Co-creation as a driver of geo-environmental learning approach to adapt cities to climate changes

Climate change is humanity’s 21st century biggest challenge. Due to the higher rates of soil sealing, its effects and consequences are expected to be more severe in cities. To mitigate climate change effects or adapt cities to them, several approaches can be adopted, namely by adopting nature-based solutions, such as blue and green infrastructures. During the course of Study and Behaviour of Soils, of the undergraduate degree in Sustainable City Management, taught at the Institute of Engineering of the Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra (ISEC-IPC), students are faced with the need to present solutions to solve an urban problem by implementing a green solution. Students are involved in a co-creation process to carry out this academic activity. This project-based learning methodology is seen as an active learning process, and its three stages are fully described in this paper. Students’ perceptions, academic results and assiduity are compared and contrasted to enhance the benefits of such an approach in geotechnical education. Results show that not only are students more willing to participate in class, reducing absenteeism, but students’ final project results increased when compared with a more traditional pedagogical approach. Also, based on the survey, it is possible to conclude that the co-creation approach allows the development of transversal skills and competencies, and such a learning process should be implemented more often during the undergraduate degree.