mars
2018
,
How can we systematically integrate sustainability into Higher Education curricula?
Host: Centre for Environment and Sustainability, GMV, at University of Gothenburg and Chalmers.
REGISTER HERE: https://www.anpdm.com/public/event/RegistrationForm/41445C447648425A467340
It is widely acknowledged that education is an integral mechanism to help people lead a “sustainable” life. Driven by the Swedish Higher Education Act, the University of Gothenburg has been striving to strengthen its profile in terms of embracing sustainability and sustainable development in its educational and operational activities. To this end, the idea of integrating sustainability into the curricula has been running for a while both at Gothenburg University and Chalmers. Among the efforts so far, the center for environment and sustainability (GMV) has been promoting course labeling mechanism and the use of ESD toolbox. Likewise, the recent GU’s 2017-2019 Action Plan for the Environment and Sustainable Development has emphasized the need to increase and assure the quality of integrating sustainable development into courses and study programmes. Despite the aforementioned endeavors, the 2017 thematic report from the university chancellor highlighted that it is not evident that these efforts are directly contributing to the development of education in corresponding subject areas. This begs questions such as:
How can we create a space and systematically integrate sustainability into HE curricula? Is integration always in terms of adding teaching content? Could it also be a shift in perspective?
In an effort to contribute to the aforementioned endeavors, the sustainability coordinators and the environmental management team at GMV, have planned a second forum on curricular integration of sustainability. In the forum, best practices and challenges across GU and Chalmers will be shared by speakers from both universities.
Time Activity 09-09.10: Welcome and Introduction – Kassahun Weldemariam and Eddi Omrcen, GMV. 09.10-09.30: Education for sustaianable development in Practice: the case of Challenge Lab at Chalmers– John Holmberg, Professor in Physical Resource Theory, UNESCO Chair Holder. 09.30-09.50: Experience from integrating sustainable development into higher education at GU and UKÄ’s national evaluation – Barbro Robertsson, Lecturer Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, and UKÄ evaluation committee. 09.50-10.10: Sustainability in everyday life – what is the difference between curricula development in an on campus course and a MOOC – Anna Nyström Claesson, Lecturer, Technology Management and Economics, Chalmers. 10.10-10.25: Discussion on key issues from the three presentations. 10.25.10.40: Fika 10.40-11.00: The ACT for Sustainability course at Wageningen University as an example of Responsive, Relevant, Responsible and Reflexive Higher Education – Arjen Wals, professor of Transformative Learning for Socio-Ecological Sustainability at Wageningen University and Guest professor at University of Gothenburg, IDPP and GMV. 11.00-11.20: “Have you thought about leaving the university? Exploring the role of outdoor learning for sustainability in higher education” – Mattias Sandberg, associate senior lecturer with a PhD in Human geography at University of Gothenburg. 11.20-11.40: Sustainability in higher education curricula – the natural science way – Johan Boman, professor in Atmospheric science at the department of chemistry and molecular biology, University of Gothenburg. Ingela Bursjöö, associate lecturer at Physics at University of Gothenburg, with a PhD in education for sustainable development 11.40-11.45: Discussion on key issues from the three presentations. 11.55-12.00: Plenary Summary and short evaluation. 12.00: Closing |