VIRTUAL STUDIES IN LEARNING OF SOLVING SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGES

The research introduces the green methodologies applied in the virtual project- and problem-based learning (PPBL) courses in years 2019-2022.The implementation was done in the environmental engineering study programs and in B.Sc. and M.Sc. levels in the LAB University of Applied Sciences (LAB), Finland. First, the paper discusses about the theoretical green management methods, selected for the course implementation. The selected methods were regarded suitable for solving the sustainability challenges', given by the university's regional partners as they deepen the knowledge of sustainability. Second, after defining challenges and discussion between students and commissioning organisations. the implementation of the projects starts. The expected output is to find solution(s) for the given challenges. The first course for the research started in the spring 2019 and now, in the beginning of the fourth year, it is time to report about the mid-term results of the study. The research has been carried out as an in-depth, multi-method case study collecting data from the students and commissioners and in oral and written form. Third, and finally, the results have important implications for the deepening knowledge in teaching and learning of the sustainability. Moreover, the relevance of the topic area is increasing as the ability to act as a sustainability maker is becoming as a norm. The main limitation of the study is the uniqueness of each project case and the amount of the gathered project cases so far. Anyhow, the results give material and guidance for the further development of green project management studies.