The methodology behind CIFAL Flanders’ PCA2030 Trajectory has been featured for the first time in a peer-reviewed academic publication. The article, titled “Transition Teams as an Innovative Tool in a Higher Education Institution on the Road to Sustainability: A Case Study”, was published by Springer and co-authored by Dirk V. Franco, Jean-Pierre Segers, Peter Wollaert, and Maya de Deyn.

The study presents how Hogeschool PXL integrated the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into both its strategic framework (2021–2026) and operational implementation, in collaboration with CIFAL Flanders. It documents the application of the Multi-Level Perspective (MLP) as a transition tool and the formation of Transition Teams as drivers of internal change.

The article outlines how the PCA2030 Trajectory, through the SDG roles of Pioneer, Champion, and Ambassador, was used to structure action across six domains: learning, organising, formulating, implementing, evaluating, and communicating.

Key contributions of the publication include:

• The strategic use of Transition Teams to foster cross-functional collaboration within the institution.
• Insights into how the PCA2030 methodology supports bottom-up engagement and long-term institutional commitment to the SDGs.
• The role of CIFAL Flanders in facilitating structured SDG implementation and capacity-building in higher education.

The case study is positioned as a reference model for other higher education institutions aiming to embed the SDGs into core strategy, curriculum, and institutional culture.

Find the full chapter here.