In the face of increasingly complex societal challenges, the field of social design is being called upon to deepen its ability to create long-term, systemic impact. This project, conducted with five experienced social designers and one workshop in our ESConference in 2025, explored how systems thinking, …

"Europe’s energy transition requires not only technological innovation but also new educational approaches that equip future professionals to navigate complex social, technical, and governance challenges. This expert article examines how students from Avans University of Applied Sciences contribute to …

"Education with hands-on impact: This project highlights how a German and a Malagasy higher education institution, together with their spin-offs, collaborate to implement sustainable energy solutions and promote social participation at the local level. Through the joint establishment of a pellet factory …

"The transition to a sustainable energy system demands not only technical innovation but also social engagement and collaborative governance. This paper presents a case study from Zoetermeer, a mid-sized city in the Netherlands, where the number of citizen-led energy initiatives grew from four to fourteen …

The transition to sustainable energy systems is both technological and social, requiring new forms of learning, collaboration, and governance. This poster examines how inclusive skills ecosystems can foster a just energy transition by drawing on insights from a bi-continental capacity-building network …

Urban living labs (ULLs) are experimental governance mechanisms accelerating sustainability transitions in the built environment, yet their governance implications and systemic impact are often under-examined. A comparative analysis of six ULLs is presented with a focus on positive energy districts (PEDs) …

For three years, the CrAFt Sandbox Cities—Amsterdam, Bologna, and Prague—have been experimenting with shaping sustainable, inclusive, and beautiful urban futures. Through this series of short videos, discover how each city has turned its unique vision into action by testing new collaborative governance …

Background and objectives The transition to a plant-based diet is globally recognized as critical for combatingclimate change and improving public health (Willett, 2019). Secondary vocationaleducation students are a key demographic due to their adaptable eating habits (Story,2002). However, limited knowledge, …

This paper explores the transition to sustainable practices and energy efficiency in urban environments, focusing on houseboat communities in Amsterdam. Houseboats, with their cultural heritage dating back to the 17th century, encounter challenges in adopting energy-efficient measures despite municipal …