503,211 results on '"SUSTAINABILITY"'
Search Results
2. The Correlation between Dimensions of Sustainability Literacy: The Case of British and Turkish Students
- Author
-
Oguz Ozdemir
- Abstract
The acquisition of the competencies of sustainability literacy through education requires an understanding of how sustainability literacy is shaped. In this connection, in the current study, the interaction between the following dimensions of sustainability literacy was investigated; SA (sustainability attitude), SB (sustainability behavior) and SK (sustainability knowledge). The study was conducted as a survey study on university students in the UK and Turkey within the context of a project entitled "Ecological Literacy Education" and supported by TUBITAK (Turkish Scientific and Technological Research Organization). The participants (n:1023) of the study are students attending several departments of Plymouth University in the UK and Mugla Sitki Kocman University in Turkey. The data were collected by using the Scale of Sustainability Literacy and analyzed using AMOS version 24. Although it was understood that there were mutual and positive correlations between the dimensions of sustainability literacy, it was revealed that the correlations between some sub-dimensions of these dimensions showed variation. The results of the study are expected to contribute to revealing the interaction between the dimensions of sustainability literacy in more detail and accordingly to the effectiveness of sustainability education.
- Published
- 2024
3. Cultural Restoration Participatory Learning Process on Tha Poetry to Promote Environmental Sustainability Conservation of Ethnic Students, Chiang Mai Province
- Author
-
Teerawat Cheunduang, Charin Mangkhang, and Sawaeng Saenbutr
- Abstract
This research aims to: 1) synthesize knowledge regarding environmental management through the cultural introduction to Tha Poetry by the indigenous Pga K'nyau people in Chiang Mai province; 2) develop a manual for the cultural restoration participatory learning process to promote environmental sustainability conservation of ethnic students in Chiang Mai province; and 3) study the satisfaction towards the manual for the cultural restoration participatory learning process to promote environmental sustainability conservation of ethnic students in Chiang Mai province. This research is a Participatory Action Research (PAR) study. The samples used in the research consist of 1) a knowledge-providing group on Tha poetry, comprising 5 local Pga K'nyau scholars; 2) a manual assessment group consisting of 5 Pga K'nyau environmental knowledge experts; and 3) a trial group for the learning process, comprising 30 Pga K'nyau ethnic student teachers. The tools used in the research include 1) unstructured interviews; 2) a manual quality assessment form for Tha poetry of Pga K'nyau to promote environmental conservation; and 3) a satisfaction questionnaire. The qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis, and the quantitative data were analyzed by finding the mean and standard deviation. The research found that: 1) The synthesis of knowledge concerning environmental management through the cultural introduction on Tha Poetry among the indigenous Pga K'nyau people in Chiang Mai province revealed that Tha serves as a poetic introduction reflecting the life and existence of the Pga K'nyau. "Tha" holds significance for everyone, acting as a medium for transmitting knowledge and wisdom. It is a poetic introduction that melds life, experiences, teachings, and memories from the older generation, being recited in every ceremony from weddings, pre-marital counseling, gender role socialization, New Year celebrations, guest receptions, blessings requests, illnesses, to funerals. The content of Tha thus encapsulates the relationships between individuals, between humans and nature, and between humans and supernatural forces. The Pga K'nyau people emphasize environmental conservation, believing that nature has local deities who protect and look after the area. Furthermore, there's a tradition of transmitting knowledge through Tha Poetry for environmental conservation to achieve sustainability. This document has been created to revive the knowledge embedded in the cultural introduction of Tha, a heritage of wisdom passed down through generations, for the training and education of descendants, delving deeply into the conservation of natural resources and the environment. This ensures that individuals studying this will gain understanding from the teachings of the Pga K'nyau community. Currently, the practice of reciting Tha Poetry has been diminished, necessitating adaptation and conservation to preserve Tha in the culture of the Pga K'nyau people. 2) The development of a manual for the cultural restoration participatory learning process on Tha Poetry to promote environmental sustainability conservation of ethnic students in Chiang Mai province revealed that the manual comprises the meaning of Tha, Tha poetry sections for promoting environmental conservation through synthesis, and activity sheets for learning Tha poetry to promote the environmental sustainability conservation. The manual has a highly appropriate learning standard level. 3) The study on satisfaction towards the manual for the cultural restoration participatory learning process on Tha Poetry to promote environmental sustainability conservation of ethnic students in Chiang Mai province found that the majority of the students expressed satisfaction towards the manual, indicating that it is clear and highly beneficial for learning, rating it from high to the highest level.
- Published
- 2024
4. Development of Recycling Attitude Scale
- Author
-
Mustafa Derman, Seyda Gül, and Mehmet Erkol
- Abstract
The aim of this research is to develop a scale for determining pre-service teachers' attitudes towards recycling. The research was carried out using a quantitative research design. The research was carried out in the education faculties of two state universities located in the east and west of Türkiye. 284 pre-service teachers (62 males, 222 females) who were selected by the easily accessible sampling method participated in the research. During the scale development process, an item pool consisting of 56 statements was created. The draft scale, which was prepared after the expert opinion, was applied to the pre-service teachers. After validity and reliability analysis, three factors with 32 items were obtained, which explained 42.456% of the total variance. The factors were named "Responsibility and Behavior," "Consciousness and Awareness," and "Economic Value", respectively. The Cronbach"s Alpha coefficient was calculated as 0.893 for the "Responsibility and Behavior" factor, 0.785 for the "Consciousness and Awareness" factor, and 0.801 for the "Economic Value" factor. In addition, Cronbach's Alpha was calculated as 0.884 for the overall scale. According to the findings, it can be said that this scale developed in the research is sufficient in terms of validity and reliability. However, in future studies, similar scales with confirmatory factor analysis can be developed and applied to large samples to examine participants' attitudes toward recycling.
- Published
- 2024
5. Pivoting from Problems to Possibilities in Response to Dual Pandemics
- Author
-
Jarrod E. Druery, Melissa M. Jones, and Brandelyn Tosolt
- Abstract
The year 2020 brought not only the COVID-19 pandemic but also a wave of racial injustice, which impacted many in the U.S. and beyond. Combined, these phenomena have been characterized as dual pandemics, which introduced new demands that forced faculty to redesign aspects of their doctoral programs to ensure sustainability during the pandemic and post-pandemic era. The purpose of this essay is to highlight changes we made to sustain our EdD program during and post dual pandemics. We achieve this by employing Ginwright's (2022) four pivots and brown's (2017) emergent leadership as a framework and to conceptualize how we transitioned from viewing the events of 2020 as problems to embracing the possibilities they offered for the present and future of our EdD program. Practical implications and recommendations for this work are discussed to offer EdD faculty ways to design, develop, and sustain their doctoral programs in the post-pandemic era.
- Published
- 2024
6. Environmental Literacy, Sustainable Education and Posthumanist Pedagogy: Teaching the Climate Crisis in a Global, Transatlantic Online Setting
- Author
-
Laurenz Volkmann and Hedwig Fraunhofer
- Abstract
In this article, we aim to contribute to the theoretical conceptualisation and praxis of development education and global learning by engaging with recent discussions in the areas of ecocriticism, ecological literacy and posthumanism. Employing a pedagogical approach that is learner-centred and participatory, and that prepares learners to question dominant, globally relevant social norms, development education and global learning empower learners to be active global citizens. In congruence with this approach, we discuss the transformative pedagogical strategies employed in an innovative transdisciplinary course on the climate crisis jointly offered online by two institutions of higher learning in the US and Germany. We explore the philosophical and pedagogical stakes of this process-oriented, inquiry-based and immersive teaching intervention, and its logistical and organisational parameters, educational goals, course content and methodology, as well as some course specifics and impact. Adopting a critical pedagogical approach to climate change as a central global issue, our conceptualisation blends a focus on critical media skills (ecocriticism) with a posthumanist critique of dominant anthropocentric views of the more-than-human world. Centrally linking ontological, cultural and linguistic diversity in both curriculum design and pedagogy, this approach encourages learners to develop the transcultural skills needed to effect positive change on a local and global scale.
