About this course

This course was developed through the MERGE project, a Horizon Europe-funded initiative that identifies pathways towards Sustainable and Inclusive Wellbeing: ensuring a good life for all, now and in the future, within planetary limits.

MERGE has brought together insights from four EU-funded research projects: ToBe, SPES, WISE Horizons, and REAL. Through co-creation and dialogue, it has connected researchers, policymakers, statisticians and civil society actors to identify indicators and frameworks for measuring Sustainable and Inclusive Wellbeing, as well as governance approaches and policy pathways towards it.

This course draws on MERGE research and complements the project’s more detailed Policy Guidelines and Technical Guidelines by translating key insights into an accessible, practical learning format for policymakers and other interested stakeholders. Whether you’re working at an EU, national or local level, this course is designed to support the transition towards policy approaches that integrate the three complementary dimensions of Sustainable and Inclusive Wellbeing: Wellbeing now, Wellbeing for all, and Wellbeing in the future.

Module 1 introduces the concept of Sustainable and Inclusive Wellbeing and its importance for Europe’s long-term prosperity and resilience, building on broad-based public support and widespread international momentum.
Module 2 outlines how Sustainable and Inclusive Wellbeing can be integrated in governance processes, exploring five governance levers and discussing fiscal governance reforms for growth independence.
Module 3 explores practical policy directions for Sustainable and Inclusive Wellbeing, illustrating each with specific policy instruments that can be applied at local, national and EU levels.

Each module takes about 1 hour to complete, with opportunities for further learning and exploration offered at the end of each module.

Are you ready to dive in? Let’s get started!