Education For Sustainable Development Research Articles

Challenges and Professional Support for Principals at Rural Schools for Sustainable Development

This study aims to explore the challenges faced by principals in rural schools in Taiwan and the professional support they require to improve leadership and school management. Utilizing focus group interviews, data was collected from 16 participants (7 women and 9 men), focusing on issues such as limited cultural capital, student retention, teacher shortages, poor student performance, and insufficient school funding. This research highlights the specific challenges of teacher retention, student mobility, and administrative burdens. The key professional support identified includes targeted professional development, curriculum inspection, parental engagement, and collaboration with colleagues and experienced principals. This study suggests that creating professional development communities, fostering collaborative networks, and increasing administrative support can significantly enhance rural school leadership and improve education quality. The findings offer practical insights for policymakers to tailor support systems to meet the unique needs of rural school principals in Taiwan, drawing on successful strategies from both local and international contexts to ensure sustainable educational leadership and development.

Sustainable development awareness and integration in higher education: a comparative analysis of universities in Central Asia, South Caucasus and the EU

Education for sustainable development in universities is shaping the agenda in this area, demanding continuous improvement in quality. There is a trend towards integrating sustainability issues and the implementation of sustainable development goals into higher education. Universities responsible for educating SD professionals must teach knowledge and develop skills in line with the SDGs. However, there is insufficient attention to this in educational programs; more often it is implemented through disparate initiatives. The article presents research conducted in universities in the countries of Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan), South Caucasus (Georgia, Armenia) and the European Union (Italy, Bulgaria, Poland). The awareness of students and teachers about the SDGs, the problems of implementing SD were assessed, and ways to solve these problems were analyzed. Countries were divided into clusters for comparative analysis. The results show that students generally have limited knowledge about the global sustainable development goals, while teachers have a higher level of awareness. The article examines the contribution of education to raising students' awareness in the countries studied and their attitudes towards integrating sustainability into the curriculum. The questionnaire showed that the educational intervention significantly influences students’ intention to engage in sustainability. Overall, students demonstrate positive attitudes towards incorporating sustainability issues into their education. The results of a study conducted in higher education institutions in Central Asia, South Caucasus and the European Union showed that students are generally unaware of the sustainable development goals, their information received through the Internet, media and university studies is insignificant, while teachers are better informed. Students and teachers expressed the greatest concern about environmental, social and economic problems. At the same time, students of engineering, technical and medical fields are more informed about the SDGs compared to pedagogical and socio-humanitarian fields. To increase awareness, universities are encouraged to integrate sustainability education into various disciplines, conduct seminars, round tables, promote student participation in projects and research, and promote international cooperation and knowledge sharing.

Research on interdisciplinary project-based geography fieldwork in education for sustainable development

<p>The ability to solve real-world problems for a sustainable future has become a worldwide consensus, and interdisciplinary competencies and project-based learning (PBL) have become the focus of curriculum reform in China. This study investigates the effectiveness of interdisciplinary PBL fieldwork in geography education for sustainable development, focusing on the perceptions of students from a junior high school in Chongming, Shanghai, of the interdisciplinary effectiveness of PBL fieldwork. Over a one-month pilot program, the results suggest that the new fieldwork approach did not achieve the expected benefits. The significant gains of students can be grouped into four perspectives, namely, understanding of nature and classroom knowledge; problem-solving skills and environmental action; scientific spirit, environmental awareness, and interest in geography; and understanding of local needs and sustainable development issues, which increased their interest in learning. The students generally accepted the ability to collect information and data and the thinking ability of circular development. The influencing factors of activity effectiveness include the time and difficulty of the activity, cognitive and knowledge levels, learning habits of students, student participation, and teaching experience of teachers. The study offers valuable insights for improving fieldwork in other regions and for future research.<strong></strong></p>

Parent-teacher partnerships to enhance education for sustainable development: Early childhood development education learning centres in Zimbabwe