- Published
- 2023
7. Teachers and Tutors Together: Reimagining Literacy Instruction in Oakland
- Author
-
Arizona State University (ASU), Center on Reinventing Public Education (CRPE), Ashley Jochim, Eupha Jeanne Daramola, and Morgan Polikof
- Abstract
Concern about the state of literacy instruction in America's classrooms has recently exploded. As a result, policymakers, school system leaders, and teachers have increasingly sought to remake how children learn to read in order to improve literacy outcomes--a pursuit that has gained heightened urgency in the aftermath of the pandemic. This work, often referred to as the "science of reading," has taken many shapes, but all emphasize the use of phonics-based instruction and early intervention to improve early readers' foundational literacy skills. This report considers Oakland Unified School District's (OUSD) efforts to reimagine early literacy instruction to improve student outcomes and close gaps between historically marginalized students and their peers. This report presents findings from an in-depth look at early literacy tutoring in OUSD. This report sets out to understand the key features of the literacy tutoring program in practice, to examine the school- and districtwide conditions that shaped its efficacy and sustainability, and to explore how tutoring shaped students' literacy outcomes. Conclusions are based on a mixed-method study that included interviews with school and partner staff, a survey of literacy tutors, and and analysis of data on students' literacy outcomes. [This project was made possible by the generous support from The Oakland REACH.]
- Published
- 2023
8. Teaching, Reinvented: How Unconventional Educator Roles Pave the Way for a More Fulfilling and Sustainable Profession
- Author
-
Arizona State University (ASU), Center on Reinventing Public Education (CRPE) and Steven Weiner
- Abstract
As school systems struggle to recover from years of disruption, new programs, policies, and nontraditional organizations that support innovation in the teaching role will need to grow to support all students' learning. But what is it like to teach in new ways? What are the advantages and drawbacks? What brought educators to these unconventional roles and what might help them stay? This report addresses these questions through interviews with teachers who are serving in unconventional roles. Key findings include: (1) Across different contexts and instructional approaches, educators liked these unconventional roles; (2) The appeal came from increased autonomy and deeper personal connections, which cultivated a sense of ownership and investment; (3) There were downsides: autonomy could be isolating, collaboration could be tricky to get right, and innovation often meant more responsibility and less guidance from leadership; and (4) Educators expressed uncertainty about the sustainability of their unconventional roles, and many did not see themselves staying in the role for more than a few years.
- Published
- 2023
9. Academic Research and Development. Science & Engineering Indicators 2024. NSB-2023-26
- Author
-
National Science Board (NSB) (NSF), National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES) (NSF), Falkenheim, Jaquelina C., and Alexander, Jeffrey M.
- Abstract
This report presents an overview of research and development (R&D) in science and engineering (S&E) fields performed at institutions of higher education in the United States, including historical trends and recent patterns. The report first examines the financing and performance of R&D at universities based on patterns in funding and spending, then discusses the physical infrastructure required to enable and sustain academic R&D. The final section addresses the human resources engaged in academic R&D, particularly the graduate students and postdoctoral researchers (postdocs) who perform academic R&D under the supervision of faculty and full-time research personnel. [For "Academic Research and Development. Science & Engineering Indicators 2022. NSB-2021-3," see ED615448.]
- Published
- 2023
10. Perceptions of Entrepreneurial Universities in China: A Triangulated Analysis
- Author
-
Jun-hua Zhu and Rui Yang
- Abstract
Following the West, China exhibits a proactive attitude and conservative actions to developing entrepreneurial universities. This article deconstructs such a paradoxical approach by analysing the scholarly literature, policy discourses, and empirical data and their various perceptions of entrepreneurial universities in the Greater Bay Area (GBA). We conducted 71 interviews in four case universities to obtain empirical data for triangulation with the literature and policies. Our main research findings include the following: (1) there is a desire to introduce the concept of entrepreneurial universities from the West, along with their characteristics and aims; (2) China's policy discourse of excellence and pragmatism affects entrepreneurship education and technology transfer; and (3) an emerging identity of entrepreneurial universities is constrained by attitudes and barriers at the institutional level. China's perceptions and practices reflect a lack of sustainability of and fragmented approach to developing entrepreneurial universities, with strong implications for establishing entrepreneurial universities elsewhere.
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
11. Research Data Management Sustainability: Services, Infrastructure, Accountability, and Planning
- Author
-
Tina M. Griffin and Margaret Janz
- Abstract
Libraries at academic institutions have been involved in research data management services (RDMS) for more than ten years. Institutions have adapted their service models in response to funder, journal, and federal mandates that have consequently increased RDMS demand. However, institutions that hope to start or grow their services may have difficulty extrapolating from thepublished literature, as few studies recount RDMS development strategies.
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
12. A Geopolitics of Knowledge Analysis of Higher Education Internationalisation in Kazakhstan
- Author
-
Munyaradzi Hwami
- Abstract
This critical interpretive paper deploys Walter Mignolo's geopolitics of knowledge concept to examine higher education internationalisation in Kazakhstan. Amidst growing concerns about economic and environmental sustainability, elitism and cognitive justice, among other critical issues, internationalisation remains a vital government policy. By tracing Kazakhstan's development since independence from the Soviet Union and focusing on key higher education development policy frameworks, the paper argues and illustrates that: (1) the internationalisation of higher education in Kazakhstan promotes a specific representation of the world that is considered universal and modern; (2) the internationalisation of higher education in Kazakhstan illustrates the existing hierarchical global higher education system that is dominated by the West as centres of knowledge and learning while allocating other countries peripheral roles; and (3) the geopolitics of knowledge concept enables the reading of higher education internationalisation beyond what is knowledge to who, why and where knowledge is produced. The data for this paper came from a qualitative study that involved 15 semi-structured interviews with graduates who studied abroad at Western universities through the government-sponsored Bolashak Scholarship. Three focus group sessions with 21 graduate students at Nazarbayev University complemented the interviews. The qualitative data suggest that Mignolo's geopolitics of knowledge offers a close-to-perfect description of the internationalisation of higher education in Kazakhstan. The conclusion drawn from this post-Soviet study is the universalisation of Western knowledge as nations utilise it for meaningful development, despite decolonial and cognitive justice concerns.
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
13. Engaging the College Community in Guided Pathways Reforms: Advice from Project Leaders at AACC Pathways Colleges. Research Brief
- Author
-
Columbia University, Community College Research Center (CCRC) and Hana Lahr
- Abstract
In 2015, the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) announced the AACC Pathways Project, a national initiative designed to support a cohort of community colleges to implement and scale whole-college guided pathways reforms. Thirty community colleges from 17 states were selected for the project and embraced the challenge of redesigning the student experience at scale. Over the course of the project, which ended in spring 2022, the participating colleges focused on implementing and scaling practices within the four practice areas of the guided pathways framework: (1) mapping pathways to students' end goals, (2) helping students choose and enter a program, (3) keeping students on a path, and (4) ensuring that students are learning. Leaders who were involved in planning, overseeing, or coordinating guided pathways reforms at these colleges were interviewed about their experiences in the spring and summer of 2022. Much of what they described concerned: (1) how to facilitate commitment to and engagement in implementing whole-college reforms at the start of the work and (2) how to sustain momentum in the work over several years. Fostering a sense of urgency, creating cross-functional planning and implementation teams, and developing and supporting reform leaders across all levels of the college emerged as critical aspects of the change management process during the interview sessions. Based on their own experiences, the advice these leaders offer--described in this brief--provides a useful way to think about critical elements of the change management process for implementing guided pathways reforms. This research brief is a companion to the report, "Innovating at Scale: Guided Pathways Adoption and Early Student Momentum among the AACC Pathways Colleges."
