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Summer school

    Rethinking Sustainability

    Become a catalyst for sustainable change
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    • Summer Programs For University Students
    • Rethinking Sustainability
    duration2 weeks
    languageEnglish
    locationMadrid
    Intake7th – 18th of July, 2025
    FormatIn-person
    profileUniversity students
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    Program DetailsUntitled
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    LEAD CHANGE FOR A GREENER TOMORROW

    Are you ready to become a change-maker? The Rethinking Sustainability program goes beyond theory, giving you practical skills to inspire action. From reevaluating daily choices to tackling global issues, this program connects the big picture and empowers you to create a personal action plan aligned with your values.

    Explore key sustainability concepts through hands-on experiences like VR simulations, gamified challenges and collaborative group projects, and discover actionable ways to drive change. You’ll learn from sustainability experts, collaborate with diverse peers and dive into innovative problem-solving approaches in real-world contexts, gaining fresh ideas and strategies to apply at home, in your career and throughout your community.

    WANT TO KNOW MORE?
    days to start your best summer
    94days
    :
    05hours
    :
    46minutes

    Course Overview – Typical Day in the RETHINKING SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM

    Each day is designed to challenge you, push your boundaries and help you grow—leaving you with actionable insights to elevate your future career.

    You’ll have up to three sessions per day, each lasting 80 minutes. Some days will feature double sessions with a short break in between:

    • A group of six young women smiling together in a sunny park.

      Week 1:

      • Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
    • A group of women poses together in front of a unique spiral garden structure.

      Week 2:

      • Monday to Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
      • Friday: The last day is dedicated to final projects and a fun graduation ceremony.

    WHO IS THIS PROGRAM DESIGNED FOR?

    • This program is right for you if…

      …you are a driven and ambitious individual, ready to take your career to the next level. Whether you’re a student eager to gain hands-on experience or a professional looking to refine your career strategy, this program is ideal for learners who are serious about developing the skills and confidence to succeed in today’s fast-paced world.

    • Participant profile

      The Rethinking Sustainability program is perfect for university students and recent graduates, between 18 and 24 years old, who are aspiring leaders, social entrepreneurs or environmental advocates.

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    Focus Areas

    Explore a new approach to sustainability problems and build the skills to overcome them. Learn how to create innovative, collaborative solutions to complex issues, preparing for a lasting impact in your future career.

    • 01.

      Develop Sustainability Leadership Skills

      Participants will build leadership skills for driving sustainability through interactive sessions and real-world case studies. They'll enhance their ability to lead, collaborate, and advocate for sustainability through negotiation and persuasion exercises.

    • 02.

      Master Critical, Systems, and Design Thinking

      This area focuses on sharpening problem-solving skills using gamified simulations and design workshops. Participants will learn to approach sustainability challenges with a systems-thinking mindset, fostering creative and practical solutions.

    • 03.

      Apply Tools Like VR, Gamification, and Collaboration

      Participants will use advanced tools like VR experiences and gamified simulations to address sustainability issues. They'll work in teams to apply these tools, developing the digital skills and collaborative mindset needed for real-world challenges.

    • 04.

      Build a Personal Sustainability Roadmap

      Participants will create a personalized sustainability plan, integrating lessons from team collaboration, VR simulations, and design thinking to set actionable goals for their future in sustainability.

    Unique Value

    This immersive program equips you with the practical skills, diverse strategies, and hands-on experiences needed to drive meaningful, sustainable change and shape a better future.

    Learning Outcome

    You will develop practical skills and holistic strategies to tackle global sustainability challenges, gaining hands-on experience through VR simulations and collaborative projects. By the end of the program, you’ll be equipped to launch an impactful career, create a personal action plan, and drive long-term positive change in your community and beyond.

    Program Structure

    What Your're going to do
    2 Weeks
    Week 1
      Week 2
        Final Project

          Foundations of Sustainable Thinking and Creative Problem-Solving

          • Day 1

            Course Introduction and Goal Setting

          • Day 2

            Critical Thinking Models for Problem Solving

          • Day 3

            Gamified Environmental Crisis Simulation

          • Day 4

            Complex Adaptive Systems and Sustainability

          • Day 5

            Design Thinking for Climate Solutions

          Driving Impact: Collaboration, Influence, and Action for Sustainability

          • Day 6

            Group Problem-Solving within the Design Framework

          • Day 7

            Pitching Sustainability Solutions

          • Day 8

            Negotiation and Consensus Building

          • Day 9

            Creating a Personal Sustainability Roadmap

          • Day 10

            Final Presentations and Commitments to Change + Graduation

          Rethinking Sustainability

          The final presentation involves students presenting their personal sustainability roadmaps, showcasing the practical, actionable strategies they have developed during the course.

          Each student would highlight the sustainability issues they have worked on, the solutions they have ideated using design thinking, and how they plan to apply these solutions in real-world contexts.

          They would also demonstrate how they have used critical thinking, negotiation, and systems thinking to address environmental challenges. The presentations would conclude with a commitment to take specific actions toward sustainability, with each participant outlining their next steps and how they plan to continue contributing to sustainability efforts beyond the course.

