Exploring Attitudes towards Embedding Education for Sustainable Development in Curriculum Design

Abstract

This paper shares insights from the research conducted during the 2022-2023 Learning Design and Education for Sustainable Development Bootcamp. The Bootcamp was designed by the Association for Learning Design and Education for Sustainable Development (ADLESD) and delivered in collaboration with UNESCO International Institute for Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean (IESALC). The Bootcamp is supported by the CoDesignS ESD Framework and has been executed in collaboration with several prestigious institutions. The study aimed to identify any changes in attitudes towards embedding Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) into curriculum design following the Bootcamp. Using a validated survey that measured four attitude components - affective, perceived control, usefulness, and behavioural - significant variations were observed in the latter three components post-Bootcamp. This shows an increased perception of ESD's practical value, participant confidence in implementing it, and readiness to adjust behaviours to accommodate ESD principles. However, the affective component, or emotional response to ESD, remained largely unchanged, likely due to the Bootcamp participants' self-selection. Particularly notable was the boost in the perceived control element, possibly due to the clear pedagogical framework and toolkit provided during the Bootcamp. This improvement in the Control component and the overall positive impact of the Bootcamp are consistent with feedback obtained from participants in the final evaluation survey. These findings indicate that the Bootcamp and the use of the CoDesignS ESD Framework and Toolkit Planner significantly increased participants' willingness, confidence, and ability to integrate ESD into curriculum design effectively.