- Published
- 2023
14. Supporting LGBTQI+ Students Experiencing Homelessness: Spotlight on ARP-HCY Funding for Implementation
- Author
-
National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE)
- Abstract
In March, 2021, President Biden signed into law the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP), within the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) fund to address the specific and urgent needs of children and youth experiencing homelessness. U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona emphasized that services provided under the ARP-HCY program should specifically include children and youth experiencing homelessness who are members of historically underserved populations, including LGBTQI+ youth. This National Center for Homeless Education brief: (1) illustrates the critical need to provide wraparound supports for LGBTQI+1 youth at risk of or experiencing homelessness; (2) spotlights how one local educational agency (LEA) is using American Rescue Plan Act-Homeless Children and Youth (ARP-HCY) funding to support LGBTQI+ youth at risk of or experiencing homelessness; and (3) explores promising practices for expanding LEA capacity to meet the needs of LGBTQI+ youth at risk of or experiencing homelessness.
- Published
- 2023
15. The District's Role in Community School Development
- Author
-
Stanford University, Policy Analysis for California Education (PACE), Fehrer, Kendra, Myung, Jeannie, and Kimner, Hayin
- Abstract
California is prioritizing equity in education post-COVID-19 by investing in community schools. Districts have an important leadership responsibility to develop the conditions, capacities, and resources for effective, sustainable community schools. Specifically, districts must strengthen system-level supports and infrastructure to ensure sustainable resources, shared governance, robust and usable data systems, and organizational learning and improvement. The district can also support community school coordinators, strengthen data access and sharing, identify and celebrate successful school-site practices, and scale innovations. By taking a cohesive, districtwide approach to community school implementation and sustainability, district leaders can help ensure the success of community school transformation in their districts. [This brief was created with Community Schools Learning Exchange.]
- Published
- 2023
16. The Influence of Professional Attitude, Welfare, Self-Sustaining Development, and Job Satisfaction on Teacher Performance
- Author
-
Murwaningsih, Tri and Fauziah, Muna
- Abstract
This study aims to identify: (1) The effect of teacher welfare, self-sustaining development, job satisfaction, and teacher performance on the teaching professional attitude; (2) The effect of teacher welfare on self-development, job satisfaction, and teacher performance; (3) The effect of self-sustaining development on the professional attitude, welfare, job satisfaction, and teacher performance of teachers; and (4) The effect of teacher job satisfaction on teaching performance. This study was quantitative research with a correlational type. The sample was 155 vocational high school teachers in Central Java, Indonesia. Data was collected through a questionnaire technique. The data analysis technique used structural equation modeling with the linear structural relationship type. The study revealed that the teacher's professional attitude has an effect on teacher welfare but not on self-development, job satisfaction, or teacher performance. Teacher welfare has an effect on independent development but has no effect on teacher performance. Hence, independent development does not affect job satisfaction but affects teacher performance. Furthermore, job satisfaction has no effect on teacher performance. These findings can be used as study material for future researchers to analyze the research variables or other variables, such as leadership style, work motivation, work discipline, and others.
- Published
- 2023
17. Principal Pipeline Sustainability Guide
- Author
-
Policy Studies Associates, Inc., Anderson, Leslie M., Worley, Sean, Eleusizov, Aiesha, and Turnbull, Brenda J.
- Abstract
Sustainability is the theme of this guide: how to ensure that what starts as an initiative to build an effective principal pipeline becomes a system with the staying power to function well and produce benefits for years to come. Sustaining a pipeline requires attending to the following six elements--as defined by the authors based on research and practitioners' ideas--and this guide offers a framework for addressing them through self-study and planning: (1) Financial planning; (2) Partnerships; (3) Stakeholder involvement; (4) District policies and procedures; (5) Continuous improvement and evaluation; and (6) Communications. The guide describes each element and suggests discussion questions and local evidence for district teams to consider in assessing how well their district is currently addressing the element. A template at the end of the guide allows districts to identify sustainability elements they want to strengthen and to make a plan for the sustainability work they want to prioritize. The guide also includes a financial planning template that districts can use to account for the "soft" and "hard" funding sources available to support both the one-time and ongoing costs of the pipeline. That template also guides districts in assessing their pipeline's vulnerability to financial trouble based on the district's financial plan.
- Published
- 2023
18. Adapting, Innovating, and Scaling Foundational Learning: Four Lessons from Scaling Teaching at the Right Level in Botswana. Executive Summary
- Author
-
Brookings Institution, Center for Universal Education, Molly Curtiss Wyss, Ghulam Omar Qargha, Gabrielle Arenge, Tendekai Mukoyi, Maya Elliott, Moitshepi Matsheng, and Karen Clune
- Abstract
Millions Learning, a project of the Center for Universal Education (CUE) at the Brookings Institution, explores scaling and sustaining effective innovations leading to improved system-wide approaches. CUE is implementing a series of Real-time Scaling Labs (RTSLs), in partnership with local institutions in several countries, to generate evidence and provide practical recommendations around the process of scaling in global education. CUE, in partnership with Youth Impact, launched an RTSL in Botswana focused on the process of implementing, adapting, scaling, and sustaining the Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) approach in primary schools across the country. The case of TaRL in Botswana offers a rich example of how an innovation developed and refined in one context can be adapted to and strategically expanded in a new location by a local organization in partnership with the government. While TaRL's scaling journey in Botswana is still unfolding, the case provides an opportunity to investigate key facilitating factors, decisions, and barriers that have contributed to and constrained the scaling process to date. This summary, and the report it draws from, explores four key lessons that have emerged from the work of scaling TaRL in Botswana.
- Published
- 2023
19. Infusing Sustainability in Secondary School Economics Education
- Author
-
Mizzi, Emanuel
- Abstract
This research article discusses the theme of the infusion of sustainability in school economics. It stems from the researcher's study that explores teaching and learning in secondary school economics in Malta. The underlying conceptual framework for this study is critical realism, which offers an understanding of the world that is real, but which may be differently experienced and interpreted by different observers (Alderson, 2021; Bhaskar, 1979; Fletcher, 2017). This paper draws upon observation sessions and interviews with fourteen economics teachers. The researcher used thematic analysis to analyze data (Braun & Clarke, 2006) with the help of Nvivo software. The participants regarded education for sustainable development as a prominent theme. Furthermore, they educated their students to reflect on how their choices affected not only themselves but also others and cultivated an awareness of social justice in them. The considerations raised by this paper can assist teachers, teacher educators, and researchers in their reflections and efforts relating to enhancing the sustainability dimension in school economics education and other subjects.
