Higher education is a principal agent for addressing the sustainable development goals proposed by the 2030 Agenda, because of its key mission of knowledge generation, teaching and social innovation for sustainability. In order to achieve this, higher education needs to integrate transversally the values of sustainability in the way of developing the field of management, as well as research, university life and, of course, teaching. This paper focuses on teaching, and more specifically on the didactic strategies considered most relevant for training in sustainability competencies in college students, according to the guidelines commonly accepted by the international academic community. Through collaborative work among experts from six Spanish universities taking part in the EDINSOST project (education and social innovation for sustainability), funded by the Spanish R&D+i Program, in this paper the role of five active learning strategies (service learning, problem-based learning, project-oriented learning, simulation games and case studies) in education for sustainability are reviewed, and a systematic approach of their implementation in higher education settings is presented. The results provide a synthesis of their objectives, foundations, and stages of application (planning, implementation, and learning assessment), which can be used as valuable guidelines for teachers.

This paper analyzes the extent to which sustainability is present in the curricula of the sixteen Education Degree programs belonging to the EDINSOST project: Six Early Childhood Education Degrees, seven Primary Education Degrees, two Pedagogy Degrees and one Social Education Degree. The results obtained suggest that sustainability is present in all Degrees, but not uniformly so. A great disparity is observed in the number of subjects that develop sustainability, with an average of 22.63 subjects per Degree. The competency most present is the 'Application of ethical principles related to the values of sustainability in personal and professional behaviors', while the least present is 'Sustainable use of resources and prevention of negative impacts on the natural and social environment'. Sustainability is not developed uniformly in the different universities either. Three universities (UAM, UCA and UIC) develop sustainability competencies at 100%, while others such as the USAL do so at only 50%.

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This work forms part of the R + D + i ‘Training project in Spanish universities for professionals as agents of change in order meet the challenges facing society’ (Educación e Innovación Social para la Sostenibilidad (EDINSOST) 2017–2019). The purpose is to analyse the presence of sustainability in terms of curriculum content and training in competence for students, teachers and the curricula of Science of Education degree courses at the University of Seville. In this context, the curricula of the Degree in Early Childhood Education, Primary Education and Pedagogy have been analysed. Two questionnaires have been drawn up, and four reflection groups have been created—in which, a total of 49 teachers and 170 students have participated. The results show that there is a low presence of sustainability in Science of Education degree courses. The teachers express the opinion that they are engaged in sustainable initiatives and have an interest in ethical models. The students express a high degree of interest in receiving sustainability training. Findings provide information for introducing innovation into the university curriculum and the training of teachers and students in order to improve their competency in sustainability.

RESUMEN • Este estudio presenta una revisión de competencias genéricas en sostenibilidad (CS) en Educación Superior y proporciona una compilación de estas CS mediante una rúbrica que sirve como instrumento para evaluar el nivel de adquisición de las CS de los estudiantes universitarios en el campo de la educación. La rúbrica ha sido diseñada, analizada y contrastada por un grupo de investigadores de diferentes universidades vinculados al campo de la educación. Ha sido adaptada a los grados y posgrados de educación de ocho universidades y está estructurada en tres niveles de dominio en la adquisición de las competencias. Esta rúbrica puede ser un instrumento útil para la evaluación de la CS en los grados de educación del sistema universitario español. PALABRAS CLAVES: Rúbrica para la evaluación de competencias en sostenibilidad; Educación para el desarrollo sostenible; Objetivos de desarrollo sostenible; Educación superior; Formación en sostenibilidad. ABSTRACT • This study presents a review on the generic competences in sustainability (CS) at higher education and provides a compilation of these CS through a rubric that serves as a tool to assess the level of CS acquisition among university students of teacher training. The rubric has been designed, analysed and contrasted by a group of researchers from different universities linked to teacher training courses. It has been adapted to different undergraduate and postgraduate teaching programs at eight universities. It is structured in three levels of competency acquisition. This rubric can be a useful instrument for the assessment of CS in the degrees of education in the Spanish university system.

This article presents the results of the EDINSOST project in relation to the university faculty’s practice concerns and the need to embed sustainability education in the Spanish Higher Education system. Four questions were devised to determine (1) which conceptions the university faculty has about sustainability in the context of the Spanish higher education (2) what sustainability competencies the university faculty holds (3) the ways in which sustainability teaching strategies are implemented and (4) the ways in which practical coursework related to sustainability is undertaken in a Spanish university context. The methodology that was applied was comprised of a discourse analysis of faculty focus groups. To that end, a category system and a focus group implementation protocol were designed and validated, as well as processes of construct elaboration based on the analysis of the focus groups’ discourses. Among the most relevant contributions stemming from the research questions regarding the faculty’s assumptions was the evidence that the holistic conception of sustainability is not addressed in all its dimensions and the environmental dimension is overemphasised. The need for training to teach sustainability competencies and the faculty’s lack of awareness were also identified. As far as sustainability teaching strategies are concerned, project-based learning prevails, with service-learning emerging as the most effective strategy, even though its application is hindered by faculty training gaps. Finally, the absence of sustainability in teaching guides and study plans and the scarce institutional support for establishing sustainability as a strategic subject in the university were significant findings.

The purpose of this study is to analyse the presence of sustainability in the curricula of the Science of Education at the University of Seville and to determine the perception of both teachers and students regarding sustainability competencies. The work forms part of the R+D+i “Training Project in Spanish Universities for Professionals as Agents of Change in Order to Meet the Challenges Facing Society” (EDINSOST). The methodology a case study, in which an analysis of the curriculum of the Bachelor Degree in Early Childhood Education, Primary Education, and Pedagogy has been conducted. Two questionnaires have been drawn up and four focus groups established in which a total of 61 teachers and 152 students have participated. The results show that there is a low presence of sustainability in the Science of Education courses, particularly in the Bachelor Degree in Primary Education. The teachers express the opinion that they have sustainable initiatives as well as an interest in ethical models. The students express a high degree of interest in receiving sustainability training.

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