IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v13y2021i6p3494-d521650.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Fostering Sustainability Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviours through a Tutor-Supported Interdisciplinary Course in Education for Sustainable Development

Author

Listed:
  • Mirjam Braßler

    (Institute of Psychology, Universität Hamburg, 20146 Hamburg, Germany)

  • Sandra Sprenger

    (Faculty of Education, Universität Hamburg, 20146 Hamburg, Germany)

Abstract

Extant research into the efficacy of—especially interdisciplinary—higher education for sustainable development (HESD) is limited. A need exists to investigate students’ development of sustainability knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours. Furthermore, universities have experienced difficulties implementing interdisciplinary HESD because of organisational barriers due to monodisciplinary structures, as well as educators’ and students’ reservations. This study introduces an interdisciplinary approach to HESD and investigates its efficacy regarding students’ development of sustainability knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours at a university in Germany. The approach applies a series of lectures by different sustainability experts accompanied by several tutorials that support students’ interdisciplinary learning and teamwork towards an interdisciplinary sustainability product. Tutors were trained in interdisciplinary teaching methods, as well as interdisciplinary communication and conflict management, beforehand. Before participating in the interdisciplinary course, the students had a moderate level of sustainability knowledge and behaviour, and a high level of sustainability attitudes. The results from the pre–post-test analysis indicate an increase in students’ sustainability knowledge and behaviours, and no change in students’ sustainability attitudes. If typical barriers to interdisciplinarity are mitigated, interdisciplinary HESD can facilitate students’ development.