- Published
- 2023
20. GMAC Prospective Students Survey. 2023 Summary Report
- Author
-
Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC)
- Abstract
For more than a decade, the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) Prospective Students Survey (PSS) has provided the world's graduate business schools with critical insights into the decision-making processes of people currently considering applying to a graduate management education (GME) program. Its questions--covering a diverse range of topics that impact prospective students' application and enrollment decisions--provide school professionals with timely, relevant, and reliable market intelligence to inform how they engage with candidates to build their incoming classes. This year's summary report, which considers data collected in the 2022 calendar year, continues to explore trends in the candidate pipeline, program preferences, and career goals. It also focuses on new questions added to this year's survey about first-generation candidates, motivations for pursuing GME, and social issues like sustainability and corporate social responsibility. The report then considers the longevity of trends in online and hybrid education and candidate mobility brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. [Contributors of the report include: Andrew Walker, Alexandria Williams, Nicola Rampino, Quan Yuan, Kun Yuan, and Sabrina White. For the related report, "GMAC Prospective Students Survey. 2023 Deans Summary," see ED630799. For the 2022 report, see ED623211.]
- Published
- 2023
21. Toward Climate-Smart Education Systems: A 7-Dimension Framework for Action
- Author
-
Global Partnership for Education (GPE) and Harper, Renata
- Abstract
As governments try to navigate education system reform amid an increasingly uncertain future, it has become urgent to articulate how they can better maximize the co-benefits of efforts to build climate resilience, advance environmental sustainability and achieve quality education for all. This paper proposes a seven-dimension framework to leverage potential entry points and address gaps within national education systems to strengthen the resilience and relevance of education to climate change and environmental degradation. [For the background paper, "Quality Education with the Planet in Mind: Towards a Climate-Responsive and Nature-Positive Framework for the Education System of Lower-Income Countries," see ED631325.]
- Published
- 2023
22. Innovative Uses of Federal Relief Funds for K-12. Policy Guide
- Author
-
Education Commission of the States (ECS), Duncombe, Chris, and Syverson, Eric
- Abstract
Innovation in education is vital for responding to emerging challenges, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, and for building progress on longstanding challenges in schools. The infusion of substantial, highly flexible pots of federal relief dollars created an opportunity to pilot new programs and initiatives. Many states and districts opted to invest resources in traditional K-12 expenses, such as increasing staff capacity or updating facilities. However, states are also using the funds to spark new initiatives that otherwise may not have been possible and can be replicated across the country. This Policy Guide presents six strategies along with state examples to assist in planning, designing, implementing, and sustaining innovative services and programs. In addition to these strategies, other researchers have developed models for change that put forward other unique approaches, such as allowing for locally driven variation, providing human capital support for ongoing technical assistance and tolerating small-scale risk. The end goal of using these approaches is to design innovative policies that endure and improve long-term student outcomes.
- Published
- 2023
23. Adapting, Innovating, and Scaling Foundational Learning: Four Lessons from Scaling Teaching at the Right Level in Botswana
- Author
-
Brookings Institution, Center for Universal Education, Molly Curtiss Wyss, Ghulam Omar Qargha, Gabrielle Arenge, Tendekai Mukoyi, Maya Elliott, Moitshepi Matsheng, and Karen Clune
- Abstract
Millions Learning, a project of the Center for Universal Education (CUE) at the Brookings Institution, explores scaling and sustaining effective innovations leading to improved system-wide approaches. CUE is implementing a series of Real-time Scaling Labs (RTSLs), in partnership with local institutions in several countries, to generate evidence and provide practical recommendations around the process of scaling in global education. CUE, in partnership with Youth Impact, launched an RTSL in Botswana focused on the process of implementing, adapting, scaling, and sustaining the Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) approach in primary schools across the country. The case of TaRL in Botswana offers a rich example of how an innovation developed and refined in one context can be adapted to and strategically expanded in a new location by a local organization in partnership with the government. While TaRL's scaling journey in Botswana is still unfolding, the case provides an opportunity to investigate key facilitating factors, decisions, and barriers that have contributed to and constrained the scaling process to date.
- Published
- 2023
24. Teaching Climate Change to Children: Literacy Pedagogy That Cultivates Sustainable Futures. Language and Literacy Series
- Author
-
Rebecca Woodard, Kristine M. Schutz, Rebecca Woodard, and Kristine M. Schutz
- Abstract
"Teaching Climate Change to Children" describes the journey of two literacy researchers to learn about climate change and support relevant literacy pedagogy for young children (pre-K-6). The authors argue that climate change and social justice are inextricable from each other; that children in the younger grades are capable of learning about climate change; and that reading, writing, and language study is well-suited to this work. Three anchoring themes are offered to support literacy-based climate pedagogy--interconnectivity, relationality, and action--with rich classroom examples and different entry points to engage with these themes, either by "starting small" or "going big." The text includes chapters on the importance of taking an emotionally affirming stance and on the potential of incorporating arts-based methods. With love for the Earth and one another at its core, this accessible book takes a broad view of what it means to cultivate sustainable futures for our planet, for teachers, and for children in today's schools. Book Features: (1) A unique focus on teaching about climate change to young children, as opposed to adolescents; (2) Insights drawn from a year-long teacher inquiry group with classroom teachers and from literacy methods courses with preservice teachers; (3) Explicit attention to the importance of humanizing and care-based practices in literacy-based climate pedagogy; (4) Classroom examples collected across four urban public schools where teachers used the activities and resources discussed in the book; and (5) User-friendly textboxes with suggestions and questions to guide discussion, reflection, and action.
- Published
- 2024
25. Sustainability Education and Community Development in Higher Education Using Participatory and Case Based Approaches in India
- Author
-
Souresh Cornet, Saswat Barpanda, Marc-Antoine Diego Guidi, and P. K. Viswanathan
- Abstract
Purpose: This study aims at understanding how higher education institutions (HEIs) can contribute to sustainable development, by designing their programmes for bringing about a transformative impact on communities and students, and also to examine what alternative pedagogical approaches could be used for that. In the past decades, HEIs have increasingly created social innovation (SI) programmes, as a way to achieve United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. These community-oriented and field-based programmes are difficult to ally with conventional classroom education. This study explores how these programmes could integrate the participatory approach and what would be the benefits. It also investigates the effectiveness of the experiential learning approach for teaching sustainability. Design/methodology/approach: A case study method is used to document SI projects initiated by an HEI programme in rural India. Findings: It was found that the participatory approach contributes to empowering communities and also benefits the students in terms of academic, professional and personal growth. Empirical findings show that experiential learning is an efficient method to teach sustainability. Ultimately, both pedagogical approaches are found to be mutually beneficial. Originality/value: This study fills a gap in the literature, by providing empirical evidence on how HEI can implement innovative educational strategies such as participatory approach and experiential learning in their programmes towards teaching sustainability. A conceptual model for HEI interested in developing similar programmes is also proposed. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this study is one of the first studies focusing on the context of Indian HEI.
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
26. HBCU: The Power of Historically Black Colleges and Universities
- Author
-
Marybeth Gasman, Levon T. Esters, Marybeth Gasman, and Levon T. Esters
- Abstract
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) play a pivotal role in promoting social and economic mobility for African Americans and in mentoring the next generation of Black leaders. In "HBCU," Marybeth Gasman and Levon T. Esters explore the remarkable impact and contributions of these significant institutions. Through inspiring personal stories and extensive research, Gasman and Esters showcase how HBCUs have mentored generations of leaders and scholars, fostering a collaborative culture of success and empowerment. These schools shape and propel Black students into leadership and intellectual roles where they have a major impact on medicine, literature, law, higher education, art, sports, and business. HBCUs also have a profound impact on local communities and economic development that extends far beyond the classroom. This book sheds light on the unique cultures and identities nurtured within HBCUs while emphasizing the importance of philanthropic support and alumni engagement in maintaining these important institutions. Despite their positive contributions to society, HBCUs face specific challenges like securing adequate funding and support, small endowments, and accreditation. Gasman and Esters sound a compelling call to action and outline practical steps for sustaining HBCUs' invaluable legacy.
