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STEM Education and Education for Sustainable Development: From Theory to Practice

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Education and Approaches".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2025 | Viewed by 1786

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Departamento de Ciencias, Universidad Pública de Navarra, 31006 Pamplona, Navarra, Spain
Interests: ICT integration; teaching for sustainability; use of local natural resources for teaching science
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The intersection of STEM education and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) is critical for equipping future generations with the skills and knowledge necessary to address global challenges. STEM education provides the foundational skills required for innovation, systematic thinking, and problem-solving. Meanwhile, ESD aims to empower individuals with the understanding, values, and actions required for developing a sustainable future. Integrating these educational paradigms fosters a holistic approach to learning that not only advances scientific and technological capabilities but also promotes sustainability.

This Special Issue will bridge the gap between theoretical frameworks and practical applications in the fusion of STEM education and ESD. By showcasing cutting-edge research and innovative practices, we will highlight the transformative potential of integrated STEM-ESD curricula and methodologies.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Curriculum Development and Integration: Designing and implementing curricula that synergize STEM subjects with sustainability concepts;
  • Pedagogical Approaches: Innovative teaching strategies that effectively combine STEM education and ESD principles;
  • Assessment and Evaluation: Tools and metrics for evaluating the effectiveness of integrated STEM-ESD programs;
  • Case Studies and Best Practices: Real-world examples of the successful integration of STEM and ESD in educational settings.

This Special Issue invites authors to submit contributions that explore these themes, aiming to advance both the theoretical understanding and practical implementation of STEM education and Education for Sustainable Development.

I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. María Napal
Guest Editor

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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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.

Keywords

  • STEM education
  • education for sustainable development (ESD)
  • competences in sustainability
  • pedagogical innovations
  • socio-scientific issues
  • socially acute questions

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

26 pages, 2483 KiB  
Article
Innovative Approach to ESD Integration into School-Based Curriculum Development Modules for Elementary Schools
by Li-Ching Hung and Hsiang-Ju Pan
Sustainability 2025, 17(4), 1427; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17041427 - 10 Feb 2025
Viewed by 1146
Abstract
This study explores the curriculum development process and implementation challenges of a case school transitioning from a local to an ESD curriculum. Data were collected over 13 months through observations, interviews, and analysis of curriculum documents to examine the school’s curriculum development trajectory. [...] Read more.
This study explores the curriculum development process and implementation challenges of a case school transitioning from a local to an ESD curriculum. Data were collected over 13 months through observations, interviews, and analysis of curriculum documents to examine the school’s curriculum development trajectory. The findings reveal that the school uses core concepts to link learning themes across grade levels, fostering a deeper and more coherent understanding of sustainability among students. Engagement and collaboration with key stakeholders provide diverse perspectives, and the school’s curriculum design is generally responsive to the concerns of its internal stakeholders. This study develops four perspective modules for ESD curriculum transformation: systemic, interdependent, comparative, and dialectical. In addition to analyzing the distinct applications of these perspectives, this research also discusses their usability in designing and implementing ESD in educational environments. These modules are designed to assist curriculum designers and practitioners in navigating the inherent complexities and contradictions of sustainability issues through innovative pedagogical approaches and to provide a valuable framework for educators transitioning from environmental education or local curricula to robust ESD implementation. Full article
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