Reimagining education to spark social and ecological change at Erasmus University Rotterdam
Erasmus University Rotterdam’s Experimental Pedagogies (XP) Framework, developed by Dr. Ginie Servant-Miklos, reimagines how higher education can prepare students for the realities of the climate crisis. Moving beyond traditional teaching, the framework integrates cognitive science, philosophy, critical pedagogy and environmental humanities into a holistic, five-dimensional model that spans from individual learning to global challenges.
Applied in the Action Education for Social Change & Sustainability Minor, the XP Framework combines theory with experiential learning, group projects and deep reflection. It encourages students to confront the emotional and systemic dimensions of environmental collapse, while building resilience, agency and creativity. The result is a transformative approach to education that inspires hope and equips the next generation to act for a more sustainable future.
Ready for more?
At Aalborg University, the world-renowned Problem-Based Learning (PBL) model has transformed how universities approach teaching and research, placing collaboration, real-world problem solving, and societal impact at the heart of the student experience.
Our case study, How Aalborg University flips complex, wicked problems to catalysts for integrating disciplines in education, explores how Aalborg’s approach has reshaped curricula, fostered stronger university–society links, and inspired institutions worldwide to rethink the role of higher education in addressing today’s complex challenges.
Déspina Kortesidou (author) is a senior consultant at UIIN and holds an MSc in Behavioural Neuroscience Sciences and a BSc in Molecular Biology. In her work, she supports institutions on topics relating to social innovation, institutional transformation and strategic partnerships.
