A groundbreaking programme where students and researchers meet across borders
Climate change, energy transitions and environmental crises. To meet the challenges of the real world a new European master’s programme has been launched, offering an academic environment where disciplines are brought together to prepare future experts for complex global issues.
“I’ve always been interested in climate and environment studies. When I was younger I had a fascination with hurricanes and it kind of came into this now”, Katarina Duric says.
She is one of fifteen master's students from across the globe embarking on the new programme. The first semester of TRACEE (acronym for TRAndisciplinary studies of Climate, Environment and Energy) takes place at Stockholm University. Thereafter Katarina and the other students will go to different universities within CIVIS, depending on their selected courses. Natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, and law are all included in the programme.
What is CIVIS?
CIVIS is a European University Alliance that brings together eleven leading universities across Europe to build a shared European higher education and research area.
A combination of good things
“I like the idea of learning about something that I’m really interested in while also travelling to other countries. TRACEE matches these two things together”, Katarina explains her choice to come all the way from Canada to Sweden.
She adds that another reason for choosing this programme are her aspirations to work within the humanitarian sector in the future.
“I’m excited about all the classes but specifically those to do with the UN. I hope to get an internship in Brussels.”
Fellow student Giulia Raffaelli from Italy nods in agreement.
“It's the same thing for me. I have a humanitarian background and I’ve worked in the NGO sector in Rome before. I’m also really interested in seeing how the different subjects will be mixed together in a transdisciplinary way; to see things from a natural sciences and a social sciences perspective. That’s kind of the main thing with this programme.”
Swedish geoscience student Sofie Elvestedt is looking forward to studying economics this semester.
“As a natural sciences person you can get a lot of ideas on how to solve things but I think that economics is its own language. It will be helpful to speak it in order to reach more people.”
Geoscience student Sofie is looking forward to studying economics. Photo: Karin Persson
“We all need to learn from each other”
David Collste, researcher at Stockholm Resilience Centre and teacher of systems thinking on the TRACEE programme, stresses the importance of transdisciplinary collaboration as well as collaboration in other areas.
“We all need to learn from each other and students need to learn from other students. Natural scientists need to know social sciences and vice versa. Humanities play an important role, too.”
He believes that higher education helps us make sense of what’s going on, especially now when there is a so-called polycrisis – interacting crises converging at the same time.
“In systems thinking we look at how population development affects economic systems which then affect the environment. And how the environment then feeds back on economic systems and population dynamics and other social issues.”
From David's point of view, TRACEE is a unique opportunity for students to meet different people from different places and backgrounds.
“I did a very similar master’s programme about ten years ago where I studied in three different countries with a group of a similar size. I’m still in touch with many of my student friends from back then and I currently work with one of them. It kind of built a community. And now I get to work with some of my professors as colleagues. It’s great!”
Preparing students for the real world
One of these colleagues is Alasdair Skelton, professor of geochemistry and petrology at Stockholm University and one of the driving forces behind TRACEE. When asked why this type of programme is needed right now he doesn't think twice before answering.
“We’re in an escalating enviroment crisis. In the next five years we have to fulfil the sustainability development goals. We need to educate young people for this enormous challenge as it’s part of our responsibility as researchers and educators at universities.
Higher education brings young people from school into the real world. The real world at the moment is the world of the Anthropocene – hugely challenging. We’re now looking at a world where we need scholars who can speak to each other, who understand each other on a professional level.”
So, what are his short and long term goals for TRACEE?
“This year I want our students to form a community. I want them to speak each other’s academic languages. My dream is then for TRACEE to become Europe’s best transdisciplinary programme focusing on climate, environment and energy.”
Info session about TRACEE starting autumn 2026
Are you curious to find out more about this programme, how and when to play? Then don't miss the information session held online on 13 November!
Last updated: October 23, 2025
Source: Student Services
