Abstract
This article presents a case study of an existing study abroad program to New Zealand interested in infusing sustainability themes into the curriculum. The review of the program is set in the context of United Nations Education for Sustainable Development goals and the role of sustainability in institutions of higher education. The author was an invited external observer and suggests that study abroad programs in support of sustainability education provide transformative learning experiences that invest in the well being of both people and places.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Association of International Educators (2006). Americans Call for Leadership on International Education. Retrieved July 13, 2006, from http://www.nafsa.org/_/Document/_/americans_call_for_leadership.pdf.
Calder, W. (2005). The UN decade of education for sustainable development: A progress report. The Declaration, 7(2), 1, 5–8.
Carl, D., Kindon, S., & Karen, S. (2007). Tourists’ experiences of film locations: New Zealand as ‘Middle-Earth’. Tourism Geographies, 9(1), 49–63.
Clark, W., & Dickson, N. (2003, March 7). Sustainability science: The emerging research program. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Retrieved July 13, 2006, from http://www.pnas.org/cgi/reprint/1231333100v1.pdf.
Commission on the Abraham Lincoln Study Abroad Fellowship Program. (2005). Global competence and national needs: One million Americans studying abroad. Retrieved October 12, 2007 from http://www.lincolncommission.org.
Globalexplorers. (2007). Core disciplines. Retrieved October 12, 2007, from http://www.globalexplorers.org/site/main/about/core_disciplines/.
Eisen, A., & Barlett, P. (2006). The Piedmont Project: Fostering faculty development toward sustainability. The Journal of Environmental Education, 38(1), 25–36.
Farrell, T.A., & Ollervides F. (2005). The school for field studies center for coastal studies: A case study of sustainable development education in Mexico. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 6(2), 122–133.
Foster, J. (2001). Education as sustainability. Environmental Education Research, 7(2), 153–165.
Geli de Ciurana, A. M., & Leal Filho, W. (2006). Education for sustainability in university studies: Experiences from a project involving European and Latin American universities. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 7(1), 81–93.
Hall, C. M., & Kearsley, G. W. (2001). Tourism in New Zealand. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
State of Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i Tourism Authority. (2005). Hawai‘i Tourism Strategic Plan 2005–2015. Retrieved October 12, 2007, from http://www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/pdf/tsp2005_2015_final.pdf.
Heck, D. (2005). Institutionalizing sustainability: The case of sustainability at Griffith University Australia. Applied Environmental Education and Communication, 4, 55–64.
Kaikoura Information and Tourism, Inc. (2007). Our environment. Retrieved October 12, 2007, from http://www.kaikoura.co.nz/.
Kates, R., Parris, T., & Leiserowitz, A. (2005). What is sustainable development? Goals, indicators, values, and practice. Environment, 47(3), 8–21.
Koeman, A., Worboys, G., De Lacy, T., Scott, A., & Lipman, G. (2002). Green globe: A global environmental certification program for travel and tourism. In M. Honey (Eds.), Ecotourism and certification: Setting standards in practice (pp. 229–324). Washington: Island Press.
Living Routes. (2007). Sustainability education. Retrieved October 12, 2007, from www.livingroutes.org/programs/education.htm.
Moody, G., Alkaff, H., Garrison, D., & Golley, F. (2005). Assessing the environmental literacy requirement of the University of Georgia. The Journal of Environmental Education, 36(4), 3–9.
New Zealand Government. (2007a). 5th New Zealand Biosecurity Summit. Retrieved October 12, 2007, from www.biosecurity.govt.nz/.
New Zealand Tourism Strategy 2010. (2007b). Retrieved October 12, 2007, from http://www.nztourismstrategy.com.
Nga Hau e Wha National Marae. (2007). Nga Kete Wananga-o-Otautahi. Retrieved October 16, 2007, from http://www.library.christchurch.org.nz.
Rebello, D. (2003). What is the role for higher education institutions in the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development? Retrieved July 13, 2006, from http://www.unesco.org/iau/sd/pdf/Rebello.pdf.
Sanders, A., & Norton, D. A. (2001). Ecological restoration at mainland islands in New Zealand. Biological Conservation, 99, 109–119.
Santone, S. (2003). Education for sustainability. Educational Leadership, 61(4), 60–63.
Senate of the United States. (2005). Senate Resolution 308 Retrieved October 10, 2007, from http://www.yearofstudyabroad.org/pdf/10-AKitSenateRes.pdf.
Sherren, K. (2006). Reflections on sustainability in Australian University coursework programs. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 7(4), 400–413.
Stevenson, R. (2006). Tensions and transitions in policy discourse: Recontextualizing a decontextualized EE/ESD debate. Environmental Education Research, 12(3–4), 277–290.
Thomas, I., & Nicita, J. (2002). Sustainability education and Australian Universities. Environmental Education Research, 8(4), 475–492.
Tucker, H. (2007). Performing a young people’s package tour of New Zealand: Negotiating appropriate performances of place. Tourism Geographies, 9(2), 139–159.
World Commission on Environment, Development. (1987). Our common future. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Readers should send their comments on this paper to: BhaskarNath@aol.com within 3 months of publication of this issue.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Cusick, J. Study abroad in support of education for sustainability: a New Zealand case study. Environ Dev Sustain 11, 801–813 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-008-9144-5
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-008-9144-5