On 18-19 March 2025, the two-day training seminar “Sustainability and Educational Organizations: Leadership, Strategy and Transformation” was successfully held as part of the European project ‘AELIA – Applying a multi-stakeholder and whole-institutional approach to education for sustainability’. The event was hosted at the premises of the Cyprus Pedagogical Institute in Nicosia, Cyprus.

The seminar was organised by the Unit for Education for the Environment and Sustainable Development (EESD) of the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth, in collaboration with the CARDET organisation, and was aimed at principals/teachers of public schools of all levels, education officials, and trainers/educators from other formal and non-formal education organizations.

The training offered a combination of theoretical training and practical application, empowering participants to integrate Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) into the design and operation of educational units and organizations. The first day began with a presentation of the European AELIA project and its contribution to promoting a holistic approach to education. This was followed by a presentation by the Head of the Unit for EESD, Dr. Aravella Zachariou, who analysed how the holistic approach can act as a lever for transforming educational organisations toward sustainability. The day concluded with a workshop on the practical application of the systemic framework for the holistic approach in ESD. The case of Yakage High School was showcased as a model, emphasising community collaboration, experiential learning, and international exchanges.

The second day focused on experiential workshops, allowing participants to translate theory into practice:

• From Vision to Mission: Participants drafted vision and mission statements for their organisations, grounding them in shared values and long-term sustainability goals.
• Mapping Actions: Using the Holistic Approach framework and viewing activities through the three pillars of sustainable development (organisational, educational, social), participants mapped sustainability initiatives that strengthen social cohesion, introduce pedagogical innovations and create resilient organisational structures.
• Monitoring and Improving the Sustainability Plan: Through structured self-assessment, participants identified the strengths, challenges and opportunities of their existing sustainability plans, aiming to ensure the continuous and dynamic advancement of each organisation’s work in sustainable development.

At the end of the two-day seminar, participants left with practical tools for designing a sustainability plan based on the needs of the educational institution they represent, thus contributing to its sustainable transformation. Future project activities include online seminars for educators and citizens interested in designing actions in collaboration with their community.