Education for sustainable development: A university perspective

Abstract

Universities have a number of functions in developing Education for Sustainable Development (ESD): conducting study/teaching process themselves, participation in the development of study materials for other fields of studies, involvement in the development of study methods, as well as a responsibility for Sustainable Development Science. An equally important role of universities in the ESD process is the “training of trainers”—preparation of new teachers, who are aware of the need to promote the sustainable development process, are equipped with a systemic understanding of processes in the society and natural world, and know the local culture and traditions. The Aichi-Nagoya Declaration on Education for Sustainable Development clearly defines tasks for universities in promoting ESD. Due consideration to the complexity and diversity of issues related to the implementation of ESD is extremely important for identifying priorities and actions by universities, so that the contribution of academic stakeholders in promoting the ESD process could be optimised. For universities, the priority action to promote ESD is their involvement in the development of an ESD-supporting educational system—a task to which the contribution of university actors can be most efficient. Another priority task is the development of study approaches and study materials to support the implementation of ESD in all study programmes at a university level. A further challenge concerns a new initiative aimed at strengthening the links between ESD and Science Education in order to promote the Education for Environmental Citizenship.