In Search of Transformative Learning for Sustainable Development: Bibliometric Analysis of Recent Scientific Production

Abstract

Transformative learning is a key element when it comes to making progress toward sustainable development. This goal requires an education that fosters the empowerment of people and the transformation of institutions, prepares for the necessary changes, facilitates resilience and encourages sustainable actions. The aim of this paper is to review the academic production on transformative learning in relation to the pursuit of sustainable development. To do so, a bibliometric analysis was conducted of the publications included in the Scopus databases for the 2003–2020 period, in order to explore its evolution, identify the main themes of which the field of knowledge is composed, and identify its main references and the network of collaborations between researchers and universities worldwide. During this period, scientific production has increased considerably, with a particular focus on adult education and competency development. At the same time, English-speaking dominance and the prevalence of Western origin has been observed. There is a need for more global, connected, and pluralistic research that is focused on diverse sociocultural contexts, research that factors in inequality and environmental justice and which calls into question the current socioeconomic model. A debate should also be started on which means of publication are the most appropriate for defending the quest for sustainability.

STEM/STEAM in Early Childhood Education for Sustainability (ECEfS): A Systematic Review

“…We share with Varela-Losada et al [11] the judgment that sustainability demands are urgent and that adults are responsible for making today's decisions. At the same time, newcomers should become involved so that future adults may continue the initiatives.…”

“…Incorporating Engineering and Technology is quite distinctive of STEM and STEAM education, since these knowledge areas were commonly absent in the pre-college curriculum [49][50][51]. One point that unifies STEM/STEAM and sustainability is the significant role of engineering and technology professionals in pursuing solutions towards an ecologically resilient, socially just, and economically viable society [11].…”

“…In this study, we mention them not as interchangeable approaches, but we focus on their accordance with interdisciplinarity's role in enhancing education. For example, Varela-Losada et al [11] pursued a bibliometric analysis in transformative learning for sustainable development. The authors detected the central cluster of closely-related terms to sustainability: critical reflection, social learning, and transdisciplinary/holistic education.…”

The Transformation of Educational Values via Cultural Offerings in the Context of Teacher Education

“…Nowadays, education, culture, and cultural heritage are viewed less as responses to the changing demands of the market economy and more so as tools for promoting sustainable development and respecting human rights and the fundamental freedoms of expression, information, and communication, which are, in turn, considered prerequisites for the creation and dissemination of diverse cultural expressions; promoting equal access, openness, and balance to the flow of cultural services, including courses of action to support diverse cultural manifestations, is also becoming increasingly important (Gesche-Koning 2018; Rieckmann 2020; UNESCO-United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization 2022;Varela-Losada et al 2022;Wolff et al 2022a). Thus, culture is viewed not only as a trait that a person possesses or has acquired via assimilation or socialization but also as a dynamic and process-oriented approach that promotes involvement in cultural experiences throughout life and forms a value system based on pre-established knowledge and understandings (Valsiner 2014;Valsiner et al 2021).…”

An exploration of nudging towards transformative environmental behaviour changes prior to a values-crystallization event

“…These include major environmental issues such as climate change, widespread pollution, harmful waste management practices, and water shortages [ 3 , 4 ] which pose severe challenges to the world [ 5 ]. The need for behavioral modifications has been robustly evidenced and reported [ 1 , 6 ] and this requires a type of learning which has the capacity to lead to transformations in perspectives and then behaviours. The concept of Transformative learning (TL) has now been established as a critical element to solving these environmental sustainability problems [ 7 ], to the extent of it being sought for in most studies which advance social and behavioral solutions to achieve sustainable transformations [ 8 ].…”