Sustainable education
Introduction
Education has an important role to play in building a sustainable future of Europe and its citizens. European schools integrate sustainability-related content into their curricula to a different extent, some do it through a cross-curricular approach and some integrate it through specific school subjects. Furthermore, the level of support, guidance and training that teachers receive regarding sustainability-related issues differs from school to school and from country to country.
Learning for sustainability in Europe
A new Eurydice report, Learning for sustainability in Europe: Building competences and supporting teachers and schools, was released in April 2024. The report explains how European countries integrate sustainability education into their respective curricula and school activities and explores whether this integration is done through a holistic, cross-curricular approach or through specific subjects. The report can be read here.
What is sustainable education?
Sustainable education integrates the principles of sustainability into the curriculum and pedagogy. This means teaching students not only about the environmental but also economic and social dimensions of sustainability and how they interconnect. For example, lessons can cover topics such as renewable energy, sustainable tourism, and the importance of biodiversity, alongside discussions on social equity and economic justice. In practical terms, integrating sustainable education into the classroom can be greatly enhanced through project-based learning by partnering with local community organizations, businesses, and stakeholders. One such example would be a school collaboration with local transport authorities or bike-share programs to encourage sustainable transportation options like biking, walking or public transport. Students would learn about the environmental impact of different transportation modes, the benefits of active transportation, and how urban planning affects sustainability. This kind of project would have a community benefit in terms of reducing traffic congestion, lowering greenhouse gas emissions, and promoting healthier lifestyles.
By integrating such community-based projects into the curriculum, schools can provide students with hands-on, experiential learning opportunities that make sustainability tangible and relevant. These collaborations not only enhance educational outcomes but also contribute to the well-being of the local community, creating a mutually beneficial relationship that fosters a culture of sustainability.
Europeana and sustainable education
There are numerous interesting learning scenarios on Teaching with Europeana blog that deal with sustainability-related issues. One such scenario called Enjoying holidays sustainably explores sustainable tourism- what is the impact of the tourist industry on the environment? Is the environment always respected? Are we draining the natural habitat that attracts tourists in the first place? In another scenario called Sustainable future 4 European heritage students explore and study how humans have influenced the environment and culture: they compare landscapes, cities and other cultural buildings in the past and today. Then, they suggest possible solutions to the problems that emerged due to the human impact, in line with the sustainable development.
Conclusion
Sustainable education requires collaboration, creativity and dedication. As teachers, we have the responsibility to shape the minds and values of future European citizens. By integrating sustainability into our teaching practices and curricula we can empower our students to become informed and active participants of their society who are ready to tackle the environmental and social challenges ahead.
CC0 1.0: the featured image used to illustrate this article has been found on Europeana and has been provided by the Pärnu Museum.