scholarly journals Students and education for sustainable development – what matters? A case study on students’ sustainability consciousness derived from participating in an ESD project

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 6
Author(s):  
Majken Korsager ◽  
Eldri Scheie

AbstractThis article presents a qualitative case study exploring how students’ partici-pation in a project about sustainable development (SD) influences their sustainability consciousness. Sustainability consciousness is a concept that integrates the environmental, economic and social dimensions of SD with knowledge, skills and attitudes. This study follows up the results from a recent quantitative large-scale study conducted in Sweden, investigating the impact of education for sustainable education (ESD) on students’ sustainability consciousness. Results from our study show that the students’ sustainability consciousness is dominated by a mono-dimensional approach from the environmental perspective. However, their motivation to act (Attitudes) was highest within the economic dimension. The skills they expressed they had attained, were mainly practical and mostly within the environmental dimension and to some extent the social dimension. Analysis of the project showed both a lack of collaboration between the teachers and a lack of explicit teaching, which could explain why the holistic approach to SD was under-communicated to the students. The students’ sustainability consciousness seemed improved after a re-design of the ESD project, where the main changes were more explicit teaching and learning goals, and adding Norwegian as a subject. The results are discussed in relation to what should be emphasized in ESD projects in order to empower pupils and students for action competence for SD.Keywords: education for sustainable development, students’ sustainability consciousnessElever og utdanning for bærekraftig utvikling – hva er viktig? En case-studie om elevers bærekraftbevissthet etter deltakelse i et prosjekt om bærekraftig utviklingSammendragDenne artikkelen presenterer en kvalitativ case-studie som utforsker hvordan elevers deltakelse i et prosjekt om bærekraftig utvikling påvirker deres bærekraftbevissthet. Bærekraftbevissthet er et konsept som integrerer den miljømessige, økonomiske og sosiale dimensjonen av bærekraftig utvikling med kunnskap, ferdigheter og holdninger. Denne studien følger opp resultatene fra en nylig kvantitativ storskalaundersøkelse gjennomført i Sverige, der effekten av utdanning for bærekraftig utvikling (UBU) på elevers bærekraftbevissthet er undersøkt. Resultatene fra denne studien viser at elevenes bærekraftbevissthet domineres av en mono-dimensjonal tilnærming fra miljøperspektivet. Men deres motivasjon til å handle (Holdninger) var høyest innenfor den økonomiske dimensjonen. De ferdighetene de uttrykte de hadde oppnådd, var hovedsakelig praktiske og for det meste innenfor miljødimensjonen og noen innen den sosiale dimensjonen. Analyse av prosjektet viste at det var både mangel på samarbeid mellom lærerne og mangel på eksplisitt undervisning, noe som kunne forklare hvorfor den holistiske tilnærmingen til bærekraftig utvikling ble underkommunisert til elevene. Elevenes bærekraftbevissthet ble forbedret noe etter re-design av prosjektet, hvor hovedendringene var mer eksplisitt undervisning og læringsmål samt å inkludere norsk som emne. Resultatene diskuteres med sikte på hva som bør vektlegges i prosjekter i bærekraftig utvikling for å gi elever og studenter handlingskompetanse i bærekraftig utvikling.Nøkkelord: utdanning for bærekraftig utvikling, elevers bærekraftbevissthet

Author(s):  
Prof. Dr. Nadia Cipullo

The paper aims at showing how innovations in agri-food business models influence the corporate sustainability of rural ecosystems, assuring the attainment of specific sustainable development goals. The purpose is achieved through a case study method, using a relevant farmhouse and agritourism “Anna dei Sapori” located in the Cilento Bio-District – rich of bio-cultural diversity and homeland of the Mediterranean Diet, Intangible Cultural Heritage by the UNESCO – in Italy. Results show as all corporate processes are managed according to agroecological principles, introducing useful innovations. The goal demonstrates the impact of this thrilling “philosophy”, based on a circular and holistic approach, on environmental, sociocultural, and economic dimensions of sustainability, and the achievement of specific Sustainable Development Goals and targets.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zdzisława Elżbieta Niemczewska

