Using teaching innovation and social impact as a research framework, this work aims to present the strategies implemented in the design of the university master's degree in City and Urban Planning at the Open University of Catalonia (UOC), which led to the Jaume Vicens Vives Distinction, an award for quality and excellence in university teaching, granted by the Generalitat of Catalonia.

These strategies aim to expand the social impact of the program and create opportunities for knowledge transfer. The master's degree is based on two essential principles: engaging with the community through teaching, research, and transfer activities to contribute to its social transformation, and fostering global citizenship through transformative learning that is socially, civically, and ethically committed.

Since its inception in 2006, the program has been attended by almost 3,000 people, always maintaining social impact as a driver of change. In 2017, a pilot study to evaluate the social impact was conducted, coinciding with the transformation of the master's degree into a university master's degree. This study made it possible to measure the scope of the program's social impact and outline new teaching innovation strategies focused on five main axes. These strategic axes include continuous evaluation and testing, proximity in online teaching, proximity to the territory, the production and dissemination of Creative Commons resources, and gender equality and equity.

Continuous evaluation and testing are based on a comprehensive and ongoing system that improves the quality of the program through the evaluation of social impact, pilot projects, and teacher self-assessment. Proximity in online teaching enhances the virtual classroom to promote interaction and collaboration between students and teachers through workshops, chats, collaborative work, and synchronous sessions. Proximity to the territory promotes meaningful learning applied to the urban reality of students, creating opportunities for the direct transfer of knowledge. The production and dissemination of Creative Commons resources democratize access to knowledge and facilitate collaboration between people and communities. Gender equality and equity are incorporated transversally into the program, promoting the enrollment of women and equity in the composition of the teaching staff.

The master's degree has had a significant impact on the training of professionals capable of managing complexity and cooperating in interdisciplinary environments. Additionally, it has facilitated the transfer of knowledge and influence on urban public policies. The positive impact on the job improvement of Latin American women stands out, especially those with caregiving responsibilities. Notable results also include the increase in the enrollment of women, especially from Latin America, the publication of final works with a Creative Commons license, and the creation of collaboration networks and dissemination of open content.

Keywords: Teaching innovation, social impact, knowledge transfer, distance learning, e-learning.