Universities are hotbeds of knowledge and are moving towards sustainability. However, stagnant academic programs and rigid structures limit their impact. This study at the Polytechnic University of Madrid reveals how the Master’s Degree in Development Strategies and Technologies, together with the Center for Innovation and Technology for Development (itdUPM), promote sustainability.

These multidisciplinary initiatives not only trigger educational change, but transform the university structure and generate long-term social impacts. Innovations beyond the classroom are needed to promote collaborative ecosystems.