Purpose This study aims to explore an interdisciplinary pedagogical approach for advancing knowledge and understanding of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) at higher education institutions (HEIs). Design/methodology/approach This qualitative study conducted an explorative experiment to elaborate on forms to advance a pedagogical approach that embeds sustainability. The design of the pedagogical project was explorative and interdisciplinary, using a predefined framework on key competencies for sustainability. Findings The findings showed that an interdisciplinary approach can create a learning setting that stimulates students’ problem-solving competencies for sustainability-related issues. Students were trained in the five key sustainable competencies addressed by Wiek et al. (2011). Moreover, although it is not always possible to arrange an interdisciplinary pedagogical setting, this might be a key condition for the development of students’ key competencies regarding their understanding of the SDGs. Addressing the SDGs from an interdisciplinary perspective paved the way for the development of students’ strategic competencies, including systems thinking and anticipatory competencies. Practical implications The pedagogical project, as an interdisciplinary explorative experiment, was shown to be a potentially suitable method to counteract “cherry-picking” approaches to teaching the SDGs at HEI. Originality/value The pedagogical approach advanced in this paper, extends active learning and interdisciplinarity in higher education. The authors argue that this approach encourages students to take ownership of and responsibility for their learning process and indicates a changed mindset and behavior.
Enligt Högskolelagen skall högskolorna i sin verksamhet främja en hållbar utveckling. FNs Agenda 2030 och dess 17 globala hållbarhetsmål belyser ytterligare högskolornas roll att utveckla och sprida kunskap om hållbar utveckling. Det ställs dock krav på högskolelärares insikter kring hållbarhetsbegreppet och iscensättandet av dess flervetenskaplighet i undervisningssituationen. Den här artikeln beskriver en fakultetsövergripande högskolepedagogisk kurs, Undervisning för hållbar utveckling, med dessa krav som utgångspunkt. Kursens genomförande och design presenteras, liksom syfte och lärdomar.
Purpose This study aims to address how a higher education pedagogical course in sustainable development (SD) for university educators affects their teaching efforts in providing sustainability matters for students. Design/methodology/approach With the aim of improving that course, a case study approach was used to understand how the educators made use of the course in their teaching practice. Data were collected as written and oral feedback reflections and as semi-structured interviews at course completion. Findings Educators clearly express that they understand the concept “about” SD, but there are only vague expressions of a developed teaching repertoire to address education “for” SD in their teaching practice. Research limitations/implications When it comes to the purposes of developing sustainability literacy among students, implications from the study furthermore address the needs for further clarifications on both structure and intent on the course presented in this contribution. Practical implications The educators as well as their students will be exposed to, and trained in concepts, to prepare them to act in alignment with SD. This, in turn, meets requirements from higher education authorities concerning SD at higher education institutions. Social implications A core aim of the covered approach is to support student readiness in SD, and for those to become future agents of positive change. Originality/value This study has a focus on presenting how educators change the structures of courses and learning elements to approach SD in their teachings.
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