Journal of Baltic Science Education

262-263

Authors: Walter Leal Filho

Education for sustainable development is one of the most important tools in raising awareness about environmental issues within a sustainable development context, i.e. a context in which environmental matters are taken into consideration along with economic, social, political and ethical issues. With the decision to run the UN Decade on Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2014), the United Nations acknowledges the usefulness of and the need for identifying suitable initiatives, approaches and methods, via which knowledge on sustainable development may be fostered, bearing in mind its inherent complexity. But even though much has been said and written about education for sustainable development, there are still many problems associated with its execution. For example, there is a need to identify and document the wide range of projects and initiatives taking place today, and which exemplify the types of works that can be done, in a concrete manner. A second problem is in relation to the fact that even though much is happening, few of the current works are properly disseminated. Moreover, even though the integration of matters related to sustainable development at university level is a highly desirable goal, there are barriers preventing this from taking place, which need due consideration.

273-284

Authors: Walter Leal Filho

Sustainable development is a matter of great concern to both countries and individuals alike. Whereas in the late 1980s sustainable development was perceived as a matter of concern only to nations, there has been an increased awareness about the fact that it permeates all parts of our lives. Some of the trends related to the evolution of sustainable development can be seen among various sectors, also at universities. Due to their relevance, universities are uniquely placed to pass on the messages of sustainable development to a wide audience. Yes, this potential has not yet been fully realised. This paper describes the evolution of the concept of sustainable development and process behind the its establishment at university level, including an analysis of the problems related to it and their roots. It also states what universities need to do in order to claim excellence in the field of sustainable development, listing a set of criteria that need to be fulfilled in order to achieve this goal.

302-314

Authors: María Novo, María-Ángeles Murga-Menoyo, María-José Bautista-Cerro

Within the framework of the Bologna Process, the UNESCO Chair in Environmental Education and Sustainable Development, based at the National University of Distance Education of Spain, is developing research in the field of educational innovation with the aim of incorporating in its learning model the methodological procedures resulting from recent developments in information technology. The teaching innovation projects presented in this work have been designed for students of Environmental Education and Sustainable Development as part of their Environmental Sciences and Education Courses, who were used to test the learning potential of two teaching methodologies: a) the Cmap Tools editor for the construction of concept maps, which is particularly designed to enhance understanding of the relations that make up the conceptual structure of the topics of study; and b) online collaborative learning groups, intended to promote team work and encourage participation, dialogue and divergent thought, all of which are central to education for sustainability. Each pilot project generated material and resources specifically designed for this purpose and entailed a consistent assessment process.

324-333

Authors: Davi Fouad Soubihia, Charbel Jose Chiappetta Jabbour, Walter Leal Filho

This paper presents the results of a study on the analysis of training needs regarding environmental (green) management and climate change topics in micro and small enterprises (MSEs) in Brazil and its implications on education for sustainable development. It reports on an e-mail survey of Brazilian small enterprises, whose results indicate that they are indeed interested in environmental management and climate change topics in an education for sustainable development context. The study indicates that proposals for courses on environmental management and climate change should follow a systemic perspective and take sustainable development into account. By applying factor analysis, it was found that the topics of interest can be grouped into thematic modules, which can be useful in the design of training courses for the top management leaders of those companies.