Creating curricula for competence: Findings from a comparison of three sustainability graduate programs
Publikation: Beiträge in Sammelwerken › Kapitel › begutachtet
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North American and European Perspectives on Sustainability in Higher Education.. Hrsg. / Walter Leal Filho; Julie Newman; Amanda Lange Salvia; Lais Viera Trevisan; Laura Corazza. Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland AG, 2025. S. 1173-1188 (World Sustainability Series; Band Part F280).
Publikation: Beiträge in Sammelwerken › Kapitel › begutachtet
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TY - CHAP
T1 - Creating curricula for competence: Findings from a comparison of three sustainability graduate programs
AU - Birdman, Jodie
AU - Lang, Daniel J.
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2025.
PY - 2025/3/29
Y1 - 2025/3/29
N2 - In order to navigate the complex challenges associated with the transition to a more sustainable future, the world needs sustainability change agents. These persons will need key problem-solving competencies. Universities are one of the routs potential change agents choose when looking to build the knowledge, skills, and attitudes they require. To meet this need, university curricula must reorient itself. In this study, we used the Key Competence framework by Wiek et al. (Sustain Sci 6:203–218, 2011) as a potential orientation point. To understand what curricular elements contribute to competence development and how, we followed the students from three graduate sustainability programs for the entirety of their studies. During this time, they participated in interviews and focus groups to help us illuminate their experiences. This information was triangulated with interviews with their instructors, program coordinators, curriculum designers, in vivo observation, and course and program literature. We found that the interplay of existing student attitudes, experiences, and curriculum design created a complex process through which engaging in student-centered activities such as experience-based and project-based learning embedded in a rich curriculum spurred developments. These developments required a combination of support and exchange with fellow students and persons external to their programs to flourish.
AB - In order to navigate the complex challenges associated with the transition to a more sustainable future, the world needs sustainability change agents. These persons will need key problem-solving competencies. Universities are one of the routs potential change agents choose when looking to build the knowledge, skills, and attitudes they require. To meet this need, university curricula must reorient itself. In this study, we used the Key Competence framework by Wiek et al. (Sustain Sci 6:203–218, 2011) as a potential orientation point. To understand what curricular elements contribute to competence development and how, we followed the students from three graduate sustainability programs for the entirety of their studies. During this time, they participated in interviews and focus groups to help us illuminate their experiences. This information was triangulated with interviews with their instructors, program coordinators, curriculum designers, in vivo observation, and course and program literature. We found that the interplay of existing student attitudes, experiences, and curriculum design created a complex process through which engaging in student-centered activities such as experience-based and project-based learning embedded in a rich curriculum spurred developments. These developments required a combination of support and exchange with fellow students and persons external to their programs to flourish.
KW - Curriculum
KW - Experiential learning
KW - Higher education
KW - Key competencies for sustainability
KW - Project-based learning
KW - Transdisciplinary studies
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105002737228&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/978-3-031-80434-2_64
DO - 10.1007/978-3-031-80434-2_64
M3 - Chapter
SN - 978-3-031-80433-5
SN - 978-3-031-80436-6
T3 - World Sustainability Series
SP - 1173
EP - 1188
BT - North American and European Perspectives on Sustainability in Higher Education.
A2 - Filho, Walter Leal
A2 - Newman, Julie
A2 - Salvia, Amanda Lange
A2 - Trevisan, Lais Viera
A2 - Corazza, Laura
PB - Springer Nature Switzerland AG
CY - Cham
ER -