- Published
- 2024
27. Music Education, Ecopolitical Professionalism, and Public Pedagogy: Towards Systems Transformation. SpringerBriefs in Education
- Author
-
Margaret S. Barrett, Heidi M. Westerlund, Margaret S. Barrett, and Heidi M. Westerlund
- Abstract
This book challenges the dominant expertise professionalism rationale for music education by responding to the call to develop 'ecological awareness' at a time when all professions have a moral obligation to place sustainable and interdependent life at the center. The book aims to expand music education's professional horizons to acknowledge the responsibility of the music field to contribute to the demands of complex questions of sustainability and identify the ways in which sustainable music education may be strengthened through an activist relational ecological stance. It suggests a radical moral turn by asking: What if music education is recognised as part of the problem of sustaining unsustainability? and What if music teacher education was developed in and through dialogue with a futures perspective? These questions are interrogated through a critical analysis of the historical positioning of music in education and an interdisciplinary application of theories of ecology and professionalism.
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
28. Sustainable Peace Building Education: Strategies Used by Ghana's National Peace Council
- Author
-
Ronald Kondor, Eric Agyemang, John Boulard Forkuor, and Douglas Attoh Odongo
- Abstract
African countries experience a lot of recurring conflicts because the underlying causes of most conflicts on the continent have either been unresolved or tackled at the surface level. This situation leads to the loss of lives and property. Ghana's National Peace Council (NPC) is one of the existing peace infrastructures whose mandate is to educate the public on peace and conflict management. However, there is a paucity of literature on how this peace council educates the Ghanaian population on peacebuilding. The study, therefore, sought to uncover strategies employed by Ghana's NPC in educating the public on peacebuilding. Data was gathered through interviews and focused group discussions with participants who work with the NPC. The study also relied on secondary data, which consisted of recordings of peace education programmes through mass media such as TV and radio. The findings revealed that two main strategies are employed by the NPC of Ghana, namely, the use of media platforms (TV and radio) and socio-entertaining strategies. In addition to traditional media, this study argues that the NPC should utilise modern media, such as social media and the Internet, for peace education. If utilised, these two media forms would reach a much larger audience and could be used to prevent conflict in Ghana.social medi
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
29. ChatGPT for Educational Purposes: Investigating the Impact of Knowledge Management Factors on Student Satisfaction and Continuous Usage
- Author
-
Thi Thuy An Ngo, Thanh Tu Tran, Gia Khuong An, and Phuong Thy Nguyen
- Abstract
The growing prevalence of advanced generative artificial intelligence chatbots, such as ChatGPT, in the educational sector has raised considerable interest in understanding their impact on student knowledge and exploring effective and sustainable implementation strategies. This research investigates the influence of knowledge management factors on the continuous usage of ChatGPT for educational purposes while concurrently evaluating student satisfaction with its use in learning. Using a quantitative approach, a structured questionnaire was administered to 513 Vietnamese university students via Google Forms for data collection. The partial least squares structural equation modeling statistical technique was employed to examine the relationships between identified factors and evaluate the research model. The results provided strong support for several hypotheses, revealing significant positive effects of expectation confirmation on perceived usefulness and satisfaction, as well as perceived usefulness on user satisfaction and continuous usage of ChatGPT. These findings suggest that when students recognize the usefulness of ChatGPT for their learnings, they experience higher satisfaction and are more likely to continue using it. In addition, knowledge acquisition significantly impacts both satisfaction and continuous usage of ChatGPT, while knowledge sharing and application influence satisfaction exclusively. This indicates that students prioritize knowledge acquisition over sharing and applying knowledge through ChatGPT. The study has theoretical and practical implications for ChatGPT developers, educators, and future research. Theoretically, it contributes to understanding satisfaction and continuous usage in educational settings, utilizing the expectation confirmation model and integrating knowledge management factors. Practically, it provides insights into comprehension and suggestions for enhancing user satisfaction and continuous usage of ChatGPT in education.
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
30. 'It's All about Context': Building School Capacity to Implement a Whole-School Approach to Bullying
- Author
-
Natasha Pearce, Helen Monks, Narelle Alderman, Lydia Hearn, Sharyn Burns, Kevin Runions, Jacinta Francis, and Donna Cross
- Abstract
Student bullying behaviours are a significant social issue in schools worldwide. Whilst school staff have access to quality bullying prevention interventions, schools can face significant challenges implementing the whole-school approach required to address the complexity of these behaviours. This study aimed to understand how schools' capacity to implement whole-school bullying prevention interventions could be strengthened to promote sustainability and improve student outcomes. Qualitative methods were used to observe schools over time to gain insight into their implementation capacity to improve student social and emotional wellbeing and prevent and ameliorate harm from bullying. A four-year longitudinal, multi-site case study intensively followed eight schools' implementation of "Friendly Schools," an Australian evidenced-based whole-school bullying prevention intervention. Regular in-depth interviews with school leaders and implementation teams over four years led to the refinement of a staged-implementation process and capacity building tools and revealed four common drivers of implementation quality: (1) strong, committed leadership; (2) organisational structures, processes and resources; (3) staff competencies and commitment; and (4) translating evidence into local school policy and practice. This paper considers the strengths of qualitative data in understanding how and why bullying prevention interventions work as well as actions schools can take to enhance their implementation and sustainability of complex social interventions.
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
31. Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy in an Outdoor Environmental Science Education Program to Support High School Students' Identities as Indigenous People and Scientists
- Author
-
Karla B. Eitel, Alicia Wheeler, Kay Seven, Josiah Pinkham, Teresa Cavazos Cohn, Christina Uh, Ethan White Temple, Melinda Davis, Joyce McFarland, Jan Eitel, Marcie Carter, Raymond Dixon, and Lee Vierling
- Abstract
This collaboration between the Nez Perce Tribe and the University of Idaho aimed to address the unique needs and perspectives required for Tribal Natural Resources Management (TNRM). TNRM involves the governance and caretaking of the land and waters, emphasizing the recognition of cultural significance, sovereignty, self-determination, and traditional knowledge systems. A workforce development program was created, focusing on Fisheries, Forestry, and Fire Management, while being grounded in Indigenous knowledge, Indigenous STEM identities, and culturally sustaining pedagogy. The philosophical foundations of the program emphasized the importance of integrating Indigenous knowledge and learning approaches alongside technical skills. By broadening the conceptions of "what counts" in science, students were encouraged to recognize the value of Indigenous knowledge and develop a sense of responsibility toward caring for the Land and waters. Data collected from the program revealed its success in helping students connect Indigenous ways of knowing to their understanding of STEM. Students found meaning in Indigenous knowledge as a means to perpetuate Nimiipuu lifeways, while also recognizing the utility of Western STEM. The involvement of Elders and Native professionals as teachers in the STEM curriculum highlighted the importance of intergenerational knowledge transmission. By combining Indigenous ways of knowing with technical skills, the program successfully laid the groundwork for students to become future leaders in Tribal Natural Resources Management, equipped with the necessary cultural, environmental, and scientific expertise to caretake Lands and waters effectively.
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
32. A Review of the Institutional Landscape for Dual-Career Hiring in Higher Education
- Author
-
Torin Monahan, Margaret Waltz, Amelia Parker, and Jill A. Fisher
- Abstract
Meeting the needs of dual-career academic couples has become an important part of university efforts to foster family-friendly workplaces. Many universities have developed formal or informal approaches to addressing dual-career issues, but variation across institutions has made it difficult to detect wider patterns or probe their implications. In this paper, we analyze the dual-career policies and materials (848 documents total) of all R1 institutions in the United States. As with studies from roughly two decades ago, we find deficiencies in institutional support and transparency. However, given reduced state revenues for institutions of higher education and a rise in precarious employment arrangements over the same time period, conditions for academic couples are arguably worse today. In order for universities to address these concerns and contribute meaningfully to broader forms of inclusion, we argue that there is a need for sustained funding commitments and infrastructural support for dual-career programs.