Education is one of the fundamental tools necessary to achieve the global Sustainable Development Goals. In particular, Goal 4 advocates for quality education for all since it is important for all children to have a sound educational foundation. In this study, I focus on the second target of Sustainable Development Goal 4 that advocates for early childhood development and universal pre-primary education. The aim of this study was to explore how parent-teacher partnerships could be used to enhance education for sustainable development in early childhood development education learning centres in rural areas. The study was conducted in two primary schools in Bulilima district of Matabeleland, South province in Zimbabwe. The study called on Epstein's notion of parental engagement as the theoretical framework. A participatory action research methodological design was deemed suitable for this qualitative study because it allowed participants to have an opportunity to express their views in their natural settings. Data was generated by means of discussion meetings and reflections and Fairclough's (1992) critical discourse analysis was employed in its analysis. The findings, from early childhood development centres, highlight the importance of teacher-parent partnerships in promoting sustainable learning outcomes and children's well-being. Furthermore, it was found that such partnerships promote alignment between the school culture and the needs of communities and enhance communication and decision making as well as providing a basis for change in the parents' perceptions regarding early childhood development education. The study concluded that teachers and parents should work together at this level of education.

Embedding Sustainability across a Teacher Education Course: Teacher Educator Experiences

Abstract Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) remains an urgent priority to combat the numerous social, environmental and political crises prominent in the 21st century. This article shares the experiences of teacher educators who integrated ESD into discipline-specific units of study for pre-service teachers. Using a collaborative auto-ethnographic approach, we explore how curriculum change for ESD was navigated and discuss how institutional support was essential for providing legitimacy and necessary resources. Drawing on Noddings’ approach to ethics of care, we emphasise the significance of valuing the perspectives and experiences of stakeholders involved in curriculum change and advocate for inclusive and responsive approaches that engage individuals meaningfully throughout the process.

Exploring New Paths for the Internationalization of Vocational Colleges in the Era of Artificial Intelligence

This study analyzes the internationalization development changes of one vocational college in China over the past 10 years. Based on the new requirements and trends of vocational education in the era of artificial intelligence , effective suggestions are proposed for the internationalization development of vocational education from the aspects of establishing international consulting organizations, attracting international capital investment, learn from other vocational colleges, formulating international cooperation plans, building industry education integration communities, constructing international curriculum resource databases, shortening students' learning time in school, changing classroom learning modes, increasing online practical training time, and building international cooperation alliances. This study is expected to promote the improvement of vocational colleges in curriculum construction, teaching resources, learning modes, school enterprise cooperation, and platform construction, ultimately achieving sustainable development of vocational education.

Sustainable development in African countries: evidence from the impacts of education and poverty ratio

This paper uses the autoregressive-distributed lag model to investigate the effects of education, poverty, trade volume, ICT development, and GDP per capita on sustainability in the 15 largest African economies from 1999 to 2019. The results show a positive correlation between higher tertiary education rates and sustainability, emphasizing the importance of investing in education for sustainable development. In contrast, higher poverty rates are linked to lower sustainability, highlighting the need for poverty reduction efforts. Increased trade volumes are associated with reduced sustainability, indicating the challenges of trade liberalization policies in achieving sustainability goals. However, ICT development has a significant positive impact on sustainability. Interestingly, higher GDP per capita is linked to lower sustainability, potentially due to unsustainable consumption patterns and social inequalities. Policy recommendations for promoting sustainable development in African countries include targeted measures focusing on education and poverty reduction. Gender-friendly policies and initiatives to eliminate educational disparities, especially among marginalized groups, can enhance human capital development. Additionally, promoting e-businesses and sustainable entrepreneurship, along with attracting foreign investment for sustainable education and employment initiatives, can drive economic growth while minimizing environmental impact and fostering inclusive development.

Motivation, attitude, knowledge, and engagement towards the development of sustainability competencies among students of higher education: a predictive study

This quantitative research predictive study evaluates the roles of four variables in developing student sustainability competencies through a curricular intervention. We used the MAKE framework, i.e., (1) motivation, (2) attitude, (3) knowledge, and (4) engagement, to promote the sustainability competencies among students enrolled in four undergraduate courses during the semester of February to June 2022. We surveyed the students to determine the role of the MAKE framework variables in developing sustainability competencies. One hundred four students answered an online Google survey, which gathered the data we subsequently analyzed using IBM SPSS version 26 software. Linear regression statistical results confirmed that the four variables of MAKE have a significant correlation where motivation was highly associated with developing sustainability competencies of students. These findings can guide professors and university policymakers in implementing the MAKE framework to promote sustainable development education.

