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Integrating Sustainability into Higher Education Curricula through the Project Method, a Global Learning Strategy

Author

Listed:
  • M. Teresa Fuertes-Camacho

    (Faculty of Education, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, 08017 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Mariona Graell-Martín

    (Faculty of Education, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, 08017 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Mariana Fuentes-Loss

    (Faculty of Education, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, 08017 Barcelona, Spain)

  • M. Carmen Balaguer-Fàbregas

    (Faculty of Education, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, 08017 Barcelona, Spain)

Abstract

Higher levels of material well-being lead almost inevitably to giving priority to individualism and personal advancement, often at the expense of civic conscience. A proposal for integrating sustainability into the curriculum is presented in the third year of the degree in Early Childhood Education at the Universitat Internacional de Catalunya (UIC). Projects on sustainable food are planned and elaborated to this aim. This study seeks to apply a global and systemic approach to solving socio-environmental problems and to check whether education for sustainable development (ESD) helps to develop and encourage actions that promote sustainable development. Quantitative research was conducted using a pre-test/post-test quasi experimental design separated by a period of didactic training in the project method. The results presented in this article show the students’ sustainability competencies (SC) improve after working on didactic proposals in a global manner. It is concluded that elaborating competencies in education for sustainable development enables an integrated approach of knowledge, procedures, attitudes and values in teaching through promoting the project method in multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary teams, which enhances future teachers’ sustainability competencies.

Suggested Citation

  • M. Teresa Fuertes-Camacho & Mariona Graell-Martín & Mariana Fuentes-Loss & M. Carmen Balaguer-Fàbregas, 2019. "Integrating Sustainability into Higher Education Curricula through the Project Method, a Global Learning Strategy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-25, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:3:p:767-:d:202753
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gisela Cebrián & Mercè Junyent, 2015. "Competencies in Education for Sustainable Development: Exploring the Student Teachers’ Views," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(3), pages 1-19, March.
    2. Silvia Albareda-Tiana & Salvador Vidal-Raméntol & Maria Pujol-Valls & Mónica Fernández-Morilla, 2018. "Holistic Approaches to Develop Sustainability and Research Competencies in Pre-Service Teacher Training," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-20, October.
    3. Rodrigo Lozano & Michelle Y. Merrill & Kaisu Sammalisto & Kim Ceulemans & Francisco J. Lozano, 2017. "Connecting Competences and Pedagogical Approaches for Sustainable Development in Higher Education: A Literature Review and Framework Proposal," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(10), pages 1-15, October.
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    3. Cecilia Smaniotto & Claudio Battistella & Laura Brunelli & Edoardo Ruscio & Antonella Agodi & Francesco Auxilia & Valentina Baccolini & Umberto Gelatti & Anna Odone & Rosa Prato & Stefano Tardivo & Gi, 2020. "Sustainable Development Goals and 2030 Agenda: Awareness, Knowledge and Attitudes in Nine Italian Universities, 2019," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-18, December.
    4. Vasiliki Kioupi & Nikolaos Voulvoulis, 2020. "Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Assessing the Contribution of Higher Education Programmes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-17, August.
    5. Birgitta Nordén & Helen Avery, 2021. "Global Learning for Sustainable Development: A Historical Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-31, March.
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    7. Marcel Bassachs & Teresa Serra & Remigijus Bubnys & Dolors Cañabate & Jordi Colomer, 2022. "Multimodal Approaches to Math and Physical Education within Cooperative Learning to Enhance Social Attitudes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-16, December.
    8. Viktor Swillens & Mathias Decuypere & Joke Vandenabeele & Joris Vlieghe, 2021. "Place-Sensing through Haptic Interfaces: Proposing an Alternative to Modern Sustainability Education," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-14, April.
    9. Chambers Ian & Roberts John & Urbaniak Suzy & Gibson David & Durant Graham & Cerini Bobby & Maulloo Aman & Kamudu Applasawmy Bhamini & Barrett Rees & Nelson Charles & Robson Heather & Sangha Kamaljit , 2019. "Education for Sustainable Development: A Study in Adolescent Perception Changes Towards Sustainability Following a Strategic Planning-Based Intervention—The Young Persons’ Plan for the Planet Program," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(20), pages 1-20, October.
    10. Rebeka Kovačič Lukman & Vasja Omahne & Lobna Tag el Sheikh & Peter Glavič, 2021. "Integrating Sustainability into Logistics Oriented Education in Europe," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-24, February.
    11. Dolors Cañabate & Maria Luisa Garcia-Romeu & Anna Menció & Lluís Nogué & Marta Planas & Joan Solé-Pla, 2020. "Cross-Disciplinary Analysis of Cooperative Learning Dimensions Based on Higher Education Students’ Perceptions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-17, October.
    12. Ana Alexandra Gora & Simona Cătălina Ștefan & Ștefan Cătălin Popa & Cătălina Florentina Albu, 2019. "Students’ Perspective on Quality Assurance in Higher Education in the Context of Sustainability: A PLS-SEM Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(17), pages 1-21, September.
    13. Sara Sousa, 2022. "Some Reflections on the Role of the Eco-Schools Program in the Promotion of Sustainable HEIs: A Case Study in Portugal," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-13, October.
    14. Fatma Fourati-Jamoussi & Michel J. F. Dubois & Marie Chedru & Geoffroy Belhenniche, 2021. "Education for Sustainable Development and Innovation in Engineering School: Students’ Perception," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-13, May.
    15. Miguel Jesús López Serrano & Rafael Guerrero Elecalde, 2022. "Narratives as a Didactic Resource in the Social Sciences to Teach Sustainable Development: A Study with Primary Education Students," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-15, June.
    16. Carla Farinha & Sandra Caeiro & Ulisses Azeiteiro, 2019. "Sustainability Strategies in Portuguese Higher Education Institutions: Commitments and Practices from Internal Insights," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-25, June.
    17. Fatma Fourati-Jamoussi & Michel J.F. Dubois & Marie Chedru & Geoffroy Belhenniche, 2021. "Education for Sustainable Development and Innovation in Engineering School: Students’ Perception," Post-Print hal-03245437, HAL.
    18. Lorenz Probst, 2022. "Higher Education for Sustainability: A Critical Review of the Empirical Evidence 2013–2020," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-24, March.
    19. Jordi Colomer & Teresa Serra & Dolors Cañabate & Remigijus Bubnys, 2020. "Reflective Learning in Higher Education: Active Methodologies for Transformative Practices," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-8, May.
    20. Francisco D. Guillén-Gámez & Lina Higueras-Rodríguez & Marta Medina-García, 2020. "Developing a Regression Model of Cooperative Learning Methodology in Pre-Service Teacher Education: A Sustainable Path for Transition to Teaching Profession," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-13, March.
    21. Dolors Cañabate & Teresa Serra & Remigijus Bubnys & Jordi Colomer, 2019. "Pre-Service Teachers’ Reflections on Cooperative Learning: Instructional Approaches and Identity Construction," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(21), pages 1-18, October.

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