Suggested Citation

  • Mirjam Braßler & Sandra Sprenger, 2021. "Fostering Sustainability Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviours through a Tutor-Supported Interdisciplinary Course in Education for Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-21, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:6:p:3494-:d:521650
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/6/3494/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/6/3494/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Paul R. Carlile, 2004. "Transferring, Translating, and Transforming: An Integrative Framework for Managing Knowledge Across Boundaries," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 15(5), pages 555-568, October.
    2. 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.
    3. Susan H. Frost & Paul M. Jean, 2003. "Bridging the Disciplines," The Journal of Higher Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 74(2), pages 119-149, March.
    4. Cándida María Domínguez-Valerio & Salvador Moral-Cuadra & Miguel Jesús Medina-Viruel & Francisco Orgaz-Agüera, 2019. "Attitude as a Mediator between Sustainable Behaviour and Sustainable Knowledge: An Approximation through a Case Study in the Dominican Republic," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 8(10), pages 1-14, October.
    5. Julius Grund & Antje Brock, 2020. "Education for Sustainable Development in Germany: Not Just Desired but Also Effective for Transformative Action," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-20, April.
    6. Eleni Sinakou & Vincent Donche & Jelle Boeve-de Pauw & Peter Van Petegem, 2019. "Designing Powerful Learning Environments in Education for Sustainable Development: A Conceptual Framework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(21), pages 1-23, October.
    7. Francisco Borges, 2019. "Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviours Concerning Sustainable Development: A Study among Prospective Elementary Teachers," Higher Education Studies, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 9(2), pages 22-32, June.
    8. Bruce H. Wade & Jack H. Stone, 2010. "Overcoming Disciplinary and Institutional Barriers: An Interdisciplinary Course in Economic and Sociological Perspectives on Health Issues," The Journal of Economic Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 41(1), pages 71-84, January.
    9. Franziska Bertschy & Christine Künzli & Meret Lehmann, 2013. "Teachers’ Competencies for the Implementation of Educational Offers in the Field of Education for Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 5(12), pages 1-14, November.
    10. Mirjam Braßler & Martin Schultze, 2021. "Students’ Innovation in Education for Sustainable Development—A Longitudinal Study on Interdisciplinary vs. Monodisciplinary Learning," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-17, January.
    11. Alex Michalos & Heather Creech & Christina McDonald & P. Kahlke, 2011. "Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviours. Concerning Education for Sustainable Development: Two Exploratory Studies," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 100(3), pages 391-413, February.
    12. repec:ibn:hesjnl:v:9:y:2019:i:2:p:22 is not listed on IDEAS
    13. Vasiliki Kioupi & Nikolaos Voulvoulis, 2019. "Education for Sustainable Development: A Systemic Framework for Connecting the SDGs to Educational Outcomes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(21), pages 1-18, November.
    14. Jelle Boeve-de Pauw & Niklas Gericke & Daniel Olsson & Teresa Berglund, 2015. "The Effectiveness of Education for Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(11), pages 1-25, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Caroline Leininger-Frézal & Sandra Sprenger, 2022. "Virtual Field Trips in Binational Collaborative Teacher Training: Opportunities and Challenges in the Context of Education for Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-16, October.
    2. Haoyi Huang & Eddie W. L. Cheng, 2022. "Sustainability Education in China: Lessons Learnt from the Teaching of Geography," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-19, January.
    3. Sharifah Nurlaili Farhana Syed Azhar & Noor Adelyna Mohammed Akib & Suzyrman Sibly & Saidatulakmal Mohd, 2022. "Students’ Attitude and Perception towards Sustainability: The Case of Universiti Sains Malaysia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-17, March.
    4. Susan Hanisch & Dustin Eirdosh, 2023. "Behavioral Science and Education for Sustainable Development: Towards Metacognitive Competency," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-30, April.
    5. Suliman Abdalla & Elnazir Ramadan & Mohammed Ali K. Al-Belushi & Nawal Al-Hooti, 2024. "Unveiling the Role of Arab Universities in Advancing Sustainable Development Goals: A Multi-Dimensional Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-24, July.
    6. Gaea Morales & Erin Bromaghim & Angela Kim & Caroline Diamond & Alejo Maggini & Avery Everhart & Sofia Gruskin & Anthony Tirado Chase, 2021. "Classroom Walls and City Hall: Mobilizing Local Partnerships to Advance the Sustainable Development Agenda," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-9, May.
    7. Diego Bonilla-Jurado & Ember Zumba & Araceli Lucio-Quintana & Carlos Yerbabuena-Torres & Andrea Ramírez-Casco & Cesar Guevara, 2024. "Advancing University Education: Exploring the Benefits of Education for Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-27, September.
    8. Stephan Gerr Tawok & Syazwan Saidin, 2025. "Student’s Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practice towards Sustainable Development Goals at the Sultan Idris Education University," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 9(2), pages 3743-3753, February.
