Incorporating Sustainability in Higher Chemistry Education in Indonesia through Green Chemistry: Inspirations by Inquiring the Practice in a German University

Abstract

Green chemistry is suggested as an important guide to allow the practice of chemistry to become more sustainable. In this study, a chemistry department at a German university is analyzed by an outside view to how it integrates the philosophy of green chemistry into its research and teaching practices to inform higher education institutions in Indonesia on how this issue could be approached. The study reveals that the level of understanding of green chemistry is largely varying among different stakeholders, however its principles are well integrated in both research and teaching. In addition, it became clear that today modern chemistry departments should operate a broader approach towards sustainability than just practicing green chemistry in laboratory practices. The vision is to highlight the importance of green chemistry and other corresponding practices to support education for sustainable development (ESD) in a broad sense. The integration of green chemistry to support the implementation of ESD in higher education can only be achieved by strong commitments from all groups involved, namely the head and administration of the department, researchers, and teachers. Although not all aspects that were observed during this study are suitable to be applied in the Indonesian context, some implications can be derived for reform in Indonesian higher chemistry education.