Written by: Tiina Ynnilä, UEF

What is the Whole Institution Approach (WIA) and how can it be applied to the effective implementation of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS)? How can NBS be embedded into academic programmes and institutional practices?

The Association for European Life Science Universities (ICA), the University of Eastern Finland (UEF), and other ᴇNᴀBʟS partners organised a virtual webinar on 22 September 2025 at 14.00 (UTC+2). The event provided a platform to share experiences, challenges, and success stories in mainstreaming NBS, contributing to a more sustainable future in higher education.

The webinar was open to all, with a particular focus on higher education senior leadership, administrators, programme directors, and teachers.

Webinar Objectives

During this webinar, key strategies were explored, along with good practices for embedding NBS into higher education institutions by addressing the following specific objectives:

• Present the WIA for the effective implementation of NBS.
• Showcase pioneering initiatives from UEF in embedding NBS into academic programmes and institutional practices.
• Foster dialogue and knowledge exchange among higher education institutions to share good practices and innovative approaches to NBS integration.

Webinar Summary

The webinar highlighted WIA as a powerful framework for driving systemic change. Michael Jones (ICA, SLU) outlined how WIA encourages universities to act as living laboratories where sustainability is embedded across leadership, curricula, campus operations, and community engagement.

Elina Oksanen (UEF) presented inspiring Finnish experiences in developing interdisciplinary NBS education. She emphasised the importance of transformative teaching methods, Living Labs, and cross-sector collaboration, while also acknowledging the challenges of integrating diverse disciplines and ensuring local relevance.

Oskari Ylikoski (UEF) showcased innovative examples of course creation and cooperation, underlining how participatory and hands-on approaches can activate students and strengthen partnerships across institutions and society.

Short interventions from universities including UHOH, BOKU, and WUR, further enriched the discussion with practical cases of teaching methods, planning projects, and nature-inclusive education.

The webinar concluded with an engaging dialogue moderated by ICA, where participants exchanged experiences, challenges, and success stories. The atmosphere was forward-looking and collaborative, reaffirming the shared commitment of higher education to play a leading role in addressing biodiversity loss, climate resilience, and sustainability.

This event not only strengthened the ᴇNᴀBʟS community but also provided concrete steps for scaling NBS education across Europe – ensuring that future graduates are equipped to tackle global challenges with creativity and responsibility.