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Reflections on developing a collaborative multi-disciplinary approach to embedding education for sustainable development into higher education curricula.

Strachan, Scott; Logan, Louise; Willison, Debra; Bain, Rod; Roberts, Jennifer; Mitchell, Iain; Yarr, Roddy

Authors

Scott Strachan

Louise Logan

Debra Willison

Rod Bain

Jennifer Roberts

Iain Mitchell

Roddy Yarr



Abstract

As higher education institutions (HEIs) have increasingly turned to consider sustainability over the last decade, education for sustainable development (ESD) has emerged as a way of imbuing students with the skills, values, knowledge, and attributes to live, work, and create change in societies facing complex and cross-cutting sustainability challenges. However, the question of how HEIs can actively embed ESD more broadly in and across curricula is one that continues to challenge institutions and the HE sector as a whole. While traditional teaching practices and methods associated with subject-based learning may be suitable for educating students about sustainable development, a re-orientation towards more transformational, experiential and action-oriented methods is required to educate for sustainable development. The need for educators to share their practices and learn lessons from each other is essential in this transformation. This paper presents a selection of practical examples of how to embed a range of interactive, exploratory, action-oriented, problem-based, experiential and transformative ESD offerings into HE teaching practice and curricula. Presented by a group of academics and professional services staff at the University of Strathclyde who lead key modules and programmes in the institution’s ESD provision, this paper reflects on five approaches taken across the four faculties at Strathclyde (Humanities and Social Sciences, Science, Engineering and the Strathclyde Business School) and examines the challenges, practicalities and opportunities involved in establishing a collaborative programme of ESD.

Citation

STRACHAN, S., LOGAN, L., WILLISON, D., BAIN, R., ROBERTS, J., MITCHELL, I. and YARR, R. 2021. Reflections on developing a collaborative multi-disciplinary approach to embedding education for sustainable development into higher education curricula. Emerald open research [online], 3, article 24. Available from: https://doi.org/10.35241/emeraldopenres.14303.1

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Sep 28, 2021
Online Publication Date Sep 28, 2021
Publication Date Sep 28, 2021
Deposit Date Nov 9, 2021
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Emerald open research
Print ISSN 2631-3952
Publisher F1000Research
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 3
Article Number 24
DOI https://doi.org/10.35241/emeraldopenres.14303.1
Keywords Education for sustainable development; Higher education; Experiential learning; Interdisciplinarity; Whole institution approach; Skills development; Competencies
Public URL https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/1513095

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