TY - JOUR

T1 - Developing key competencies for sustainable development in higher education

AU - Barth, Matthias

AU - Godemann, Jasmin

AU - Rieckmann, Marco

AU - Stoltenberg, Ute

PY - 2007/9/25

Y1 - 2007/9/25

N2 - Purpose - To date, little attention has been given to the circumstances in which the process of developing key competencies for sustainable development may take place. The purpose of this paper is to consider, the possibilities both of formal and informal learning and their relationship to competence development within higher education. Design/methodology/approach - An explorative, qualitative study based on focus groups was designed using different groups from formal and informal learning settings. Findings - The development of key competencies is based both on cognitive and non-cognitive dispositions and asks for multiple contexts. Through combining formal and informal learning settings within higher education - as part of a new learning culture - a variety of contexts can be given and competence development can be enhanced. Research limitations/implications - While aspects of both formal and informal learning settings could be identified, the interdependencies between them remain elusive. Practical implications - Based on the findings, some main aspects for acquiring competencies can be pointed out that may be crucial in higher education settings. Originality/value - The paper analyses the implications for both formal and informal learning settings of new ways of developing key competencies within higher education. Particular attention is given to interdisciplinarity and students' self-responsibility. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited.

AB - Purpose - To date, little attention has been given to the circumstances in which the process of developing key competencies for sustainable development may take place. The purpose of this paper is to consider, the possibilities both of formal and informal learning and their relationship to competence development within higher education. Design/methodology/approach - An explorative, qualitative study based on focus groups was designed using different groups from formal and informal learning settings. Findings - The development of key competencies is based both on cognitive and non-cognitive dispositions and asks for multiple contexts. Through combining formal and informal learning settings within higher education - as part of a new learning culture - a variety of contexts can be given and competence development can be enhanced. Research limitations/implications - While aspects of both formal and informal learning settings could be identified, the interdependencies between them remain elusive. Practical implications - Based on the findings, some main aspects for acquiring competencies can be pointed out that may be crucial in higher education settings. Originality/value - The paper analyses the implications for both formal and informal learning settings of new ways of developing key competencies within higher education. Particular attention is given to interdisciplinarity and students' self-responsibility. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited.

KW - Competences

KW - Higher education

KW - Learning

KW - Sustainable development

KW - Competences

KW - Higher education

KW - Learning

KW - Sustainable development

KW - Sustainability sciences, Communication

KW - Kompetenzen

KW - Hochschulbildung

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=34848872542&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1108/14676370710823582

DO - 10.1108/14676370710823582

M3 - Journal articles

VL - 8

SP - 416

EP - 430

JO - International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education

JF - International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education

SN - 1467-6370

IS - 4

ER -