Sustainable Education and Approaches
A section of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050).
Section Information
Education in diverse forms and multiple contexts provides the means whereby each generation passes on its culture, discoveries, successes and failures to the next. Without inter-generational education, very little in a human context can be sustainable. Education is also important to formulate, challenge and disseminate ideas, knowledge, skills and values within communities, from young to not so young, and between communities, nations and continents. Education is identified as a key element of sustainability-focused strategies in many contexts and levels: signatories to the Talloires Declaration1 promise to “educate for environmentally responsible citizenship”; and Agenda 212 declares that education “is critical for achieving environmental and ethical awareness, values and attitudes, skills and behaviour consistent with sustainable development and for effective public participation in decision- making.” The critical role of education has been reconfirmed recently in the formulation of the Sustainable Development Goals3 and the Global Action Programme on Education for Sustainable Development4.
And yet, education also provides the means whereby societies can consolidate and perpetuate, or sustain, ways of knowing, being and doing that may nurture economies or individual societies or communities, but may not be sustainable in other respects. The concept of sustainability demands that we consider long time periods, environmental stability, and the needs of people in diverse places and of non-human inhabitants of the planet. A key challenge for this section is, therefore, to help scholarly communities distinguish between educational approaches that seek to sustain the ‘unsustainable’ from those that seek something else, whatever that may be. Research about, or to promote, high-quality education that does not challenge the status quo will not readily find a place within this section.
Accordingly, Section Editors for the section ‘Sustainable Education and Approaches’ are interested in original and scholarly research articles, conceptual articles, review articles and commentaries that link education to environmental, cultural, economic and social sustainability and sustainable development. The section ‘sustainable education and approaches’ welcomes the full range of previously-unpublished scholarly communication indicated within the journal’s aims (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability/about). Also, in line with this journal’s policy of having no restriction on the overall length of the paper, Section Editors will expect academic communications to be concise, clear and readable. Authors are advised to make full use of ‘supplementary material’ in their submissions.
1 Association of University Leaders for a Sustainable Future 1994, The Talloires Declaration 10 Point Action Plan. Accessed 15th December 2017 at http://ulsf.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/TD.pdf
2 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (1992): Agenda 21. Rio Declaration on Environment and Development. Online at: "http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/documents/agenda21/english/agenda21toc.htm".
3 United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) (2017): Education for Sustainable Development Goals. Learning Objectives. Paris: UNESCO. Online at: http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0024/002474/247444e.pdf
4 United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) (2014): Roadmap for Implementing the Global Action Programme on Education for Sustainable Development. UNESCO. Paris.
Editorial Board
Topical Advisory Panel
Special Issues
Following special issues within this section are currently open for submissions:
- Social Sciences Education for Sustainable Development (Deadline: 31 May 2022)
- Innovative Pedagogies for Cultivating Leadership amidst the Climate Change Crisis (Deadline: 31 May 2022)
- Training, Education and Research in Covid-19 Times: Innovative Methodological Approaches, Best Practices, and Case Studies-Volume 2 (Deadline: 31 May 2022)
- University Education in the Age of COVID-19: Creativity, Innovation and New Methodologies (Deadline: 31 May 2022)
- Using the Sustainable Development Goals for Citizenship Education: Challenges and Opportunities (Deadline: 31 May 2022)
- Education for Environmental Citizenship (Deadline: 31 May 2022)
- Entrepreneurship and Sustainability of Higher Education (Deadline: 31 May 2022)
- Post-COVID-19 Education for a Sustainable Future: Challenges, Emerging Technologies and Trends (Deadline: 15 June 2022)
- Modelling, Assessment, and Promotion of Climate Literacy (Deadline: 22 June 2022)
- Sustainability in Water & Climate Change Environmental Education (Deadline: 30 June 2022)
- Future Online Learning for Education Resilience – Humanized, Flexible and Smart (Deadline: 30 June 2022)
- Impact of Covid-19 on Students and Teachers in Higher Education Institutions. Proposals and Policies for Improvement (Deadline: 30 June 2022)
- Trends, Challenges and Opportunities for Education in the New Agenda 2030 (Deadline: 30 June 2022)
- Sustainable Education: The Educational Response to Students with Disabilities (Deadline: 30 June 2022)
- Promoting Pro-environmental Awareness and Behaviors in Campus (Deadline: 30 June 2022)
- Education to Influence Pro-environmental Behavior (Deadline: 30 June 2022)
- Environmental Education Researches (Deadline: 30 June 2022)