Recentring the Political in Education for Sustainable Development: Participatory Photovoice Research as Prefigurative Politics Towards Social-ecological Transformation

Abstract Based on the critique of education for sustainable development (ESD) as a socio-political control element of ecological modernisation, we discuss the prefigurative potential of participatory photovoice research in schools in light of social-ecological transformation. We argue that engaging students in prefigurative practices of change in which (sustainable) counter-futures are explored in the (unsustainable) present can help to re-politicise ESD, and we view photovoice as a way to guide this transformative process. Drawing on examples from a participatory research project on the transformation of local food systems in Graz, Austria, we critically explored photovoice as a method of transformative education that creates power-critical spaces of possible futures in which (un)sustainable hegemony and collectively internalised patterns of thought and action can be questioned to envision and negotiate liveable futures for all.

Integration of experiential learning and conversational framework in curriculum development – role of 4C’s and student engagement in rural management education

Purpose The purpose of the study is to enhance the quality of education in rural management through the inclusion of students’ voices, namely, active participation in the curriculum development intervention. This approach aims to foster critical thinking, collaboration, communication and creativity, thereby enhancing student engagement and in turn leading to quality education. Design/methodology/approach This methodology outlines an inductive approach using focus group discussions (FGD) and thematic analysis to explore and understand the constructs related to the impact of students’ voice on quality education. Curriculum development in rural management was used as an intervention to assess the impact of the inclusion of students’ voice. This study’s inductive approach and qualitative methods provide a rich understanding of students’ experiences and perspectives. Findings The findings from the FGD and thematic analysis provided insights into the inclusion of students’ voice in rural management curriculum development, an intervention that enhanced the 4C’s (collaboration, communication, creativity and critical thinking) of learning and student engagement. The emerging themes illustrated the intervention’s positive effects on quality education. Research limitations/implications This research extends the current knowledge by shedding light on integrating Kolb’s experiential learning theory with Laurillards’ conversational framework in achieving quality education in rural management which has not been extensively explored. Practical implications The paper underscores the importance of students’ voice in quality education. It provides a basis for policymakers to mandate that higher education institutions increase student engagement, thereby promoting quality education. Originality/value The findings contribute to the existing body of knowledge in the field of quality education (Sustainable Development Goal 4) in rural management. The results of our study provide a novel perspective on the experiential learning of students, which has practical implications and advances the understanding of quality education for sustainable development in business education.

Teachers’ Beliefs in Education for Sustainable Development and Senior Students’ Green Entrepreneurial Intentions in Xinjiang Autonomous Region, China: The Moderating Effect of Teachers’ Legacy Motivation and Digital Competence

Teachers’ beliefs are the main factors that promote students’ growth, and are related to students’ green entrepreneurship. Therefore, using 283 paired samples of teachers and senior students from 12 higher vocational schools in Xinjiang Autonomous Region, China, the relationship between teachers’ beliefs in education for sustainable development and vocational students’ green entrepreneurial intentions, as well as the facilitating effects of teachers’ legacy motivation and digital competence, were investigated. The results confirm for the first time that teachers’ sustainability beliefs are positively related to senior students’ green entrepreneurial intentions in Xinjiang Autonomous Region of China, that there is no facilitating effect of teachers’ legacy motivation, and that there is a facilitating effect of teachers’ digital competence. This suggests that senior students in Xinjiang Autonomous Region of China need not only teachers’ sustainability beliefs but also the combination with teachers’ overall competence to adequately facilitate the development of their green entrepreneurial intentions.

Beyond perception. Do pre-service geography teachers understand education for sustainable development?

