University education as a driver for sustainability transitions

Description du projet

De nouvelles perspectives sur le rôle de l’enseignement dans la réalisation d’une société durable

Les transitions vers la durabilité (TD) vont de pair avec l’apprentissage. L’orientation sur la manière dont les pratiques d’enseignement et d’apprentissage peuvent être améliorées fait cependant défaut. Le projet UNI4ST, financé par l’UE, vise à produire des connaissances empiriques sur la manière dont l’enseignement universitaire peut être conçu et dispensé de manière à devenir un moteur fructueux pour les TD. Il s’appuiera sur une recherche pédagogique pragmatique et sur la perspective à plusieurs niveaux des technologies de l’information pour mettre au point une boîte à outils analytique sur mesure pour les enquêtes empiriques qui sera appliquée à trois études de cas. En outre, il évaluera l’efficacité des efforts pédagogiques et se concentrera sur le processus éducatif et sa relation avec la transformation de la société.

Objectif

UNI4ST aims to create empirically grounded knowledge on how university education can be designed and performed in such a way that it becomes a fruitful driver for Sustainability Transitions (STs). Learning is considered a vital means of realising STs, but an empirical knowledge base that offers adequate guidance for the improvement of teaching and learning practices is lacking in the available literature. We address this research gap by developing a tailored analytical toolbox (methods, research instruments) for empirical investigations, inspired by pragmatist didactic research. Next, we apply the analytical tools to 3 pilot case studies of university education practices where academics, students and societal stakeholders jointly address sustainability challenges in the local community. This results in knowledge of how the design and performance of teaching and learning practices produce outcomes that promote STs. Furthermore, it allows to develop a much-needed, systematic research agenda by formulating hypotheses for future investigations.
Through open access journal articles, academic conferences, a handbook, lectures, seminars, an opinion piece, workshops, a self-assessment manual for university teachers and a web-database with quality-assured practices, the results of UNI4ST are communicated and disseminated to varied audiences. Applications for follow-up research projects and a business plan facilitate the exploitation of the results.
Through creating state-of-the-art knowledge and the reinforcement of methodological, management, communication and entrepreneurial skills, the experienced researcher will strengthen her international profile, visibility and network in the fields of sustainability transition studies and sustainability education research and become an internationally recognised expert on this topic. This will substantially advance het scientific maturity and strengthen her capacity to obtain a position as an indepentend researcher.