ESD in Bosnia and Herzegovina: Implementing Innovative Methodologies in a University Elective Course

Abstract

Education is essential for progress toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and universities are pivotal in advancing education for sustainable development (ESD). While many countries have a long history of ESD in higher education, some, including those on the European continent, have only recently begun implementing it. In addition, despite being located in the same geographic region or country, universities often differ significantly in their approaches to ESD. This chapter examines the history and practice of Social Responsibility and Sustainable Development, a university elective course primarily targeting first-year students from diverse academic programs at the International University of Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Specifically, the chapter focuses on the implementation of the 17 Rooms methodology during the Spring 2023 iteration of the course. The 17 Rooms is an innovative methodology developed by a joint team from the Brookings Institution and the Rockefeller Foundation in 2018 to stimulate new forms of action for the SDGs. The chapter discusses the experience and pedagogical applicability of the methodology to a tertiary classroom context. The analysis emphasizes the need for more comprehensive and practical approaches to education for sustainable development in higher education, particularly in countries with nascent ESD implementation.