In 2015, 193 nations committed to achieving 17 Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. Only 17% of the goals are on track. Educators, student designers, and researchers can play a critical role in achieving the SDGs in their home cities and towns. Academic and community partnerships offer transformative potential.

We invite your participation in Cycle 2 of this bi-annual project. Expressions of Interest welcome August 1 – September 15 2027.

Why get involved?

If you’re passionate about  meaningful change in the built environment and wish to connect with others around the world–this is your call to action.  As a bi-annual project, there is time to plan your participation in Cycle 2.

The SDGs offer a powerful, practical framework for driving social and environmental progress locally. Students and emerging professionals can play a crucial role in this transformation.

We will be looking for projects that:

  • Address urgent local social and environmental challenges, especially housing.
  • Engage with local communities and foster co-design and co-research relationships.
  • Demonstrate how the SDGs can be localized and applied in real-life contexts.

If you participate in the Local Learning Studio, you’ll:

  • Join a global network of built environment educators, recent graduates, students and communities.
  • Access curated teaching and learning materials.
  • Share your local project with an international audience on this website.
  • Gain opportunities to participate in conferences, symposia, and publications.

 

Focus areas and topics

We’re especially interested in transformative local projects that promote social and environmental justice. We bring the global housing challenge and UN-Habitat’s ‘adequate housing for all’ 2026-2029 Strategic Plan to your attention, and urge you to consider projects which advance the global housing agenda.

Local projects should be grounded in the communities where participants live, study, or work, and engage holders of local knowledge that may include:

  • Local governments
  • NGOs
  • Indigenous or marginalized communities
  • Community-based organizations

Sample design or research project topics might include:

  • Affordable, appropriate and supportive housing
  • Impact of short-term rentals on housing availability and affordability
  • Community-driven development
  • Green and public space design
  • Sustainable mobility and equitable livelihoods
  • Education, health access, and social inclusion
  • Food security and urban agriculture
  • Gender, poverty, and biodiversity equity
  • Circular economy, climate adaptation, and mitigation
  • Urban governance, policy, and nature-based solutions
  • Landscape and water body restoration
  • Post-colonial spatial justice
  • Use of AI and digital tools to achieve LLS aims
  • Drones (used for good)
  • Enhanced social relationships and projects of care
  • The arts, equity, social and environmental justice

How can I participate?

Expressions of Interest for Cycle 2  open  August 1, 2027. We welcome:

  • Academic design or research projects initiated or completed since August 2022
  • Community initiated built environment projects since August 2022
  • Projects in development by educators, students or communities

We’re looking for built environment or related projects that:

  • Address at least three SDGs
  • Engage locally
  • Consider social, environmental or other forms of justice
  • Embrace interdisciplinary approaches
  • Tell an important story about people and environmental challenges.

Register an Expression of Interest: August 1 – September 15, 2027.
Select the appropriate form to apply:

Educator

Student

Recent graduate

Community

If you belong to an NGO, CBO or other group that might be interested in partnering with the Local Learning Studio, use the community form.

Key Dates for Cycle 2: 2027-2028

  • Expression of Interest: August 1- September 15, 2027
  • Response by October 15, 2027
  • Full submission by February 1, 2028
  • Double peer review of all submissions by March 15, 2028
  • Final submission due April 15, 2028
  • 2028 “SDGs in Action” Gallery launch,  by June 1, 2028

Full submissions will require:

  • A short description of the project, partners, community engagement
  • Visual materials (e.g. photos, drawings, diagrams)
  • A 3-6 minute video presentation
  • The insertion of the project into the LLS template

Full submission guidelines will be provided on acceptance of Expression of Interest.

Future Expressions of Interest

  • Future cycles through 2030 will be announced later.