PurposeThe paper is to propose a tool for holistic impact assessment of commercially reused immovable cultural heritage resources on local, sustainable development along with the possibility to ensure the cultural sustainability of these assets themselves. The paper contains a case study using the proposed tool. The case study concerns a historic object in the form of a Polish manor house located in rural areas in Poland adapted for commercial purposes – restaurant, painting gallery and renovation of antique furniture.Design/methodology/approachThe author proposes a holistic approach based on aspects, to impact assessment of given heritage resources on the economic, social, cultural and environmental pillars of sustainable development and the sustainable use of heritage assets themselves. Above that, the approach proposes to use the assumptions of EMAS or ISO 14001 systems for assessment of environmental aspects in case of reused cultural heritage assets.FindingsThe test study showed that the proposed tool allows determining whether, how and to what extent the contemporary commercial function of a given element of immovable cultural heritage contributes to local sustainable development and whether and to what extent the cultural sustainability of a given cultural heritage is ensured.Research limitations/implicationsIn the proposed approach, very detailed quantitative data cannot be included because of the need to simplify the research.Practical implicationsThe proposed tool can be used by owners of reused historic buildings, local authorities, services responsible for the protection of cultural heritage and financing institutions to determine whether a given contemporary commercial function of cultural heritage resources contributes to local sustainable development in holistic approach and whether this function ensures the preservation of its cultural sustainability.Social implicationsThe use of the proposed tool will give the opportunity to take appropriate actions to increase the impact of historic objects on local sustainable development including social aspects. Moreover, it will be possible to increase the cultural sustainability of these objects.Originality/valueThere are not many studies and tools that provide a possibility to assess a holistic impact of reused cultural heritage on local sustainable development. Research usually concerns one or two pillars: social and economic. Above that, the study of the cultural appreciation in two different groups: direct users and the local community is a novelty in the perception of contribution to cultural development. It may contribute to the different way of measurement of appreciation of cultural heritage and its contribution to social and cultural development. In addition, to study the environmental pillar, the author proposes an approach used in environmental management (ISO 1400 and EMAS), i.e. the application of activities related to eliminating the potentially harmful impact of a new function of the historic resource on the natural environment.


Author(s):  
Silvia Aulet ◽  
Edgar Tarrés

Sánchez Sánchez and Fernández Herreira raise a reflection on the three dimensions of peace: form a personal dimension and the spiritual sphere, from a social dimension, and form an environmental-natural dimension. Tourism can play a fundamental role as a tool for establishing ties with oneself and with other people to contribute to the development of peace. In this chapter, authors propose to study the different dimensions of the concept of peace by studying the project of Trails for Peace, a project born as a non-profit social entrepreneurial project that integrates different routes around the world that have a special significance for their relationship with some conflict areas. Trails help travelers to know the natural areas and to build inner peace through various spiritual activities. The project helps to promote the welfare of people by involving local communities to foster contact between visitors and tourists and sustainable development. This chapter aims to analyse the impact the project has on the areas where these paths have been developed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 480 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amith Khandakar ◽  
Muhammad Enamul Hoque Chowdhury ◽  
Antonio Jr. San Pedro Gonzales ◽  
Farid Touati ◽  
Nasser Al Emadi ◽  
...  

This work presents a multi-course project-based learning (MPL) approach implemented using two electrical engineering (EE) interdisciplinary undergraduate courses at Qatar University. Implementing an MPL approach helps in the development of critical thinking and collaborative decision-making skills. The attainment of these skills is also the outcome of education for sustainable development (ESD); the skills help students acquire the knowledge, attitudes, and values necessary to shape a sustainable future. The participating students’ worked on a design project, which was used to assess the fulfillment of a set of student learning outcomes (SLOs), focusing on engineering soft skills and project management skills. The skills include the ability to communicate effectively, to work collaboratively in a team, to think both critically and creatively, and to manage projects efficiently with realistic constraints and standards. The challenges of implementing the MPL method are the organization of pedagogical activities that are planned for each of the courses involved, the coordination of the materials delivered by each course, and the supervision of around 90 students per year performing the MPL method. The experience of MPL deployment in the EE program was rated using student surveys. It was assumed that the MPL approach would be beneficial to the students based on the instructors’ and students’ feedback from the same courses in previous years. This was verified using chi-square statistics of the survey results. The implementation of the MPL also helped in increasing the average marks scored by the students in the design project. Some interesting feedback, statistical analyses, and improvement actions are reported for future upgrades. This work also contributes to the MPL pragmatic body of knowledge by exploring a successful initiative and its outcomes, which can help in attaining the skills needed for ESD.


