BackDanish-German school project boosts sustainable education
An Interreg-funded project unites Danish and German schools to turn sustainability into hands‑on learning. Students and teachers work together on real projects, gaining green skills, new perspectives and stronger cross‑border connections.
Development of sustainable skills
The Interreg Deutschland-Danmark-funded project GerDa brings Danish and German schools together to turn sustainability from theory into hands‑on practice. Across eight educational institutions, the project has transformed green ambitions into concrete activities that strengthen skills, collaboration and cultural understanding. Students and teachers meet in classrooms, workshops, excursions and joint events where they work side by side on real sustainability challenges.
A key example is the Sustain Olympics, where around 150 pupils and students gathered in Flensburg (Germany) to develop practical solutions for a real case from Universe Science Park. The format made sustainability tangible: teams worked creatively on viable ideas, supported by teachers from both countries, and presented their proposals to a panel of experts. As project manager Claus Baltzer puts it, “You can feel that things are moving – and that we are all moving in the same direction.”
GerDa places strong emphasis on developing sustainable competencies. Students work with real-life scenarios, gaining both professional and personal growth. In construction, Danish and German teachers and students have experimented with sustainable materials such as cork, clay and hemp, producing solutions that can be used in practice. This hands-on approach gives young people a deeper understanding of what sustainable work looks like in the real world.
Development of teachers: professional upskilling as a prerequisite for change
Teacher development is another cornerstone of the project. GerDa strengthens the capacity of educators through workshops, exchanges and training in sustainability, didactics and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Teachers play a key role as role models who translate sustainability into everyday teaching and school culture. Their new skills and mindset help anchor long-term change across institutions.
For students, the project opens new horizons. Encounters with peers, teachers and businesses across the border inspire them to consider new educational and career paths — including the possibility of studying or working in the neighbouring country. The project not only builds green skills but also fosters cultural understanding, curiosity and an international outlook.
Interreg support has been crucial in enabling schools to test new ideas and strengthen cooperation. GerDa has helped integrate sustainability into everyday school life — from planting apple trees and using local ingredients to developing new teaching courses and long-term collaborations. The project shows how targeted cross-border cooperation can create lasting value that extends far beyond the project period.
GerDa receives approx. EUR 2.3 million from Interreg Deutschland-Danmark and the EU. Partners include EUC Syd, International Business College and Fredericia Maskinmesterskole from Denmark, and the University of Flensburg, RBZ Flensburg Eckener-Schule, Hannah-Arendt-Schule, BBZ Schleswig and HLA – die Flensburger Wirtschaftsschule from Germany.
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