Nurturing the Seeds of Sustainability Education: Information Regime in Brazilian Public HEI

Abstract

We are currently living the Anthropocene, a period in which humans have generated impacts on nature that corresponds to a geological force capable of modifying the planet’s biophysical parameters, affecting its sustainability. Knowledge is a condition for emancipation, and citizens endowed with sustainability knowledge will be able to influence political decisions and the society. Currently, the universities are expected to provide tools for understanding environmental issues from a more holistic perspective, rather than relying on traditional reductionist approaches. Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate the Brazilian Federal Technological Scientific Professional Education Network’s (RFEPCT) commitment to relevant environmental issues raised by the Anthropocene. Additionally, the ‘information regime’ approach was selected to identify factors that may contribute or influence its composition and the information-power relationships. The results show that the RFEPCT members’ actions are carried out in isolation, needing an element that integrates information and effectively articulates their social networks. The managerial priority was mostly motivated by economic issues or by public regulation and requirements. This study presents an original and unique Mapping on RFEPCT Information Regime elements and offers a HEI Environmental Agenda as a contribution.

Framework for using online social networks for sustainability awareness

“…Through content analysis, this study proposes a framework composed of four research categories that show different ways of contributing to the current knowledge on the topic. Awareness of public policies toward sustainable development Vargas et al (2019), Kurland (2011), Purcell (2019, Winkler et al (2022), Albanesi et al (2014), Evans and Powell (2007), Jiang et al (2019), Reeves (2019), Hurajova et al (2022), Cabezas-Gonzalez et al (2021, Srebotnjak and Norgaard (2017) Implementation of sustainable development concepts in higher education institutions Kolleck et al (2011), Goritz et al (2019), Kolleck (2019) Maruyama et al (2021), Akhtar et al (2018), Cui and Wang (2022) Encourage people to change their attitudes and behavior to avoid climate change Kolleck et al (2017), Kolleck and Yemini (2020) To promote sustainability awareness and sustainable behavior by intergovernmental organizations Bellantuono et al (2022), Franquesa-Soler and Sandoval-Rivera (2019), Hays et al (2020) Awareness about the 17 sustainable development goals Abid et al (2017), Delgadillo et al (2020Delgadillo et al ( ), (2018, Chiffoleau (2005), Furman et al (2014) To promote sustainable agriculture Gossling (2021), Schubert et al (2021), Song et al (2021), Kim et al (2020) To promote sustainable consumption Kolleck and Bormann (2014) To promote innovation Zhang and Zhang (2018) To promote sustainable tourism Tan et al (2017) To promote sustainable urbanization in China Westoby and Lyons (2017) To use transformative social learning to foster a more sustainable society Source(s): Author's own, 202...…”

Governança ambiental: transparência e efetividade de práticas sustentáveis em IES

“…Ademais, há necessidade de se despertar para uma consciência ambiental e formação de um pensamento crítico por parte de todos os atores da sociedade civil, a fim de propiciar um ambiente adequado à disseminação de uma realidade responsável e sustentável, participando e colaborando no desenvolvimento e acompanhamento de programas para atendimento às políticas socioambientais (Maruyama, Issberner, Prado 2021).…”

“…A luta contra a desinformação nas questões ambientais é consequência da preocupação da sociedade acerca dos problemas ambientais surgidos e contribui para a mudança de comportamentos abusivos, para que se aprenda a preservar o meio ambiente. No âmbito das instituições de ensino brasileiras, as informações sobre a sustentabilidade ambiental devem ser esclarecidas para que haja a efetividade nas ações propostas por mecanismos que apoiam à governança ambiental (Maruyama, Issberner, Prado 2021). Desta forma, surgem como diretrizes o Plano de Gestão de Logística Sustentável (PLS) e a Agenda Ambiental na Administração Pública (A3P).…”