In the context of climate change, increasing regulation of greenhouse gas emissions, and urgent need for sustainable development, construction sector has become a key focus of the European Union's and national green transition policies. As one of the largest consumers of resources and emitters of greenhouse gases, sector’s transformation depends not only on technological innovation, but also on a qualified workforce capable of implementing sustainable practices. Higher education is expected to align learning outcomes with the labour market needs and prepare graduates to address real-world sustainability challenges.

In response to these challenges, University of Zagreb Faculty of Civil Engineering launched a new master’s course, “Green Building”, in which students are introduced, often for the first time, to practical application of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) at both product and building level.

A new course is based on project-based learning (PBL) combining theoretical lectures on LCA concepts and methodology with exercises that require active participation in discussions, teamwork, and performance of LCA studies on real-life construction cases. Students were assigned seminar projects developed in direct cooperation with construction industry partners, focusing on current problems related to the implementation of sustainable construction practices. Industry stakeholders provided real case studies with clearly defined goals relevant to their business operations and environmental strategies.

Through the implementation of PBL, students engage in real-life construction industry activities and challenges. They come into direct contact with the real sector and gain a better understanding of what happens in practice and what it looks like in real-world conditions. This connection with industry not only provides hands-on experience, but also better prepares students for the professional world by exposing them to real challenges and expectations. For industry partners, this is often the first time they can actively see and understand the benefits of applying LCA to their own cases. Additionally, they gain early access to the future workforce, fresh perspectives, and innovative ideas from students. Such collaboration also opens up potential for networking with the academic community, paving the way for future research and new insights.

This paper presents methodology and reflection of applying PBL in the "Green Building" course for master students at the University of Zagreb Faculty of Civil Engineering.

Keywords: Sustainability, construction, high education, Green Building course, project based learning.