Learning and Teaching at Navitas
17 Oct 2024

A roadmap for Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)

Over the past three years Navitas has been taking serious steps to consider the impact we have as an organisation. Aligned with our Navitas IMPACT strategy, and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) specifically focuses on our impact as an educator.

Understanding Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship

Before we delve into the specifics of ESD, it’s essential to grasp the foundations concepts of “sustainable development” and “global citizenship”.

  • Sustainable Development is often associated with the environment; however, sustainability is a broad term that encompasses much more. It refers to meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (Brundtland Report, Our Common Future, Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987) including social equity, economic development, and environmental protection.
  • Global Citizenship entails belonging to a community that transcends national borders, emphasising our shared humanity and interconnectedness across local and global contexts, and is based on universal values like human rights, democracy, non-discrimination, and diversity, promoting a better future for all (UNESCO, 2016).

Why is ESD Important?

As educators we are uniquely positioned to affect change in society (UNESCO 2016). As an interdisciplinary teaching approach, ESD promotes skills, knowledge, attitudes, and values that:

  • enable students to understand the interconnectedness of social, cultural, economic, and environmental global challenges, linking academic learning to real-world sustainability challenges, making education more relevant and engaging.
  • recognise their impacts on society and the environment, and encourage students to question, analyse, and reflect on sustainability issues, while instilling a sense of responsibility and motivation to contribute positively to society.
  • contribute to sustainable solutions locally and globally (UNESCO, 2016), applying theoretical knowledge to practical problems, enhancing their learning experience and preparing them for future careers.

“We are increasingly asking if what people learn is truly relevant to their lives, if what they learn helps to ensure the survival of our planet. Education for Sustainable Development can provide the knowledge, awareness and action that empower people to transform themselves and transform societies.” – Stefania Giannini, Assistant Director-General for Education, UNESCO (2020)

Integrating ESD into Teaching Practices

Integrating ESD can begin with small, manageable steps such as rethinking curriculum design through a sustainability lens. Some approaches to consider include:

  • Curriculum Design: Embed sustainability across courses through case studies on environmental challenges, projects on social justice, or discussions on economic sustainability.
  • Experiential Learning: Facilitate hands-on sustainability projects through community service, internships, research projects or experiential learning to deepen students’ practical understanding.
  • Interdisciplinary Approaches and Collaborative Learning: Encourage students to draw connections between different subjects and sustainability. This holistic approach not only fosters innovative thinking, but also prepares them for the collaborative nature of solving real-world sustainability challenges.

ESD Initiatives

We are excited to announce new ESD initiatives aimed at enriching our ESD commitments:

  1. ESD Community: A collaborative platform (on MS Teams) to engage and share ideas, resources, tools, and best practices to support educators in implementing ESD.
  2. ESD Working Group: A dedicated team comprising representatives from Navitas UPA colleges, focused on advancing ESD initiatives through strategic planning, research, and implementation of sustainable practices in higher education.
  3. Collaboration with Partner Universities: Emeritus Professor Geoffrey Scott FACE (Western Sydney University) led an insightful presentation for the ESD Working Group (16 April), showcasing successful ESD strategies and approaches, and was a Keynote Speaker at the UPA Learning and Teaching Conference on 24 September.
  4. All-Staff Intro to ESD Session: An introductory session on ESD (31 July) provided an overview of ESD principles, showcased successful examples, and reviewed practical strategies for implementation
  5. ESD Student Committee: Student nominations are being received from UPA colleges for the formation of an ESD Student Committee, giving UPA students a platform where to voice their ideas and suggestions, as well as feedback on UPA ESD initiatives.
  6. An ESD Framework was shared at the UPA Learning and Teaching Conference 2024 to provide a strategic approach to ESD implementation in tertiary institutions. Additional resources will be made available to colleges to support the implementation process.
  7. ESD Best Practice, Case Studies, and Implementation Guidelines: A compilation of resources to inspire and guide our educators is being developed and will be shared with UPA colleges in the coming months.

Join Us in Fostering a Sustainable Future

By equipping our students to address global challenges, we are nurturing a generation of informed and proactive citizens. Embedding ESD in higher education is a critical step towards a sustainable future and its role cannot be overstated. We invite all staff to engage with this important endeavour.

For more information on how to get involved, contact Karen McRae (Manager, Academic Education, L&T Services UPA) at Karen.McRae@navitas.com.