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Urban Living Labs: A Higher Education Approach to Teaching and Learning about Sustainable Development

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  • Ivetheyamel Morales

    (School of Architecture and Urbanism, University of Guayaquil, Guayaquil 090510, Ecuador
    Doctoral Programme in Sustainability, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya UPC, 08034 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Jordi Segalás

    (Research Institute for Sustainability Science and Technology, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya UPC, 08034 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Torsten Masseck

    (Department of Architectural Technology, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya UPC, 08034 Barcelona, Spain)

Abstract

This study focuses on the use of urban living labs (ULLs) as a teaching and learning strategy toward education for sustainable development (ESD) in higher education institutions (HEIs). The article presents an exhaustive literature review on the ESD approach in HEIs, the conceptualization and understanding of ULLs, and the use of ULLs as learning environments. Several ULL case studies in HEIs that seek to foster ESD through innovation and experimentation in real-world settings are presented. Each case describes the type, approach, characteristics, results, limitations, and challenges in relation to sustainability. It highlights the need for HEIs to adapt to the ESD approach and become role models for sustainability. It is concluded that ULLs are closely related to ESD and the SDGs, provide a practical and applied learning environment for students, encourage the active participation of students in identifying and solving sustainability problems in their local community, and encourage interdisciplinary collaboration between students and academics from different disciplines. All in all, ULLs can be an effective teaching and learning strategy in HEIs toward ESD. In addition, the lack of specific empirical results on the evaluation of ULL as teaching and learning tools toward ESD in HEIs is highlighted, which justifies the need for further research in this field.

Suggested Citation

  • Ivetheyamel Morales & Jordi Segalás & Torsten Masseck, 2023. "Urban Living Labs: A Higher Education Approach to Teaching and Learning about Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-20, October.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:20:p:14876-:d:1259695
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Christian Scholl & René Kemp, 2016. "City Labs as Vehicles for Innovation in Urban Planning Processes," Urban Planning, Cogitatio Press, vol. 1(4), pages 89-102.
    3. Mónica E. Edwards-Schachter & Cristian E. Matti & Enrique Alcántara, 2012. "Fostering Quality of Life through Social Innovation: A Living Lab Methodology Study Case," Review of Policy Research, Policy Studies Organization, vol. 29(6), pages 672-692, November.
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