UNIC International Sustainability Leadership Autumn School 2026

“A key theme for the week is reflecting on the role each of us plays in the climate transition. In this course, leadership is about recognising what you can contribute, how you connect and collaborate with others, and how to turn ideas into meaningful action,” says Anna Bruun Månsson, Sustainability Strategist at Malmö University and Co-lead of the Sustainability and Green Cities Thematic Line.

The course is designed as a Blended Intensive Programme (BIP), combining online learning with an on-site week, building on the success of last year’s Autumn School at University College Cork.

Sadiq Gulma, PMP, a doctoral student at Malmö University, shared his expectations for the course.

“I look forward to exploring how the theories and ideas we develop during the week can support Malmö’s transition towards a climate-resilient future. I’m also excited to experience what it means to work in a transdisciplinary team and develop new ideas together,” he says.

The students learned how to use co-creation as a tool for collaborative impact and applied it to challenges related to Malmö Art Museum, developed in partnership with the Environment and Culture Departments of the city of Malmö. 

Malmö Art Museum

They also took part in a city-wide data-collection field day, exploring how urban initiatives relate to leadership, transition and climate justice, the challenges. The students were divided in to six groups and given different challenges based on a Storymap by the City of Malmö.

Co-creation workshop with Centers for City Futures and the City of Malmö.

Autumn school Storymap

Joakim Nordqvist, Climate Strategist in the City of Malmö, explained how this year’s Autumn School placed greater emphasis on connecting the course to the city by involving discussants in lectures and key activities, enabling knowledge exchange and mutual learning.

“We need to ask ourselves how we can mobilise the entire city to work towards a sustainable climate transition,” he says.

The students presented their idéas to civil servants from the city administration and representatives from Malmö University and University College Cork. Their ideas included:

• Shipping containers transformed into growing rooms
• Leafy canopies to increase urban greenery
• Malmö as a green corridor and sponge city
• Using collected rainwater to irrigate public parks

Student presentations of their Storymaps for civil servants from the city administration and representatives from Malmö University and University College Cork.

“I am filled with inspiration and look forward to taking these ideas back to the real-life challenges we face. There are many practical and smart solutions here that we had not previously considered,” says Emanuel Toft, Environmental Analyst, City of Malmö.

Paul Bolger, Co-lead of the Sustainability and Green Cities Thematic Line also shared his reflections:

“What I really value about this school is its interdisciplinary approach to tackling climate challenges. Even more important is its ability to bring people together. At a time when European values are under attack, it is incredible to see students from ten universities collaborating in such a constructive and friendly way.”

City view of Malmö.