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
33. The Battle for Latin in UK Universities: A Statistical Analysis of Factors Driving Student Success and Failure in Beginners' Latin Modules
- Author
-
Mair E. Lloyd and James Robson
- Abstract
In the UK, Latin is often seen as an elitist subject taught largely at fee-paying schools. Over the past generation, however, great strides have been made in opening up the subject to students from all backgrounds. A major hindrance to widening access to Latin at university level is that the language can often prove challenging for students. Data collected for this article reveal that only 77% of Latin students on beginners' modules in UK universities achieved a pass. Or in other words, nearly a quarter of students embarking on the study of Latin either fail or withdraw from their module. This article seeks to investigate the problems of retention and progression in support of the battle to make the study of Latin sustainable and accessible in higher education. By analysing survey responses from 29 UK universities offering beginners' Latin modules, it explores the impact of factors such as module weighting and duration, contact hours, class sizes, textbooks and assessment methods. In so doing, it breaks new ground in its rigorous statistical analysis of a significant set of quantitative data in an effort to improve our understanding of successful ancient language teaching, tackle real-world issues of retention, and promote student success.
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
34. Ecosocial Approach to Music Education
- Author
-
Raisa Foster and Katja Sutela
- Abstract
Collective cultural transformation is needed to save the Earth from the growing effects of the human-caused environmental problems. Music education, too, can take part in preparing future generations with the knowledge and skills needed to address the world's complex challenges and create a more sustainable future. Approaching music education from the perspective of ecosocial sustainability can foster students' sensitivity to diverse sonic environments and support the overall appreciation of multispecies communities and mutually beneficial ways of interaction in the more-than-human world. Based on the general theory of ecosocial art education, this article presents three practical approaches to music education, which can promote a sustainable life orientation: (1) "Attuning to sounds" helps cultivate one's connectedness to more-than-human others. (2) "Reconnecting with sound memories" helps recognise how sonic environments affect and indicate the lives of humans and other beings. (3) "Co-composing with the more-than-human world" helps to embrace the generative powers of creativity in experiencing interdependence with others.
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
35. Developing and Sustaining Future Workforces: Focusing on Work 'and' Learning
- Author
-
Linda E. Morris
- Abstract
During CONFINTEA VII's Panel 4: "Preparing adults for the future of work" and throughout the conference, participants grappled with crafting a "transformative agenda," where adult learning and education (ALE) prepares adults for future workplaces, education is viewed as an individual right and a common good, and sustainable development is a global imperative. CONFINTEA VII presentations and dialogue (https://www.uil.unesco.org/en/seventh-international-conference-adult-education) underscore challenges faced and factors impacting society and shaping work, for example, digital transformation, industry 4.0, transition to a green economy and the constant need to acquire new skills. This article conveys conferees' shared perspectives on emerging strategies, policies, and practices to support transformation and sustainable development, implications for practice, and collaborative action. Among recurring themes: (a) emerging technologies generating dynamic future workplaces, (b) abundant new opportunities for work and growth, (c) intensifying emphasis on access, inclusion, and tackling global problems, and (d) workplaces harnessed as learning places where learning to learn and continuous learning skills are "de rigueur."
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
36. Assessing University-Society Engagements: Towards a Methodological Framework
- Author
-
Teklu Abate Bekele, Denis Thaddeus Ofoyuru, and Emnet Tadesse Woldegiorgis
- Abstract
Higher education institutions pursue three distinct yet interrelated missions of education, knowledge production, and community engagement. Until the last decades of the twentieth century, the third mission, also known as community engagement, has received little attention. Although the third mission generally aims to contribute to the socio-cultural and economic transformations of society, its distinct characteristics are still under-theorized. None of the existing methodological and conceptual frameworks provides a holistic analysis of significant engagement indicators that transcend specific application contexts. Collecting data on university engagement with society and making meaningful interpretations is thus a challenge to researchers and practitioners. To contribute to filling this gap, this modified Delphi study proposes a comprehensive methodological framework of university-society engagements in Africa. The core thesis is that engagement is ubiquitous-university missions and support systems embody it. The framework thus constitutes eight engagement domains aligned with university core functions (teaching, knowledge production, and societal service) and support systems (governance, digitalization, internationalization, partnerships, and sustainability), with 52 items, rating scales, and descriptors. The framework contributes to conceptual and methodological clarity, informs data collection, and interpretations of the different modalities of university engagements. The alignment of engagement domains to university activities and the simplified articulations of the indicators ensure straightforward interpretations and applications of the framework by practitioners and researchers. It is also significant as it comes at a time when universities are expected to contribute more directly and significantly to the realizations of the UN 2030 SDGs and the African Union 2063 centennial development ambitions.
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
37. Education for the Circular Economy in Higher Education: An Overview of the Current State
- Author
-
Sanna-Mari Renfors
- Abstract
Purpose: Higher education institutions and their lecturers are strategic agents and main drivers that contribute to circular economy transition. This requires them to understand the key circular economy competencies and how to integrate circular economy holistically into their curricula with the suitable teaching and learning approaches. This study aims to support them by providing an overview on the characteristics of education for the circular economy (ECE) and suggestions to lecturers to further develop their curricula. Design/methodology/approach: The data consisted of scientific articles (n = 22) describing circular economy courses in higher education. Qualitative content analysis with quantitative features was performed on the selected articles to answer the research question. Findings: The findings confirm that the system's focus is the key issue in ECE. However, to integrate circular economy holistically into the curricula, ECE should be implemented more widely in the context of different industries and market contexts to find innovative teaching and learning approaches. The demand side needs to be incorporated in the courses, as systemic transformation is also about transforming consumption. All levels of implementation and circular economy objectives should be included in courses to promote systems thinking. In addition, innovative forms of real workplace interaction should be increased. Originality/value: As ECE has started to emerge as a new field of study, this article provides the first integrated overview of the topic.
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
38. Sustainability in Computing Education: A Systematic Literature Review
- Author
-
Anne-Kathrin Peters, Rafael Capilla, Vlad Constantin Coroama, Rogardt Heldal, Patricia Lago, Ola Leifler, Ana Moreira, João Paulo Fernandes, Birgit Penzenstadler, Jari Porras, and Colin C. Venters
- Abstract
Research shows that the global society as organized today, with our current technological and economic system, is impossible to sustain. We are living in an era in which human activities in highly industrialized countries are responsible for overshooting several planetary boundaries, with poorer communities contributing the least to the problems but being impacted the most. At the same time, technical and economic gains fail to provide society at large with equal opportunities and improved quality of life. This article describes approaches taken in computing education to address the issue of sustainability. It presents results of a systematic review of the literature on sustainability in computing education. From a set of 572 publications extracted from six large digital libraries plus snowballing, we distilled and analyzed 89 relevant primary studies. Using an inductive and deductive thematic analysis, we study: (1) conceptions of sustainability, computing, and education; (2) implementations of sustainability in computing education; and (3) research on sustainability in computing education. We present a framework capturing learning objectives and outcomes as well as pedagogical methods for sustainability in computing education. These results can be mapped to existing standards and curricula in future work. We find that only a few of the articles engage with the challenges as calling for drastic systemic change, along with radically new understandings of computing and education. We suggest that future work should connect to the substantial body of critical theory, such as feminist theories of science and technology. Existing research on sustainability in computing education may be considered rather immature, as the majority of articles are experience reports with limited empirical research.
