Learning Units

The NBS EduWORLD Learning Units page offers a comprehensive and flexible suite of resources designed to integrate Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) into higher education and professional training. With 50 curated Learning Units, this platform supports educators, students, and practitioners at all levels—undergraduate (UG), postgraduate (PG), doctoral (PhD), vocational, and entrepreneurial.

Covering a broad spectrum of themes and contexts, the Learning Units are structured around key educational streams:

  • Common Core Units introduce foundational NBS concepts, such as ecosystem services, biodiversity, and the SDGs.
  • 3rd Level Units target university-level learners, with a focus on implementation, policy, social inclusion, and future urban development.
  • Entrepreneurial Units support learners exploring nature-based enterprises, business models, green finance, and sector-specific NBS opportunities.
  • Vocational Units are tailored for practical skills development, project management, policy engagement, and multi-level governance.
  • Case Studies and Workshops offer real-world applications and participatory methods from NBS EduWORLD demonstrator sites across Europe.

Each unit is aligned with European Qualification Framework (EQF) levels, ranging from Level 6 to Level 8, ensuring academic relevance and adaptability.

These Learning Units are editable and adaptable, supporting custom integration into curricula, practice-oriented, blending theory with applied learning, and geographically diverse, reflecting urban, rural, and coastal NBS contexts.

Download the full list of Learning Units

Whether you're a lecturer seeking ready-to-use teaching materials, a student exploring sustainability, or a professional upskilling in green innovation, the NBS EduWORLD Learning Units offer a unique, user-friendly gateway into nature-based thinking and action.

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Search results ( 21 - 25 of 50 )

Lecture

Harnessing Natural Processes for Climate Change Mitigation

This unit introduces Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) and their role in climate change mitigation, focusing on how they help to sequester carbon, reduce urban heat islands, and improve biodiversity. It examines key EU-funded projects like Urban GreenUP and ReGREEEN to illustrate the practical application of NBS in transforming urban environments and enhancing resilience against climate-related challenges.

Find here the editable version and the teaching note.

Educational Level: Higher Education

Language:  English

Organisation: TCD

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Harnessing Natural Processes for Climate Change Mitigation

Lecture

Implementing Nature-Based Solutions

This unit focuses on how Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) can be successfully implemented in cities to tackle challenges such as flooding, urban heat islands, and biodiversity loss. The session also highlights community engagement, collaboration strategies, and financial models that facilitate NBS, with examples from EU-funded projects like Connecting Nature.

Find here the editable version and the teaching note.

Educational Level: Higher Education

Language:  English

Organisation: TCD

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Implementing Nature-Based Solutions

Workshop

In and Out Lab

NBS In And Out Lab is an educational hands-on activity that aims to promote NBS through education outside the  classroom, and is directly linked to the established curriculum. This adopts a student-centered pedagogical model, the Student Focus Approach, that is based on socio-constructivist approach: students’ own activity, their prior knowledge, peer-collaboration and learning together. This can be incorporated into STEAM or other multidisciplinary science (biology, chemistry, physics and other subjects) lessons or projects. This learning unit Is developed for learners who are studying education, teachers and those interested in educating young people about NBS.

Find here the editable version and the teaching note.

Educational Level: Professional

Language:  English

Organisation: TCD

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In and Out Lab

Lecture

Inter-sectoral collaboration and partnerships for NBS

This unit provides an understanding of how to use partnerships and collaboations to promote uptake of NBS.  Provides examples of strategies for promoting partnerships, and some basic principles behind partnership development the associated advantages and disadvanatges of collaborations. It highlights how cross-sectorial collaborations can be beneficial to adopting, planning and implementing NBS.

Find here the editable version and the teaching note.

Educational Level: Professional

Language:  English

Organisation: PPMI

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Inter-sectoral collaboration and partnerships for NBS

Lecture

Market Strategy for Nature-based Enterprise - Part I

Strategy is core to business planning and market development. In part 1 of this lesson, the nature based enterprise is guided through well-established strategic management tools (PESTLE, SWOT, TOWS Matrix) that are used to evaluate the market and analyse the internal and external environment so that strategic recommendations can be formulated and implemented. Participants will reflect and analyse on their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to evaluate the impact of market trends on their enterprise and to arrive at their own strategic recommendations.

Find here the editable version and the teaching note.

Educational Level: Professional

Language:  English

Organisation: Horizon Nua

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Market Strategy for Nature-based Enterprise - Part I

European Union

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.