Given the influence of teachers’ knowledge, perceptions, beliefs, and attitudes on their teaching and students’ learning, this study investigates the understanding regarding Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) among pre-service geography teachers in Vietnam. In-depth interviews were conducted with pre-service teachers from various teacher education institutions in Vietnam. The results show that, while the interviewees mentioned key dimensions of ESD including learning content, learning outcomes, and pedagogy, they primarily approached ESD from a normative and instrumental perspective. However, their understanding of ESD remains unclear, reflecting a lack of theory-based knowledge on the subject. The findings suggest a critical need for changes in teacher education to improve understanding of ESD in the Vietnamese context.

Trainee Teachers’ Shift towards Sustainable Actions in Their Daily Routine

The argument made in this study is that sustainability is a system of beliefs that extends beyond policy and the classroom to transform actions and societies into pro-sustainable behaviours. Therefore, it is crucial to equip trainee teachers to embrace their role as catalysts for change in driving Sustainable development goals, sustainable thinking, systems thinking, wise consumption, sustainable competencies, and sustainable action in their daily lives. The lack of practice-led research on incorporating Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) into trainee teachers’ training programmes is noted in the literature. This qualitative practice-led research explored trainee mathematics and technology teachers’ (TMTTs) experiences learning about sustainability. Kolb’s experiential theory framed this study theoretically. The data were collated from twenty purposively selected TMTTs via semi-structured interviews and reflective diaries. All ethical protocols were observed. The analysis highlighted the core experiences TMTTs gained in learning about sustainability, transformative learning, design thinking, wise consumption, agency, and sustainable teaching strategies. Theoretically, the findings emphasise the importance of using an ESD perspective and experiential learning methods to integrate sustainability education into mathematics and technology teaching. The results suggest that when TMTTs are encouraged to actively engage with sustainability issues in their communities, informed decisions are made about their future roles as teachers, the teaching strategies they intend to use, and the type of learning they aim to foster in their learners.

Implementing Education for Sustainable Development at High Schools: Lessons Learned from a Case of Teaching about Halogen-Containing Pesticides in Vietnam

Implementing Education for Sustainable Development at High Schools: Lessons Learned from a Case of Teaching about Halogen-Containing Pesticides in Vietnam

How can we improve AI competencies for tomorrow's leaders: Insights from multi-stakeholders’ interaction

This study investigates factors influencing artificial intelligence (AI) competencies in higher education for sustainable development using learning theories. Utilizing a mixed-method approach, it analyzes responses from 525 students and interviews with 35 faculty members from five Indian universities. The study employs confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modeling (CB-SEM) to explore relationships between various learning approaches and AI competencies. Findings indicate that collaborative learning, problem-solving, and cognitive competence significantly contribute to AI proficiency. Human-tool collaboration and self-learning also enhance students' understanding of AI concepts, fostering strategic decision-making in business contexts. Additionally, thematic analysis from qualitative interviews identifies critical themes for developing an AI curriculum framework, including curriculum design, pedagogical strategies, ethical considerations, and global perspectives. The research provides an integrated theoretical model and offers practical recommendations for enhancing AI education, emphasizing the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and ethical AI usage in management education.

The impact of education for sustainable development on university students’ sustainability behavior: a case study from undergraduate students in Somalia

Education plays a crucial role in moving towards a sustainable future. The United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development has advocated education for sustainable development (ESD) to promote global sustainability. UNESCO supports ESD as a way to provide society with the knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes needed for sustainable living. While considerable progress has been made in many developed countries, particularly in higher education institutions, and to some extent in developing countries, similar success has not been observed in Somalia’s higher education establishments. This study examined the influence of ESD on university students’ conduct in Somalia. Through cluster sampling, 251 students from SIMAD and Hormuud Universities in Mogadishu were chosen to participate by completing a questionnaire. The research revealed a significant positive connection between ESD and students’ behavior. The findings emphasize the importance of integrating ESD into higher education curricula to encourage cultural norms that endorse environmentally friendly practices. This investigation offers valuable insights for academics, policymakers, and businesses seeking to advance sustainability within educational settings and beyond.