Think India ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 972-978
Author(s):  
Manisha Jetly ◽  
Dr. Nandita Singh

Education for sustainable development (ESD) enjoys a huge momentum worldwide in which the role of teachers for making sustainable development goals a reality has been recognized significantly. Teachers through their knowledge, attitudes and skills can bring the learning about these concepts to the curriculum and class room interaction and are in a position to influence their students. Therefore it is pertinent, that teachers are sensitised towards these issues, so that they prepare and nurture their students for making appropriate and responsible choices which contribute to a sustainable future. At this juncture it becomes crucial to understand their priorities and awareness level in context of the sustainable development. The present research paper aims to analyse the perception of forty post graduate pre-service teachers of the Chandigarh region, towards ESD through the dimensions of economic sustainability, environmental sustainability, social sustainability and cultural sustainability. For this researchers have adopted qualitative content analysis methodology for an in-depth study of the subjective responses through an open ended question. The findings suggest that most of the respondents associated the perception of ESD strongly with environmental sustainability. It is noted that the pre-service teachers lack a holistic approach towards ESD. On the basis of the findings it is recommended that there is an urgent need of integrating the concept of ESD consciously and conscientiously in India’s teacher education programmes.


2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-55
Author(s):  
Bharat Prasad Badal

Development in this age of sustainable development is sustainable development itself and tourism development is sustainable development of tourism. The present paper investigates the development of tourism from the socio economic indicators of sustainable tourism of Bhaktapur. Bhaktapur is an open museum and central hub of Tourism. To explore the Economic dimension of Bhaktapur Sustainable Tourism Development through Employment that focuses Number, type and duration of jobs, Gender equity, Business viability, Expenditure, Arrivals, Profitability, and Satisfaction. And to analyze the Social dimension of Bhaktapur Sustainable Tourism Development through Quality of Life that focuses Resident Empowerment, Congestion and crowding, Community attitudes to tourism, Access to amenities, and Changes in crime rate, the study has been conducted. The primary information is based on multiple sources of societal learning like field visits in course of doing researches, observation of various sites, General Household Questionnaire Survey, focus on group discussions, interactive seminars and a number of interactions and interviews with the experts of tourism sector in Bhaktapur. General Household Questionnaire Survey of purposively selected cluster of Dattatraya Square area was conducted on 157 households. Among five clusters Dattatrya Square was purposely selected for the study. Actual spending and length of stay of foreign tourists have been increasing in Nepal. Altogether from socio economic perspective 13 programsare recommended from the study to the local government of Bhaktapur Dattatrya. It needs around265 lakhs and timeline is not more than one year. Five times of these 13 projects and 265 lakhs can double the visitors in coming years.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 3465
Author(s):  
Jordi Colomer ◽  
Dolors Cañabate ◽  
Brigita Stanikūnienė ◽  
Remigijus Bubnys

In the face of today’s global challenges, the practice and theory of contemporary education inevitably focuses on developing the competences that help individuals to find meaningfulness in their societal and professional life, to understand the impact of local actions on global processes and to enable them to solve real-life problems [...]


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 171-193
Author(s):  
Lucía Pintado Gutiérrez

AbstractThis article explores the agency of the student in translation in language teaching and learning (or TILT). The purpose of the case study discussed here is to gain an overview of students’ perceptions of translation into the foreign language (FL) (also known as “inverse translation”) following a module on language and translation, and to analyse whether there is any correlation between students’ attitude to translation, its impact on their language learning through effort invested, and the improvement of language skills. The results of the case study reveal translation to be a potentially exciting skill that can be central to FL learning and the analysis gives indications of how and why language teachers may optimise the implementation of translation in the classroom. The outcome of the study suggests that further research is needed on the impact of translation in the language classroom focussing on both teachers’ expectations and students’ achievements.


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