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Mapping Master Students’ Processes of Problem Solving and Learning in Groups in Sustainability Education

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  • Anette Oxenswärdh

    (Department of Civil and Industrial Engineering, Uppsala University, 752 36 Uppsala, Sweden)

  • Ulrika Persson-Fischier

    (Department of Civil and Industrial Engineering, Uppsala University, 752 36 Uppsala, Sweden)

Abstract

Sustainability challenges in tourism are widely discussed. There is a huge need for education in the field of destination development. Students require appropriate problem-solving skills. This article examines the master’s course in destination development at Uppsala University, Campus Gotland, with the aim of increasing students’ skills in solving sustainability problems. The course took place in the spring semester of 2020 with the main goal of improving students’ skills in formulating and solving sustainable challenges in groups. This was achieved by activating the heterogeneity of the group, seeking relevant information and facts, and organising and carrying out the task with a design-thinking methodology. Students were provided with real problems or challenges by tourist companies, authorities and other interest groups on the island of Gotland. The purpose of this study is to describe the group of students as well as joint learning processes and knowledge needed in the work towards sustainable solutions. The major implication of the study is that the course gave the students the opportunity to deepen their understanding of both the barriers and benefits of working with heterogeneous groups. Furthermore, the study revealed a number of factors that all organisations would need to take into account in order to improve the effectiveness of their work towards sustainable solutions.

Suggested Citation

  • Anette Oxenswärdh & Ulrika Persson-Fischier, 2020. "Mapping Master Students’ Processes of Problem Solving and Learning in Groups in Sustainability Education," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(13), pages 1-14, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:13:p:5299-:d:378567
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    1. Andrew C. Corbett, 2005. "Experiential Learning within the Process of Opportunity Identification and Exploitation," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 29(4), pages 473-491, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Theres Konrad & Arnim Wiek & Matthias Barth, 2021. "Learning to Collaborate from Diverse Interactions in Project-Based Sustainability Courses," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-15, September.
    2. 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.
    3. Yafeng Zheng & Haogang Bao & Jun Shen & Xuesong Zhai, 2020. "Investigating Sequence Patterns of Collaborative Problem-Solving Behavior in Online Collaborative Discussion Activity," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-17, October.

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