A Professional Competences’ Diagnosis in Education for Sustainability: A Case Study from the Standpoint of the Education Guidance Service (EGS) in the Spanish Context

Abstract

Currently, all members of the educational community have a relevant role in the development of professional competences on the sustainability of students. This is supported by the findings obtained by different research studies carried out in different countries and which show the need to characterize and evaluate the practice of EGS as key agents in the training and counseling of teachers on sustainability topics, which, in turn, is the goal of this study. To address this, we have conducted an exploratory study based on the case study of EGS members in the metropolitan area of Granada (Spain) that has helped us to profile the professional practice of its members in the development of professional competences in Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). Answers to a questionnaire provided by 43 teachers who are linked to the EGS have been investigated in addition to an interview to six formal members of the EGS. Results evidence that transmit some values over others correlates positively with the type of competences for sustainability that they promote. Therefore, this shows the interrelation of these competencies with the teaching-learning process and, consequently, with the promotion of an education for sustainability. We conclude that counseling on participatory methodologies, working on values, competences, and curricular sustainability, as well as the cross-curricular nature of the content that is imparted, are the most effective ways from which these teacher guidance services can promote the development of professional competences linked to sustainability in schools.

Students’ Perspective on Quality Assurance in Higher Education in the Context of Sustainability: A PLS-SEM Approach

“…Students should also develop sustainable competencies, which represent a combination of knowledge, skills and attitudes that help to solve sustainability issues in the surrounding world [19][20][21]. Currently, all stakeholders in higher education institutions have an important role in the development of sustainable competencies among students [22]. According to Rieckmann [19], universities play an important role in shaping the future of societies around the world in terms of sustainable development, since they generate new knowledge among the students and contribute to the development of appropriate competencies and sustainability awareness.…”

Analysis of Sustainability Activities in Spanish Elementary Education Textbooks

“…In addition, the seventh target of this objective explicitly mentions the importance of ensuring that students acquire the theoretical and practical knowledge to promote sustainable development. Thus, Education for sustainability (EDS), from a formal [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13], teaching training [14][15][16], and non-formal [17][18][19] perspective, is essential for Sustainability 2019, 11, 5182 2 of 14 instilling in students not only content and concepts, but also the fundamental values that make them sensitive in matters of sustainability.…”

Analysis of the Consciousness of University Undergraduates for Sustainable Consumption

“…ii) There should be emphasis on the participation of students, at different levels of thought, relevance and holistic vision, and not only on cognitive learning, through an innovative methodology, which combines the acquisition of knowledge with its adequate application to educational needs [98]. Thus, and as several authors comment [99,100], learning processes centered on criteria of social justice, equity, and respect for the environment should be used. To this end, the University and some faculties are encouraging students to consider the sustainable dimension in their Final Degree Work (FDW) through prizes for the best FDW on sustainability or through student conferences where graduates make a small contribution to the social, environmental and economic transformation of the environment through their FDWs.…”