Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Education for sustainable development: current discourses and practices and their relevance to technology education

  • Published:
International Journal of Technology and Design Education Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Technology education is a well-established field of knowledge whose applications have many ramifications. For example, technology education may be used as a tool in meeting the challenges of sustainable development. However, the usefulness of technology education to the sustainability debate as a whole and to education for sustainable development in particular, has largely been overlooked in the past. Indeed, there is a paucity of academic studies which examine the contribution technology education may provide to education for sustainable development. On the basis of the need to address this knowledge gap, this paper reviews the state of affairs in relation to education for sustainable development and considers its links and appropriateness to technology education. A further objective of this paper is to present examples of initiatives and existing practices around the world, drawing partly from the results of the 1st European Conference on Education for Sustainable Development held in Greece in October 2007, as well as from other initiatives undertaken in Europe and North America. Finally, some measures that may be adopted in order to enhance the contribution of technology education to education for sustainable development are outlined.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bi Tony, H. (2005, November). Integrating sustainability into Chemical & Biological Engineering curricula at UBC, AIChE Annual Meeting, Session TE011, Cincinnati.

  • Capdevila, I., Bruno, J., & Jofre, L. (2002). Curriculum greening and environmental research co-ordination at the Technical University of Catalonia, Barcelona. Journal of Cleaner Production, 10(1), 25–32. doi:10.1016/S0959-6526(01)00019-1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ferrer-Balas, D., Bruno, J., & Sans, R. (2002). Experiences of curriculum greening at the Technical University of Catalonia in the frame of the environmental plan (1996–2001). Proceedings Engineering Education in Sustainable Development, Delft.

  • Foster, J. (2001). Education as sustainability. Environmental Education Research, 7(2), 153–165. doi:10.1080/13504620120043162.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gross, D. (2000). Human nature articles: Three questions on education for sustainable development vol. 5(2), GreenCom.

  • Huckle, J., & Sterling, S. (1996). Education for sustainability. London: WWF & Earthscan.

    Google Scholar 

  • IUCN, WWF, & UNEP. (1991). Caring for the earth. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • King, K. P. (2005). Bringing transformative learning to life. Malabar, FL: Krieger.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leal Filho, W. (Ed.). (2000). Communicating sustainability. Frankfurt: Verlag Peter Lang.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leal Filho, W., & Pace, P. (2006). The UN Decade of education for sustainable development: Meeting the challenges or another missed opportunity? In E. I. Manolas (Ed.), Proceedings of the 2006 Naxos international conference on sustainable management and development of mountainous and island areas Vol. 1. Greece: Dept of Forestry and Management of the Environment & Natural Resources, Democritus University of Thrace.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marsall, J. D., & Toffel, M. W. (2005). Framing the elusive concept of sustainability: a sustainability hierarchy. Environmental Science and Technology, 39(3), 673–682. doi:10.1021/es040394k.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martin, E. G., & Martin, C. (2006). Best practices in technology education. Illinois: Technical Foundation of America.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moore, J. (2005a). Barriers and pathways to creating sustainability education programs: policy rhetoric and reality. Environmental Education Research, 11(5), 537–555. doi:10.1080/13504620500169692.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moore, J. (2005b). Seven recommendations for creating sustainability education at the university level: A guide for change agents. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 6(4), 326–333. doi:10.1108/14676370510623829.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mulder, K. F., & De Werk, G. (2004). Engineering in sustainable development. NPT Procestechnologie, 11(1), 11–13.

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Sullivan, A. D., & Painter, D. (2007). Advancing Sustainability through University Academic FormationExperience with a Professional Engineering Program. Available: http://www.pce.govt.nz/projects/engineering.pdf.

  • Pace, P. (2000). Attitudes towards environmental education in the Maltese formal education system. In W. Leal Filho (Ed.), Communicating sustainability. Environmental education, communication and sustainability (Vol. 8). Peter Lang: Frankfurt am Main.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pavlova, M. (2007). Some practical solutions for achieving the ideals of sustainability: A case study of a technology teacher education program. Paper presented at the 1st European Conference on Education for Sustainable Development, Orestiada-Soufli, Greece, 5–7 October 2007.

  • Schleicher, K. (1996). Environmental ethics. In W. Leal Filho, F. MacDermot & J. Padgham (Eds.), Implementing sustainable development at university level. UK: European Research & Training Centre on Environmental Education, University of Bradford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scoullos, M. J. (1998) (ed) Environment and society: Education and public awareness for sustainability. Proceedings of the Thessaloniki International Conference. (8–12 December 1997). UNESCO & Government of Greece.

  • Seemann, K. (2003). Basic principles in holistic technology education. Journal of Technology Education, 14(2), 28–39.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smyth, J. C. (2002). Are educators ready for the next earth summit? millennium papers series, issue 6. London: Stakeholder Forum for Our Common Future.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tal, T. (2005). Implementing multiple assessment modes in an interdisciplinary environmental education course. Environmental Education Research, 11(5), 575–601. doi:10.1080/13504620500169767.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tilbury, D. (1995). Environmental education for sustainability: Defining the new focus of environmental education in the 1990s. Environmental Education Research, 1(2), 195–212. doi:10.1080/1350462950010206.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • UNCED (United Nations Conference on Environment, Development). (1992). The United Nations conference on environment and development: A guide to agenda 21. Switzerland: UN Publications Office, Geneva.

    Google Scholar 

  • UNEP. (1987) Connect Vol. XII, No. 3. September 1987.

  • UNESCO. (1980). Environmental education in the light of the Tbilisi conference. France: UNESCO.

    Google Scholar 

  • UNESCO. (1997). Educating for a sustainable future: A transdisciplinary vision for concerted action. Paris: UNESCO.

    Google Scholar 

  • UNESCO. (2005). Report by the director-general on the United Nations decade of education for sustainable development: International implementation scheme and UNESCO’s contribution to the implementation of the decade. Paris: UNESCO.

    Google Scholar 

  • UNESCO-UNEP. (1988). International strategy for action in the field of environmental education and training for the 1990s. Paris/Nairobi: UNESCO - UNEP.

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nations. (1992). The UN conference on environment and development: A guide to agenda 21. Geneva: UN Publications Service.

    Google Scholar 

  • van Matre, S. (1990). Earth education: A new beginning. West Virginia: Institute of Earth Education.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, P. J., & Keirl, S. (2001). The teaching and learning of technology in australian primary and secondary schools. Paper presented at the IDATER (International Conference on Design and Technology Educational Research) 2001 Conference. Loughborough: Loughborough University.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Walter Leal Filho.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Leal Filho, W., Manolas, E. & Pace, P. Education for sustainable development: current discourses and practices and their relevance to technology education. Int J Technol Des Educ 19, 149–165 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10798-008-9079-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10798-008-9079-z

Keywords

Navigation