Sustainable Education: The Role of Innovation

Dear Colleagues,

The transition toward a sustainable future requires transformative changes in education and innovative approaches, involving the empirical validation of experiences. Integrated innovations in the classroom should be evaluated to assess their effectiveness on students' learning and to establish research plans. Thus, research on learning is closely linked to innovation. Furthermore, the boundaries between innovation and research are not always easy to delimit as, in general terms, research can both drive innovation and be influenced by it. The literature emphasizes that teacher-driven innovation involves intention and planning. Thus, research is crucial as it pertains to two important aspects: it both catalyzes and evaluates innovation.

Therefore, this Special Issue explores how innovation—technological, pedagogical, and institutional—can drive sustainability in education. We welcome contributions that examine cutting-edge approaches, including digital tools, interdisciplinary curricula, policy frameworks, and community-driven initiatives, that foster innovative and sustainable mindsets and practices. Papers may address case studies, theoretical advancements, or empirical research, highlighting the role of innovation in shaping sustainable education systems. This Special Issue encourages the submission of theoretical and empirical studies on the following themes (although other relevant topics will also be considered):

• Empirically validated and innovative educational interventions.
• Curricula and innovation.
• Educative policy and innovation.
• Digital transition and innovation.
• Technology, innovation and special needs.
• Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and innovation.

Prof. Dr. Juan Carlos Bustamante
Dr. Natalia Larraz Rábanos
Dr. Manuel Segura-Berges 
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.