    9. Thomas J. Lampoltshammer & Valerie Albrecht & Corinna Raith, 2021. "Teaching Digital Sustainability in Higher Education from a Transdisciplinary Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-21, October.
    10. Novika Adi Wibowo & Sumarmi Sumarmi & Sugeng Utaya & Syamsul Bachri & Yayoi Kodama, 2023. "Students’ Environmental Care Attitude: A Study at Adiwiyata Public High School Based on the New Ecological Paradigm (NEP)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-18, May.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Mirjam Braßler & Martin Schultze, 2021. "Students’ Innovation in Education for Sustainable Development—A Longitudinal Study on Interdisciplinary vs. Monodisciplinary Learning," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-17, January.
    2. Javier Cifuentes-Faura & Ursula Faura-Martínez & Matilde Lafuente-Lechuga, 2020. "Assessment of Sustainable Development in Secondary School Economics Students According to Gender," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(13), pages 1-16, July.
    3. Fengtao Guo & Joseph Lane & Yushan Duan & Joseph P. Stoltman & Olga Khlebosolova & Hao Lei & Weiguo Zhou, 2018. "Sustainable Development in Geography Education for Middle School in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-27, October.
    4. Eliyawati & Ari Widodo & Ida Kaniawati & Hiroki Fujii, 2023. "The Development and Validation of an Instrument for Assessing Science Teacher Competency to Teach ESD," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-14, February.
    5. José María Marcos-Merino & Isaac Corbacho-Cuello & Míriam Hernández-Barco, 2020. "Analysis of Sustainability Knowingness, Attitudes and Behavior of a Spanish Pre-Service Primary Teachers Sample," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-22, September.
    6. repec:zib:zbmbmj:v:2:y:2023:i:1:p:01-14 is not listed on IDEAS
    7. Julia Lohmann & Jennifer Breithecker & Ulrike Ohl & Petra Gieß-Stüber & Hans Peter Brandl-Bredenbeck, 2021. "Teachers’ Professional Action Competence in Education for Sustainable Development: A Systematic Review from the Perspective of Physical Education," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-26, December.
    8. Julius Grund & Antje Brock, 2020. "Education for Sustainable Development in Germany: Not Just Desired but Also Effective for Transformative Action," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-20, April.
    9. Maria Victoria G. Violanda & Dennis V. Madrigal, 2021. "Education for Sustainable Development (ESD): A Journey Towards Sustainable Future," Technium Social Sciences Journal, Technium Science, vol. 20(1), pages 172-180, June.
    10. Nina Kolleck & Helge Jörgens & Mareike Well, 2017. "Levels of Governance in Policy Innovation Cycles in Community Education: The Cases of Education for Sustainable Development and Climate Change Education," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(11), pages 1-16, October.
    11. Alba Manresa & Jasmina Berbegal-Mirabent & Úrsula Faura-Martínez & Juan-Vicente Llinares-Ciscar, 2021. "What Do Freshmen Know about Sustainability? Analysing the Skill Gap among University Business Administration Students," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-21, August.
    12. Quentin Ssossé & Johanna Wagner & Carina Hopper, 2021. "Assessing the Impact of ESD: Methods, Challenges, Results," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-26, March.
    13. Gisela Cebrián & Mercè Junyent & Ingrid Mulà, 2021. "Current Practices and Future Pathways towards Competencies in Education for Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-9, August.
    14. Lukas Scherak & Marco Rieckmann, 2020. "Developing ESD Competences in Higher Education Institutions—Staff Training at the University of Vechta," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-19, December.
    15. Noor Hamwy & Jennifer Bruder & Abdellatif Sellami & Michael H. Romanowski, 2023. "Challenges to Teachers Implementing Sustainable Development Goals Frameworks in Qatar," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-19, July.
    16. Zhenwen Liu & Hsi-Chi Yang & Yan-Chyuan Shiau, 2020. "Investigation on Evaluation Framework of Elementary School Teaching Materials for Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-19, May.
    17. Marta Romero Ariza & Jelle Boeve-de Pauw & Daniel Olsson & Peter Van Petegem & Gema Parra & Niklas Gericke, 2021. "Promoting Environmental Citizenship in Education: The Potential of the Sustainability Consciousness Questionnaire to Measure Impact of Interventions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-20, October.
    18. Andrea Corres & Marco Rieckmann & Anna Espasa & Isabel Ruiz-Mallén, 2020. "Educator Competences in Sustainability Education: A Systematic Review of Frameworks," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-24, November.
    19. Anna Beniermann & Martin Glos & Heike Schumacher & Ingo Fietze & Stephan Völker & Annette Upmeier zu Belzen, 2023. "‘Sleep Blindness’ in Science Education: How Sleep Health Literacy Can Serve as a Link between Health Education and Education for Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-22, August.
    20. Michael Eichinger & Myriam Bechtoldt & Inga Thao My Bui & Julius Grund & Jan Keller & Ashley G. Lau & Shuyan Liu & Michael Neuber & Felix Peter & Carina Pohle & Gerhard Reese & Fabian Schäfer & Stepha, 2022. "Evaluating the Public Climate School—A School-Based Programme to Promote Climate Awareness and Action in Students: Protocol of a Cluster-Controlled Pilot Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-14, June.
    21. Esther García-González & Rocío Jiménez-Fontana & Pilar Azcárate, 2020. "Education for Sustainability and the Sustainable Development Goals: Pre-Service Teachers’ Perceptions and Knowledge," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-19, September.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:6:p:3494-:d:521650. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.