Competition in Pedagogic Skills in Education for Sustainability and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The Master’s Programme of the Department of Pedagogy and Primary Education of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (UoA), entitled “Didactics and Public Understanding of Natural Sciences and Digital Technology”, in collaboration with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, is launching a competition for graduate and postgraduate students of Departments of Education, with the aim of promoting Education for Sustainability and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The competition seeks to identify and showcase innovative, feasible, and pedagogically well-founded teaching approaches to Education for Sustainability.

Eligible participants are students enrolled in in either the first or second cycle of studies (undergraduate or postgraduate level)* in Departments of Education (Preschool Education, Primary Education, Secondary Education or Educational Policy) at the following universities: the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, the Democritus University of Thrace, the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, the University of the Aegean, the University of Crete, the University of Ioannina, the University of Macedonia, the University of Patras, the University of Peloponnese, the University of Thessaly and the University of Western Macedonia. The winner of the competition will be awarded two (2) airline tickets with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines to Amsterdam (Schiphol).

Participants are invited to submit an innovative proposal for the integration of teaching on sustainable development in classes ranging from the first year of Primary School (1st grade) to the 9th grade (third year of Junior High School). Each proposal must be explicitly linked to one or, preferably, more of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and should include a brief justification of this connection.

Submissions must not exceed 3,000 words, excluding references. Where applicable, proposals should be supported by relevant scholarly references, which must be formatted in accordance with the APA 7th edition referencing style.

All proposals must be submitted here and should follow the structure outlined below:

● Title (concise, yet indicative of the proposal’s content)
● Participant’s Information (full name, Department or Master’s Programme, University, and student registration number)
● Abstract (maximum 200 words)
● Target Grade Level(s)
● Connection to the Curriculum
● Connection to the SDGs
● Educational Objectives
● Teaching Methodology
● Description of Activities (including the estimated duration of each activity and the objective(s) addressed)
● Student Assessment
● Reflection
● References (APA 7th edition)

*Individuals who are related to members of the Proposal Evaluation Committee or to employees of the Air France–KLM Group are not eligible to participate in the competition. Also excluded are PhD students of the members of the Committee.

The Proposal Evaluation Committee consists of the following NKUA faculty members or instructors affiliated with the Master’s Programme who contribute to the evaluation process on a voluntary basis:

· Apostolia Galani, Professor NKUA
· Krystallia Halkia, Professor Emeritus, NKUA
· Evangelia Mavrikaki, Professor NKUA,
· Nausica Kapsala, Dr, NKUA
· Athina Karatza, Dr, NKUA
· Myrto Koutra–Iliopoulou, Dr, NKUA
· Nelly Marossi, Dr, NKUA

Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be blind reviewed by the Evaluation Committee on the basis of the following criteria:

● Degree of innovation (20)
● Relevance to the Sustainable Development Goals (20)
● Feasibility and applicability in the classroom (30)
● Interdisciplinary character (5)
● Pedagogical soundness (10)
● Integration of active and participatory teaching methods (15)

Additional consideration will be given to proposals that have already been piloted or are accompanied by a clear implementation plan, as well as to those that incorporate digital innovation, such as the use of games, simulations, or digital tools. In case there are many excellent proposals, students might be asked to support their proposal to the committee (via Webex).

Deadline for proposals 10th of October 2026, 23:59.

Announcement of results: 1/11/2026 on the webpage of the Master’s Programme “Didactics and Public Understanding of Science and Digital Technology”.