European Universities as Community Leaders of the Education for Sustainable Development

Carla Vilhena holds a Ph.D. in Educational Sciences from the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities of the New University of Lisbon. She is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of the University of Algarve; an integrated researcher at the Center for Research in Adult Education and Community Intervention (CEAD) at the University of Algarve, 

and a collaborator in the "Educational Policies and Organizations and Educational Dynamics" Group at the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies (CEIS20) at the University of Coimbra. She is currently the director of the undergraduate program in Educational Sciences and Training at the University of Algarve.

Liliana Paulos is an Invited Assistant Professor at the University of Algarve (UAlg) (since 2021), and a researcher at CEAD/UAlg (since 2020). She is the Director of the Postgraduate Program in Education and Learning for Older Adults (2023-2024 / 2024-2025) and the Subdirector of the Postgraduate Program in Preparation for Retirement (2024-2025) at UAlg. 

Her scientific career began in 2015 as a research fellow in a European project aimed at enhancing the employability of non-traditional students in higher education (2014-1-UK01- KA203- 001842-TP, Erasmus+). From 2018 to 2022, she conducted her PhD (SFRH/BD/132068/2017, FCT) on the transition to the labour market of higher education graduates: identity, agency, and structure.

Sandra T. Valadas is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Human and Social Sciences of the University of Algarve and a researcher at CEAD. Her current research interests include employability in higher education, the transition of traditional and non-traditional students and graduates to the labour market, life trajectories of graduates and older individuals, and the impact of social capital on academic and professional success.

She has been involved in various national and international research projects funded by FCT and Erasmus+ for several years. She mainly publishes in national and international peer-reviewed journals on adult education and educational psychology. As part of her academic management activities, she is responsible for numerous partnerships and protocols with community institutions.

Catarina Doutor is an Invited Assistant Professor at the University of Algarve and a Researcher at the Research Centre on Adult Education and Community Intervention (CEAD). She holds a Ph.D. in Education from the University of Lisbon, as well as a Master's degree in Social Education and a Bachelor's degree in Sociology from the University of Algarve.

With experience as a research fellow, Catarina Doutor has focused her work on themes such as literacy, adult education, and non-traditional students in higher education. Her research interests include adult education, transition to higher education, African students, racism, and discrimination.

Adrianna Nizińska is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Education and Special Education, Faculty of Education, University of Gothenburg, Sweden. She is a member of ESREA research network. She has published and researched on adult learning in higher education, non-traditional students, and social dimensions of European universities. 

She is involved in the Master in Education for Sustainable Education as a teacher and a member of the MA ESD programme council, exploring ESD from the multidisciplinary perspective in different social spheres.

Dimitrios Papadopoulos is a doctoral student and a lecturer at the Department of Education and Special Education, Faculty of Education, University of Gothenburg, Sweden. He is interested in social sustainability in adult learning and education, with a particular focus on the SFI program (Swedish Tuition for Immigrants).

Former secretary of the Collegium for Politics in Education (POP), active member of the SwISCAR network (Swedish section of the International Society for Cultural-Historical Activity Research) and ESREA.

Ewa Kurantowicz is a researcher in the area of transnational research in adult education, learning communities and higher education. Research has addressed the following areas: theories of reflective and autonomous learning, RPL, experiences of non-traditional students in HE, social responsibility of universities, cooperation with the local communities and the management of social and identity aspects of cultural heritage.

Ewa has been leading the national research projects (2009 – 2011 and 2020-2023) and international ones EDUPRO (2014 – 2016); EUCUL (2018 – 2021). She is an active member of ESREA and BGL Adult Learning and Communities research network; works in the editorial group of INSTED and RELA.

Andrea Galimberti, PhD, researcher in General and Social Pedagogy at the Department of Human Sciences for Education “R. Massa”, University of Milano Bicocca – Italy. His research interests are mainly focused on epistemologies of education, transformation processes in higher education, adult education and sustainability issues.

He is joint convenor of three international research network: “Access, Learning Careers and Identities Network” and “Working Life and Learning Network” - ESREA (European Society for Research on the Education of Adults) and “Research in Higher Education Network” - EERA (European Educational Research Association).