- Pro-environmental Behavior – Social and Cultural Aspects (Deadline: 30 June 2022)
- Bullying and Cyberbullying: Challenges toward a Sustainable Campus (Deadline: 30 June 2022)
- The Climate Competence in Education (Deadline: 30 June 2022)
- Sustainable Education Technologies in Big Data and Artificial Intelligence Era (Deadline: 7 July 2022)
- Effectiveness of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in Kindergarten, School and University: Empirical Educational Research Perspectives (Deadline: 31 July 2022)
- Understanding Teachers’ Emotions and Well-being for Sustainable School Development (Deadline: 31 July 2022)
- Sustainable Development of STEAM and Mathematics Education with Active and Innovative Methodology (Deadline: 31 July 2022)
- Environmental Education and Green Behavior (Deadline: 1 August 2022)
- Sustainability and Citizenship: Integration of Socio-Scientific Issues in Science Education (Deadline: 15 August 2022)
- Educational Intelligence and Emerging Educational Technology (Deadline: 31 August 2022)
- E-learning Personalization Systems and Sustainable Education (Deadline: 31 August 2022)
- Active School Concept (Deadline: 31 August 2022)
- Education and Worklife in Times of Uncertainty: Challenges Emerging from the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Field of Sustainable Development (Deadline: 1 September 2022)
- Aspirations within Interdisciplinary STEM/STEAM Education under the Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) (Deadline: 10 September 2022)
- Sustainable Education: From Flipped to Personalized Learning (Deadline: 15 September 2022)
- Innovation in Physical Education, Physical Activity and Sport (Deadline: 15 September 2022)
- Intersecting Issues of Sustainability and Inclusivity in Engineering Education (Deadline: 15 September 2022)
- Digitalization of Education: Technology Enhanced Learning (Deadline: 15 September 2022)
- Educational Research in the Era of 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (Deadline: 30 September 2022)
- Sustainable Cybersecurity: Information Technology and Education (Deadline: 30 September 2022)
- Advances in Research for Innovation in Teaching in Different Areas of Knowledge: A Step Toward Educational Sustainability (Deadline: 30 September 2022)
- Applied Linguistics and Language Education for Sustainable Development (Deadline: 30 September 2022)
- Sustainable Development Goals in Tertiary Education for Sustainability (Deadline: 30 September 2022)
- Intercultural Education and Promotion of Sustainability, as An Improvement in Educational Quality, with A Focus on Technological Advancement (Deadline: 30 September 2022)
- Language Education in the Age of AI and Emerging Technologies (Deadline: 30 September 2022)
- The Relationships between Positive Psychology and the Teaching and Learning Process (Deadline: 30 September 2022)
- Sustainable Mobile Learning and Learning Analytics (Deadline: 2 October 2022)
- Innovation and Advances in Digital Technology-based Educational Design: Digital Competence of Students and Teachers (Deadline: 10 October 2022)
- Challenges and Opportunities for Sustainable Education in Teacher Training in Time of Pandemic (Deadline: 15 October 2022)
- Metacognition, Learning Strategies, and Self-Regulated Learning to Promote Sustained Learning (Deadline: 20 October 2022)
- Mobile Technology, Gamification and Artificial Intelligence to Improve Sustainability in Education (Deadline: 31 October 2022)
- Education for Sustainable Development: Toward Quality and Inclusive Education for All (Deadline: 31 October 2022)
- New Approaches to the Flipped Learning Model and a Pedagogical Update of the Flipped Classroom (Deadline: 31 October 2022)
- Innovation and Sustainable Development of Seamless Education and Teaching Methods (Deadline: 31 October 2022)
- Health Education and COVID-19 Pandemic: Towards a Holistic Sustainability (Deadline: 31 October 2022)
- High-Quality Education Equity for Promoting Educational Sustainable Development (Deadline: 31 October 2022)
- Environmental Education for Nursing Students: Environmental Awareness for Sustainable Healthcare (Deadline: 31 October 2022)
- Outdoor Education for Sustainability (Deadline: 31 October 2022)
- Innovative Practices in Education for Sustainability and Their Relation to Evaluation (Deadline: 31 October 2022)
- Online Higher Education for Sustainable Development (Deadline: 31 October 2022)
- Sustainable Early Childhood Education for the Sustainable Development of Aging China (Deadline: 1 November 2022)
- Approach and Policy in Higher Education for Sustainability (Deadline: 5 November 2022)
- Sustainable Learning in Education of Sustainability (Deadline: 15 November 2022)
- Sustainable E-learning and Education with Intelligence (Deadline: 15 November 2022)
- New Post-pandemic Digital Educational Scenarios (Deadline: 26 November 2022)
- Rebuilding Education: STEM Education Practices and Research during the Post-COVID-19 Era (Deadline: 30 November 2022)
- Sustainability in Educational Gamification (Deadline: 30 November 2022)
- Integrated Learning Innovations (Deadline: 30 November 2022)
- Technology Enhanced Learning and Resilience in Higher Education Institutions during COVID-19 and Beyond: Challenges and Opportunities (Deadline: 10 December 2022)
- Sustainable Intelligent Education Programs (Deadline: 15 December 2022)
- Innovative Teaching and Learning in Education for Sustainability (Deadline: 15 December 2022)
- Sustainable Development of Teaching Methods and Education System (Deadline: 15 December 2022)
