Transit Skills

A rising sea level, sudden periods of extreme drought or heavy rainfall, the ongoing decline in biodiversity. It is clear that climate change and other ecological crises are rapidly transforming the world. Yet students are still rarely trained to navigate such transitions.

Learning processes mainly take place on campus, and what they learn about the outside world is largely theoretical. At the same time, students are aware of the changes that lie ahead and the major challenges they pose. They feel involved and are willing to take action. 

However, when students engage with such complex issues, they inevitably encounter significant challenges. On top of that, dealing with such topics can easily give rise to feelings of discomfort, vulnerability and powerlessness. For students who want to contribute to the transition to a more sustainable society, it is important that they acknowledge these feelings. That they learn to cope with this mental discomfort while focusing on concrete designs and interventions in society. Especially in situations where clear solutions are not immediately available. 

At the heart of the Transit Skills project is the following question: how can we better prepare students to be transition-minded and future-proof? In doing so, we explore the interaction between two seemingly different perspectives.  

On the one hand, there is the practical element: how do students learn to apply their newly acquired skills in collaboration with societal partners. In other words, how do they act and intervene in the real world from a sustainability mindset? 

At the same time, there is an inner dimension: how can students also learn to care for their own mental resilience and well-being in the process? This may involve questions such as: is everything moving at the right pace? Is everyone managing to stay on board? Is there space for doubt, hesitation, or feelings of unease (for instance, climate anxiety)?