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
39. Gamification as a Methodology to Enhance Analytical and Sustainable Engagement on Social Media
- Author
-
Paula Gil Ruiz
- Abstract
This research examines the impact of gamification on the development of critical thinking skills to counter misinformation, focusing specifically on students' roles as developers of educational software. Involving 107 university students, this study employs an experimental pretest-posttest methodology. An educational Escape Room was implemented, and its influence on critical and digital competencies was scrutinized. The procedure comprised three stages: pretest measurement, formative intervention, and posttest evaluation. A comparative analysis of the scores for the questions highlights a pressing need to enhance media and digital literacy. The findings reveal a predominance of responses indicating improvements in source verification and fact-checking. However, no significant differences were observed in the pre and post responses (0.607 > 0.05), leading to the conclusion that the implementation of a technological training program does not significantly contribute to acquiring skills for identifying falsehoods and deceptions on the internet. In conclusion, the study underscores the necessity to develop effective strategies to address misinformation and recognizes gamification as a motivating educational tool.
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
40. Utilizing Gamification to Promote Pro-Sustainable Behavior among Information Technology Students
- Author
-
Denitza Anguelova Charkova
- Abstract
Higher education institutions (HEIs) have made substantial strides towards incorporating sustainability into their curricula. However, the methodology of education for sustainable development (ESD) needs to be more performance-oriented and grounded in practical experience in order to foster behavioral changes towards environmental protection. The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of a gamification-driven strategy in encouraging students of information technology (IT) to adopt sustainable practices. The data was gathered from the digital records and survey responses of 75 information technology (IT) students as a component of their English language course. The results of the study suggested that the gamified method successfully encouraged students to adopt sustainable practices in their personal lives and future workplaces. The students' viewpoints regarding the accountability of individual employers and citizens for the well-being of our planet underwent a substantial transformation in support of sustainable development. The method described is applicable to various academic fields, including the humanities, sciences, medical studies, and others.
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
41. Assessment of Sustainability Awareness and Practice in a Campus Community
- Author
-
Eric Urbaniak, Rebecca Uzarski, and Salma Haidar
- Abstract
Purpose: This research paper aims to evaluate the sustainability knowledge and background of students, staff and faculty regarding current university sustainability practices and individual behaviors at Central Michigan University (CMU); to compare sustainability background and knowledge based on academic discipline of enrollment or employment; and to assess sustainability awareness and interest of the campus community to guide future sustainability initiatives and resources at CMU. Design/methodology/approach: An electronic cross-sectional survey was used to collect anonymous responses through Qualtrics, and then results were analyzed through SPSS. Analyses were performed based on the academic structures at CMU. Findings: This research has found that students in STEM fields are more inclined to have pro-sustainability attitudes, knowledge and behaviors, compared to those studying the arts and business. Additionally, results indicate that there is a significant difference in knowledge between the students, and the staff and faculty respondents regarding sustainability knowledge and application, with the staff and faculty consistently demonstrating more pro-sustainability knowledge and behavior. Originality/value: While research has previously been conducted on sustainability attitudes and behaviors, this research is unique because it ties sustainability knowledge to academic discipline. Additionally, it serves to gauge which sustainability programs and topics members of the campus community are most interested in, and which areas they are most willing to support.
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
42. Using Small-Group Discussion to Foster In-Service Teachers' Comprehension and Instruction of Sustainable Energy Transitions through PV Science
- Author
-
Carla M. Firetto, Emily Starrett, and Michelle E. Jordan
- Abstract
This study examined the impact of a practice-based approach to in-service science teacher education, using small-group discussions about photovoltaic (PV) science to support teachers' instruction on sustainable energy transitions in response to climate change risks. Ultimately, we aimed to promote teachers' PV science comprehension as well as their ability to use small-group discussions productively in their future classrooms. In-service teachers (N = 6) participated in a five-week summer Solar Energy Engineering Research Experience for Teachers program where they read a series of scientific articles, attended presentations, and engaged in small-group Quality Talk discussions, all about solar energy as a sustainable technology for post-carbon energy futures. Using a qualitative content analysis approach, we gathered evidence associated with both the indicators of high-level comprehension evidenced within the talk as well as teachers' individual PV science knowledge before and after each discussion. We also collected data related to teachers' instructional intentions via lesson plans and their self-reported future use of classroom discussions. Numerous indicators of high-level comprehension were present within the talk and teachers evidenced growth in their PV science knowledge from pretest to posttest. Additionally, teachers not only infused their lesson plans with the PV science topics they discussed, but they also expressed intentions to teach PV science using discussions in their future classrooms. Findings suggest in-service teachers can benefit from opportunities to engage in a practice-based approach emphasizing discussions, resulting in not only enhanced PV science comprehension but also intentions to enact discussions about the learned content in their future classrooms.
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
43. A Landscape View of Emerging Sustainability Responses within VET
- Author
-
Presha Ramsarup, Simon McGrath, and Heila Lotz-Sisitka
- Abstract
With evidence of global climate change and ongoing ecological degradation, there is an urgent need to give more attention to sustainability within VET to ensure that VET does not remain complicit in reproducing the unjust and unsustainable trajectories of current economic and development pathways. At present, the VET literature does not adequately address these issues, hence the need for this special issue. In response, this paper offers a meta-reflective 'landscape view' of the sustainability within the VET 'field of knowledge' as it is emerging. Here, we use landscape review as a multi-dimensional, 'outside-in' view that provides a basis for understanding the broad context and helps to inform actionable next steps. This analysis we believe helps to highlight the key emerging priorities as well as what paths VET is taking on the journey to sustainability. The analysis shows that while some progress has been made in policy and practice related to the 'greening' of VET, much of the current response within VET to the environmental challenge reflects a minimalist reformist approach, characterised by 'bolt-ons' to existing institutional structures and curricula whilst leaving the fundamental beliefs in productivism, industrialisation and growth in place. Yet, as argued by researchers working on green economy, these beliefs are often complicit in co-creation of the environmental crisis.
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
44. A Euro-Asian Look at Challenges to Innovation and the Greening of Industries: Implications for TVET and Strategic Policy Formulation
- Author
-
Margarita Pavlova and Pernille Askerud
- Abstract
This paper is based on findings of a study that examined challenges to innovation and the greening of economies identified by businesses, TVET institutions, and other organisations with the "aim to formulate options for strategic actions to increase 'sustainable competitiveness' of Hong Kong SAR, China" as measured by "The Global Sustainable Competitiveness Index" (GSCI). This article focuses on Hong Kong but refers to Denmark (one of the Nordic countries participated in the study) as it scores much higher than China on the GSCI. The assumption of this study is that Denmark's experience can help formulate policies and the strategic actions required for building sustainable development (SD) solutions for economic green growth through innovation and skills development in Hong Kong. The study used a qualitative methodology. Data was collected through desk-top research and interviews with stakeholders from both settings. The results identified a clear distinction between innovation and greening in terms of education and skills, the business sectors involved, support modalities (policies), investment, as well as culture in both Denmark and Hong Kong SAR. Despite the very different approaches to innovation and variations in both industry structure and the environment for training and skills development, the challenges to industry and their implications for TVET in terms of greening and innovation were found to be very similar in the two contexts. Thus, contrary to the study's assumptions, this article discusses the similar policy responses to these 'green' challenges for "both contexts," as well as recommended policy goals and strategic actions with implications for TVET that can support green innovation in both settings.
