strategies.
At the University of Eastern Finland, the project involves the Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, the Centre for Continuous Learning, and the School of Forest Sciences.
“The University of Eastern Finland is in an excellent position to be an international pioneer and driver of networking in education related to biodiversity and nature-based solutions. We have been actively developing interdisciplinary study modules, educational networks and educational collaboration within the university and between universities, both nationally and internationally,” says Professor Elina Oksanen from the Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences.
“We are involved in various networks addressing the environment, and this provides us with a good foundation for building UEF Living Labs with a view to strengthening European collaboration.”
For further information, please contact:
Professor Elina Oksanen, elina.oksanen@uef.fi
Current networks:
- Biodiversity Education Network
- Thematic network COIL@UArtic established as part of UArctic collaboration
- Biodiversity now
- Climate University
- Sustainability Studies Network
Project details:
eNaBIS - Education and Nature-Based Solutions: enable society to bend the curve for biodiversity has secured 2,951,847 euros of funding (HORIZON-CL6-2023-BIODIV-01-8) and it is coordinated by the University of Hohenheim in Germany. The University of Eastern Finland is a partner in the project, with its funding amounting to 242,375 euros/33 months. The project includes 11 partners.
Partners:
Hohenheim University (UHOH),DE
Wageningen University (WUR), NL
University of Eastern Finland (UEF), FI
Universitaet fuer Bodenkultur (BOKU), AT
Vytauto Didziojo Universitetas (VMU), LT
Association for European Life Sciences Universities (ICA), BE
Unternehmensberatung GMBH (3s), AT
Technical Chamber of Greece, Section of Central Mace (TCG-SCM), EL
Ethniko Kentro Erevnas Kai Technologikis Anaptyxis (CERTH), EL
Focus Strategic Thinking Consultants (FOCUS), Greece
Bioeast Hub CR ZU (HUB-CR), CZ
