Working with stakeholders for a successful research on sustainable development.

Sustainability science explores the interactions between human activities on the Earth’s life support systems. Unless we understand these interactions, we will not be able to design a path towards sustainable development. The education system in relation to sustainability is based, at least, on these three aspects: knowledge, training and orientation. The ultimate goal is thus not the mere transfer of knowledge but the development of empowerment and capacity building. In this context, the research activities focused on bridging the gap between theory and practice, from problem understanding towards solution developing a methodology covering three areas: content; involvement and efficacy, in order to innovate the current approach to sustainability education and contribute to the debate on sustainable development in higher education. The paper aims at presenting the key drivers of education evolution, from environmental towards sustainability education. Criteria for sustainability education are defined, and the role of University is explored as a key stakeholder, through the analysis of case studies of multi-stakeholders’ education activities developed by the Research Group on Sustainable Development (GRISS) of the Department of Environmental Science from the University of Milano Bicocca in Italy. Keywords: sustainability science, sustainability education, multi-stakeholders interaction, university