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
45. Agricultural Vocational Education and Training for Sustainable Futures: Responsiveness to the Climate and Economic Crisis in Zimbabwe
- Author
-
Chenjerai Muwaniki, Volker Wedekind, and Simon McGrath
- Abstract
With ever-increasing focus from policymakers on the potential of vocational education to provide skills for livelihoods and sustainability in the rural economy, this study set out to investigate attempts at curriculum reform by agricultural technical and vocational education and training providers in the context of the dual crisis -- 'climate and economic' -- in Zimbabwe. The question addressed is: How should the agricultural vocational education and training curriculum respond to the climate and economic crisis to ensure sustainability? The paper highlights enablers and barriers to curriculum responsiveness. Moll's model of curriculum responsiveness provided analytical lenses for the study. Data collection was through semi-structured interviews, focus group interviews, document analysis and observations, and analysed thematically. The study revealed that the climate crisis in Zimbabwe has affected both government and non-government vocational training centres in several ways. However, the curriculum was 'one-size fits all', focused on the needs of a formal labour market. Such a labour market has been decimated by the economic crisis and climate break down. Hence, providers of agricultural vocational education in rural areas ought to consider re-engineering the curriculum to be more responsive to a range of drivers, including climate change, especially within the rural context.
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
46. Promoting Sustainable Learning among Accounting Students: Evidence from Field Experimental Design
- Author
-
Noor Ul Hadi and Assim Ibrhaim Abdel-Razzaq
- Abstract
Purpose: Several studies have attempted to explain the integration of sustainable development in business school curricula. However, little is known about who (male students vs female students), at which age (under 21, 21-25 and 26-30) and at which stage of their undergraduate education (freshman, junior or senior) can attain and retain an adequate understanding of sustainability in accounting education. For this reason, the present study aims to investigate the students' interest in sustainability in accounting with respect to their demographic factors. Design/methodology/approach: The study used a quantitative research design where data were collected at a single point in time. Further, an independent sample t-test, one-way ANOVA and factorial design were performed on 132 responses conveniently collected from accounting students in the College of Business Administration (COBA) at Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University (PMU) in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia. Findings: The study found no differences between the attitudes of male and female students toward sustainability in accounting education. Similarly, no statistical differences were found in the three age categories identified in this study. However, significant results were found throughout the different academic classifications (seniority): freshman students, junior students and senior students. Further, differences in the mean scores for freshman and junior accounting students were different between the male and female students, indicating that both male and female senior students' attitudes toward sustainability in accounting education were higher than those of male and female freshman and junior accounting students. The study concluded that students achieve an adequate understanding of sustainability in accounting education related to the relativism category of the Perry model of intellectual development. Originality/value: Literature on attitude of students toward sustainability in education, specifically accounting education, is questionable and needs further exploration. This is due to the fact that only a small number of accounting students have been exposed to sustainable accounting education. Similarly, a recent study found a significant deficiency in sustainable accounting education in four Saudi Arabian universities, with only 4.5% of respondents knowing the comprehensive definition of sustainable development and 88% respondents having very low to low familiarity with the term sustainability.
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
47. The Mediating Role of Further and Higher Education in a Just Transition Social Ecosystem
- Author
-
Ken Spours and Paul Grainger
- Abstract
The Just Transition (JT) can be understood as a combinational strategic concept (transition to net zero combined with climate justice) to support the transitioning to a more sustainable, socially just and peaceful world. While the JT is becoming increasingly prevalent in terms of policy development, both nationally and internationally, a major challenge is practical implementation at different levels of societal life. This article is intended as a conceptual think piece to explore the potential role of further and higher education (FHE) in England as a mediating force between national policy and the local and regional economic and skills terrains in support of the JT. The roles of learning and skills actors are explored via a three-stage methodology involving the synthesis of several groups of literatures. The first concerns a brief discussion of the JT, its definitions and its differing versions used by a range of social partners. The second focuses on the building of a theoretical framework -- a 'Just Transition Social Ecosystem' -- with particular emphasis on its intermediary levels. The third step sees the multi-level JT social ecosystem framework applied to technical and vocational education and training (TVET) and FHE to explore the different dimensions of sectoral and institutional mediation between individuals, communities and national systems in support of the JT. The final part of the article problematises the role of the vertically organised governmental state in the development of the JT Social Ecosystem Model.
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
48. Vocational Education for a Sustainable Future: Unveiling the Collaborative Learning Narratives to Make Space for Learning
- Author
-
Saskia M. G. Weijzen, Cassandra Onck, Arjen E. Wals, Valentina C. Tassone, and Wietske Kuijer-Siebelink
- Abstract
In the light of urgent global sustainability challenges, vocational education is searching for new approaches that are more just and future proof. At least a part of the answer seems to lie in so-called collaborative learning arrangements where students together with societal actors explore sustainability-related challenges. The amount of this kind of arrangements in which vocational education participates increases. Empirical studies on what actually goes on in the collaborative arrangements are rather scarce. This study addresses the theory-practice gap by applying a participatory design. The study unveils that deeply seated educational and socio-cultural routines like the student as learner, alienation from issues, a bias towards cognitive knowing and 'solving' problems seem to limit the possibilities for more genuine collaboration to emerge. The study also found that by intervening with creative and reflexive methods, space for transformative learning can unfold that allows engagement with existential questions like 'what is it what I really got to do here?'. The opening up of these spaces was accompanied by longings to go beyond the rosy narratives of collaborative learning arrangements and to have more attention for the persistent embeddedness of educational routines in the societal issues around us. Vocational education "as" society. What happens if we progress towards vocational education for sustainable futures with more modesty and introspection?
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
49. The Development of Green Skills for the Informal Sector of Ghana: Towards Sustainable Futures
- Author
-
Yaw Owusu-Agyeman and Abigail Ayorkor Aryeh-Adjei
- Abstract
Informed by the capability approach and critical discourse analysis, this article examines how the development of green skills among master craftspersons and apprentices in the informal sector of Ghana could be promoted for cleaner production and sustainable futures. The findings show that inequality and poverty; cyclical policy trap; sectoral green initiatives and the green coordination gap; and limited human resource capacity including uncoordinated informal learning approaches serve to constrain the development of green skills among master craftspersons and apprentices in the informal sector of Ghana. To address these challenges, the current study proposes the development of a framework that (1) harmonises the different sectoral initiatives and strategies on green skills to avoid the cyclical policy trap; (2) expands the current green Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) agenda to include green skills development for individuals in the informal TVET sector; (3) closes the coordination gap in government green initiatives by creating an agency responsible for national green agenda; and (4) creates clear qualification models and strategies for the development of green skills in the informal sector.
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
50. Exploring Innovative Career Counselling Strategies for Universal Relevance and Sustainability in the Anthropocene Era
- Author
-
Jacobus Gideon Maree
- Abstract
This article reflects on several factors that influence the art and science of career counselling in different contexts. An adapted systematic literature review was implemented to examine developments in the career counselling field and to explore innovative career counselling strategies that have universal relevance and sustainability in the Anthropocene era. The continued relevance and functionality of career counselling in South Africa (as an example of a Global South, developing country reflective of the situation globally) is examined. I reflect on a possible theoretical and conceptual framework for career counselling in the "career Counsellocene" era and I argue for an approach that contextualises career counselling in different contexts in the future workplace and meets the career-counselling needs of people in the Anthropocene era. A career-counselling approach is needed that emphasises the importance of eco-awareness in reversing the impact of human abuse on the environment.
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
Catalog
Discovery Service for Jio Institute Digital Library
For full access to our library's resources, please sign in.