Looking back at the “Climate of the Future” Summer School

The Summer School focused on key areas including health, ecology, the economy and agriculture, combining theoretical knowledge with practical application.

Through expert-led workshops, interactive sessions and group projects, students developed their critical and systemic thinking while collaborating across disciplines and national borders. A highlight was the excursion to Brussels, where students visited European institutions, including the Emergency Response Coordination Centre, and gained insights into European approaches to climate adaptation.

The week concluded with presentations of the students’ own adaptation strategies – showcasing their creativity, teamwork and commitment to shaping a more resilient future.

The Summer School brought together partners from across Europe, including Avans University of Applied Sciences (Netherlands), TH Köln, University of Huelva (Spain), Karlstad University (Sweden), JUNIA School of Science and Engineering (France), University of Žilina (Slovakia), and the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague.

The collaboration included partners from the PIONEER Alliance as well as other European universities, creating a diverse and truly international learning environment.

For students from the Bachelor’s programme in Regional Development and Infrastructure Systems at TH Köln, the Summer School offered a unique opportunity to connect theoretical knowledge with practical experience and to learn together across disciplines and borders. They were accompanied by our research and teaching staff members Prof. Dr. Udo Nehren and Ali Cara Barrett.

A big thank you to Avans University of Applied Sciences, our European partners, the PIONEER Alliance and everyone involved for making this valuable learning experience possible!

Photo credit: Avans University of Applied Sciences