          The goal is to inspire and showcase each student's potential as a changemaker in the sustainability space.

          What Your're going to do
          2 Weeks

          Discover the program's agenda

          Dive into a curriculum that immerses you in hands-on learning. Through a mix of interactive classes, collaborative group work, presentations and our innovative media lab, you’ll develop essential skills for success.

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          OUR PROGRAM LEAD FACULTY

          Brendan Angil – Professor in the following masters: International MBA and Master in Management.

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          DISCOVER THE RIGHT PROGRAM FOR YOU

          With flexible programs, you can mix and match the topics that interest you the most, giving you a taste of your future degree or career. Each program lasts two weeks, except the Entrepreneurship program, which lasts four, and you can combine up to three programs to create a very personal learning journey.​

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          • Two women are walking and laughing together outside a modern building.
          • A group of students engaged in studying together at a table with laptops.
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          Upskilling for Professional Development

          Turn your strengths and ambitions into real-world growth by exploring self-discovery techniques, learning practical strategies and gaining insights to help you take control of your career.

          • (1st Edition): Monday, May 26 – Friday, June 6.
          • (2nd Edition): Monday, June 23 – Friday, July 4.
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          Customer Experience Innovation

          Learn how the pros design seamless, unforgettable customer experiences that help businesses stand out through deep dives into design thinking and customer-first strategies.

          • Monday, June 9 – Friday, June 20.
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          Breakthrough Tech & AI

          Explore emerging technologies like AI, robotics and quantum computing in our state-of-the-art IE Robotics & AI Lab—and learn how to leverage them for your future.

          • (1st Edition): Monday, June 9 – Friday, June 20.
          • (2nd Edition): Monday, July 7 – Friday, July 18.
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          University summer program

          What if this summer, you could cut through the noise, discover what truly drives you, and learn how to channel it into something extraordinary?

          At IE University Summer Program, we’re here for the curious, for those ready to build a life that matters but aren’t sure where to start.

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          Humanities in Action

          Experience an immersive journey in arts, culture, and contemporary issues in Madrid, broadening your perspectives on politics, diversity, and sustainability while enhancing both personal and professional growth.

          • Monday, June 9 – Friday, June 20.
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          The young woman is sketching designs at a table filled with art supplies.

          Fashion Styling & Media

          Master the latest fashion trends and cover must-know basics of styling, photography and visual communication, all while gaining firsthand studio experience to build your professional portfolio and craft a stand-out personal brand.

          • Monday, June 23 – Friday, July 4.
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          Law & Innovation

          Explore the intersection of law, technology and policy through real-world case studies, interactive workshops and a two-day competition, sharpening your skills in negotiation, public speaking and legal analysis.

          • Monday, June 9 – Friday, June 20.
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          NextGen Public Changemakers

          Dive hands-on into topics like global governance, leadership and geopolitics to understand complex policy and global issues and gain a leadership mindset fit for the future.

          • Monday, June 23 – Friday, July 4.
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          IE Entrepreneurship Summer School

          Develop your startup idea and refine your entrepreneurial skills alongside like-minded peers, with insights from IE Alumni and IE Startup Mentors to support you as you prepare for a final pitch competition.

          • Monday, June 9 – Friday, July 4.
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          DISCOVER THE SUMMER 2025 CALENDAR

          Take a look to see how you can structure your summer with our various combinations.​

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          Abstract for Tuition | IE

          TUITION

          2 WEEK PROGRAM

          • 3,500€* (Early Bird Price 3,150€)
          • *5,900€ Bundle Price (2 weeks + 2 weeks)

          CREDIT RECOGNITION

          Earning academic credit at your home institution for joining IE University’s Summer Program is designed to be as straightforward as possible. Many institutions routinely award credit for summer courses, but we highly recommend that you check with your University’s International or Study Abroad Office regarding any specific requirements you might need to fulfill.

          If you join IE University’s Summer Program for at least four weeks (= two two-week modules or with the four-week Entrepreneurship Summer School), you’ll complete an academic workload equivalence of 6 ECTS credits (or 3 US credits). If you spend more time with us, you can earn even more credit equivalence, also spread over consecutive summers. To qualify for credit recognition, you need to fulfill all the course requirements and submit one final essay within two weeks of finishing your last course.

          To make the credit transfer process easier, IE University provides all the necessary documentation and evidence required by your home university’s Study Abroad Office or academic department. Additionally, we actively work to pre-agree credit recognition with key partner universities to ensure a faster and smoother process for you.

          THE ADMISSIONS PROCESS

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          1. Online Application

          You will need to complete the online application with the following documents: 

          1. Academic transcripts.  
          2. CV (cv template).
          3. Video Assessment: in this section you will complete two live video questions on general knowledge topics.

          *You must complete all sections of the application in order to submit it.

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          2. Submit your Application

          Once you complete all sections you may submit your online application to be evaluated by our team.


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          3. Admissions Final Decision

          Within 2 weeks of submitting, the Summer School Team will contact you with the final resolution of your Admissions process. Should it be positive, you will be guided through the next steps for your enrollment.

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          START YOUR APPLICATION

          Spaces are limited, so enroll now to guarantee your place!

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