The Evolution of Educating for Sustainable Development in East Asia: A Bibliometric Review, 1991–2023

This systematic review addressed the need for documentation and analysis of the scope and topical foci of research on education for sustainable development (ESD) in East Asia. The review used descriptive, content, and keyword co-occurrence analyses to synthesize features of 1915 Scopus-indexed journal articles published between 1991 and 2023. The authors found that research interest in ESD in East Asia has grown rapidly, accelerated by the pronouncement of the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development in 2005 and the Sustainability Agenda 2030 in 2015. Researchers in China, Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, and Thailand have been the leading contributors to this regional knowledge base. Consistent with global ESD reviews, content analysis revealed that this literature emerged from studies of environmental education and gradually expanded to include sociocultural, economic, and integrated perspectives on sustainability. Keyword co-occurrence analysis revealed three thematic clusters: Environmental Sustainability in Education, Social Sustainability in Education, and Teaching and Learning for Sustainability. Temporal co-word analysis highlighted the research front, which includes environmental research focusing on carbon/energy issues, technology-enhanced learning for sustainability, empirical research methods for studying ESD, and, to a lesser degree, studies of the economic pillar of sustainability in education. Recommendations are offered for future research.

A Study of the Significance of Vocational Education and Entrepreneurial Skill Generation in Sustainable Economic Development of India

Vocational and technical education are seen as essential components of the growth of the country. This is crucial to the continued development of the country. The general components of lifelong learning include attitudes, abilities, and knowledge. In India, Government’s emphasis and support to TVET and Startup Policies, has given many people who would otherwise face multiple challenges in their schooling access to employment and skills. India, in spite of being one of the fastest growing economies of the world, lags behind in terms of per capita income. Tapping its most vital resource, that is, the youth population by making them employable to meet the industry needs through vocational education and skill generation can act as a game changer for India. Thus, the main goals of this study are to draw attention to the importance of technical education, vocational training, and the development of entrepreneurial skills for the country's sustainable development in India through implementation of New Education Policy 2020 and several Government Policies.

Teaching Sustainability in Science Education: Pre-Service Science Teachers’ Perceptions of the Role of Indigenous Knowledge

Encouraging sustainability in science education demands a collaborative approach, involving the integration of diverse knowledge systems, including indigenous and formal scientific knowledge. Nevertheless, educators’ perceptions of these knowledge systems are crucial factors to consider. This study investigated the perceptions of pre-service science teachers about the role of indigenous knowledge in promoting sustainability science education. The study was conducted at the Department of Integrated Science Education University of Education Winneba, Ghana and predominantly adopted a qualitative approach. A sample size of 54 Level 300 undergraduate pre-service science teachers were purposively chosen. These pre-service teachers have engaged with the science curriculum and syllabus through on-campus peer teaching and are prepared to take their internships in the country’s various second-cycle institutions. Emphasis is laid on the teaching of science to promote education for sustainable development in these institutions. Data were collected through an online questionnaire comprising open- and closed-ended items. The closed-ended items were quantified and analysed for clearer inference whereas thematic analysis was employed for qualitative data. The findings of the study established pre-service teachers’ affirmation of the potential of indigenous knowledge in providing education for sustainability if integrated into the teaching of science. The study recommended targeted interventions including the integration of indigenous knowledge into pre-service science teachers’ curriculum, training programmes, workshops, courses and campaigns aimed at increasing awareness, fostering positive attitudes, and promoting understanding and appreciation of indigenous knowledge and its role in sustainability.

Sustainable financing solutions for the growth of resource-driven economies in the digital economy age

This study examines the effects of sustainable finance and digitalization on economic development in 15 resource-rich nations from 2000 to 2020, utilizing the ARDL-CCEMG technique. The results indicate that digitalization significantly boosts economic growth, with a 1% increase in ICT development leading to a 0.45% short-term and 0.32% long-term growth. Green finance positively impacts long-term growth, though short-term effects are minimal. Positive correlations are found between economic factors such as patent ownership, workforce size, investment, and fossil fuel consumption. The study highlights the need to expand and improve the green finance market to tackle sustainability challenges. Recommended strategies include enhancing green finance through digitalization, fostering sustainable development education, linking FDI to sustainability, improving fossil fuel efficiency via green technologies, and increasing private investment in renewable energy projects.