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Supporting the Integration of Sustainability into Higher Education Curricula—A Case Study from Switzerland

Author

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  • Sandra Wilhelm Hamiti

    (Swiss Foundation for Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), Department of ESD development, Monbijoustr. 31, Postfach, 3001 Bern, Switzerland)

  • Hans Wydler

    (Institute of Natural Resource Sciences, Centre for Urban Greening (Green Care), Department of Life Sciences and Facility Management, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Campus Grüental, Postfach, 8820 Wädenswil, Switzerland)

Abstract

From the perspective of different stakeholders, education for sustainable development (ESD) in higher education is highly desirable. In practice, however, this may present challenges, as it involves systemic and cultural changes as well as organizational transformation. A working group at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences supported such a transformative process with the aim of fostering, linking and subsequently deepening the dimensions of sustainable development in the existing curricula. By means of an assessment tool (spider diagram) developed through a bottom-up action research procedure, the working group initiated a discussion on sustainability among university lecturers, research associates and students. Results support the hypothesis that resistance to incorporating dimensions of sustainability into the curriculum can effectively be avoided by such an approach. The effectiveness of the assessment tool increased the commitment and the willingness of lecturers to share a common goal of demonstrating the relevance of sustainability in higher education.

Suggested Citation

  • Sandra Wilhelm Hamiti & Hans Wydler, 2014. "Supporting the Integration of Sustainability into Higher Education Curricula—A Case Study from Switzerland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 6(6), pages 1-10, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:6:y:2014:i:6:p:3291-3300:d:36508
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. World Commission on Environment and Development,, 1987. "Our Common Future," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780192820808.
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    1. Valentín Piza & José Luis Aparicio & Columba Rodríguez & Rigoberto Marín & Juana Beltrán & Ramón Bedolla, 2018. "Sustainability in Higher Education: A Didactic Strategy for Environmental Mainstreaming," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-12, December.
    2. Hannan Amoozad Mahdiraji & Sepas Arzaghi & Gintaras Stauskis & Edmundas Kazimieras Zavadskas, 2018. "A Hybrid Fuzzy BWM-COPRAS Method for Analyzing Key Factors of Sustainable Architecture," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-26, May.
    3. Sun-Young Rieh & Byung-Yun Lee & Joon-Gul Oh & Thorsten Schuetze & Santiago Porras Álvarez & Kyungsun Lee & Jiyoung Park, 2017. "Integration of Sustainability into Architectural Education at Accredited Korean Universities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(7), pages 1-26, June.
    4. Santiago Porras Álvarez & Kyungsun Lee & Jiyoung Park & Sun-Young Rieh, 2016. "A Comparative Study on Sustainability in Architectural Education in Asia—With a Focus on Professional Degree Curricula," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(3), pages 1-32, March.
    5. Emilio Chuvieco & Javier Carrillo-Hermosilla & Montserrat López-Mújica & Eva Campo-López & Ximena Angélica Lazo-Vitoria & Javier Macias-Guarasa & Alice Luminita Petre-Bujan & José Antonio Perdigón-Mel, 2022. "Inventory and Analysis of Environmental Sustainability Education in the Degrees of the University of Alcalá (Spain)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-12, July.
    6. Yi-Chen Lai & Li-Hsun Peng, 2019. "Effective Teaching and Activities of Excellent Teachers for the Sustainable Development of Higher Design Education," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-27, December.
    7. Razvan Bologa & Ana-Ramona Lupu & Catalin Boja & Tiberiu Marian Georgescu, 2017. "Sustaining Employability: A Process for Introducing Cloud Computing, Big Data, Social Networks, Mobile Programming and Cybersecurity into Academic Curricula," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(12), pages 1-22, December.
    8. Clair Bullock & Gregory Hitzhusen, 2015. "Participatory Development of Key Sustainability Concepts for Dialogue and Curricula at The Ohio State University," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(10), pages 1-29, October.
    9. Adriana Acevedo Tirado & Mariana Ruiz Morales & Odette Lobato-Calleros, 2015. "Additional Indicators to Promote Social Sustainability within Government Programs: Equity and Efficiency," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(7), pages 1-17, July.
    10. Mandy Singer-Brodowski & Nadine Etzkorn & Janne Von Seggern, 2019. "One Transformation Path Does Not Fit All—Insights into the Diffusion Processes of Education for Sustainable Development in Different Educational Areas in Germany," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-17, January.
    11. Paul Burger & Jan T. Frecè & Yvonne M. Scherrer & Claus-Heinrich Daub, 2014. "Strategies for Sustainability: Institutional and Organisational Challenges," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 6(11), pages 1-6, November.

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