- Social Networking Sites (SNS) and Digital Learning (Deadline: 15 December 2022)
- Higher Education and Sustainable Development of Universities (Deadline: 31 December 2022)
- Education for Sustainable Future and Economic Development (Deadline: 31 December 2022)
- Transnational Research Collaboration and Its Impact (Deadline: 31 December 2022)
- Technology-Enhanced Learning and Teaching: Sustainable Education (Deadline: 31 December 2022)
- Physical Education and Educational Innovation for Sustainability (Deadline: 31 December 2022)
- Sustainable Transition to Online Learning during Uncertain Times (Deadline: 31 December 2022)
- Individual and Socio-cultural Factors on Language and Academic Achievement to Promote PK-16 Educational Sustainability (Deadline: 31 December 2022)
- Digital Education for Sustaining Our Society (Deadline: 31 December 2022)
- Physical Education, Exercise, and Sport for a Sustainable Environment and Lifestyle (Deadline: 31 December 2022)
- Sustainable Education and Social Networks (Deadline: 31 December 2022)
- Education for Sustainable Development (Deadline: 31 December 2022)
- Science and Education for Public Policy – towards Sustainable Development (Deadline: 11 January 2023)
- STEAM Education for All? Mapping the Terrain of International Cooperation Development Projects (Deadline: 15 January 2023)
- Impact of COVID-19 on Education (Deadline: 15 January 2023)
- AI-Driven Chatbots and AI-Empowered Interactive Learning Environments for Teaching and Learning (Deadline: 30 January 2023)
- New Directions for Diversity, Inclusion and Sustainability in Higher Education (Deadline: 31 January 2023)
- Sustainable Open Education (Deadline: 31 January 2023)
- Physical Education for Sustainability: Policy and Practice (Deadline: 31 January 2023)
- Education, Natural Environment and Awareness for Sustainability (Deadline: 31 January 2023)
- Education for Sustainable Development: Advancing in Education for Citizenship (Deadline: 31 January 2023)
- Blockchain in Distance Learning Education (Deadline: 31 January 2023)
- Sustainable Teacher Training and Academic Outcomes During Uncertain Times (Deadline: 1 February 2023)
- Frontier Progress in STEM Education and Sustainability 2.0–Thriving in the Age of Climate Change (Deadline: 9 February 2023)
- Sustainable Inspiration of Flexible Education (Deadline: 10 February 2023)
- The Implications of Higher Education for Sustainable Development (Deadline: 15 February 2023)
- Towards Sustainable Language Learning and Teaching (Deadline: 15 February 2023)
- IoT and Modern Technologies—Adequate Tools for Teaching and Practicing Physical Exercises in Time of Pandemic Crisis (Deadline: 1 March 2023)
- E-learning and Sustainability in Higher Education (Deadline: 15 March 2023)
- Digital Transformation of Education: Advances in Research Methodology and Theory Development (Deadline: 20 March 2023)
- Digital Transformation of Education for Sustainable Development (Deadline: 22 March 2023)
- Citizen Science and Its Role in Education for Sustainable Development (Deadline: 30 March 2023)
- Childhood Education and Sustainable Society (Deadline: 13 April 2023)
- Inclusive Education and Digital Transition. A Path to Sustainable Social Inclusion (Deadline: 30 April 2023)
- Professional Competency Development and Talent Cultivation Strategies for Sustainable Education in the Post-Pandemic Era (Deadline: 30 April 2023)
- Education for Sustainable Development: Current Issues and Future Implications (Deadline: 1 May 2023)
- Exploring Technologies for Sustainable Learning Experience: Augmented Reality (AR) in Education Systems (Deadline: 30 May 2023)
- Teaching and Learning for Embedding Sustainability in Higher Education (Deadline: 31 May 2023)
- Challenges and Opportunities of Higher Education in a Post-COVID-19 World: Headed for Sustainable Development (Deadline: 10 June 2023)
- Psychology and Education for a Sustainable World, Current Advances and Cutting-Edge and Innovative Developments, Especially from the Use of the New Digital Framework (Deadline: 15 June 2023)
- Socio-educational Globalization and Ubiquitous Technologies for the Development of Sustainable Citizenship during the COVID-19 Pandemic (Deadline: 3 July 2023)
- Education for Sustainable Development: Transversal Skills in Sustainability in Higher Education (Deadline: 12 July 2023)
- ICT in Education—Between Risks and Opportunities (Deadline: 3 July 2024)
Topical Collections
Following topical collections within this section are currently open for submissions:
- Approaches and Methods of Science Teaching and Sustainable Development
- Education for Sustainable Development in Higher Education
- Education, Innovation and Training for Sustainable Development in the Context of COVID-19
- Ensuring Quality Education and Good Learning Environments for Students
- Graduate Employment and Sustainability in a Global and Changing Labour Market: Challenges and Opportunities for Higher Education
- Higher Education in Innovation Ecosystems
- Innovative Practices in Engineering Education: Concept and Implementation
- Science Education Promoting Sustainability
- Sustainability, Motivation and the Teaching-Learning Process in Physical Education and Sport
- Sustainable Citizenship and Education
- Sustainable Teaching and Learning Strategies in the Digital Age
- Teacher Professional Development in ESD
- The Role of Education and Learning in Creating Agents of Change for Sustainability
- Towards a Sustainable Future through Innovative STEM Education