TITEL DER VERANSTALTUNG TITEL DER PRÄSENTATION

Workshop: “Where’s the link”?
Sharing experiences of mainstreaming sustainable development
in different disciplinary curricula
Karl Herweg, Anne Zimmermann, Lara Lundsgaard-Hansen, CDE, Uni Bern
Sustainable Development: what Role does Science want to play?
Or how severe do we think the situation is?
I think I’ve got
parasites …
Nonsense!
Just take a
short break.
No pulse!
Emergency
surgery!
Pretty late.
Have you ever
heard of «EXIT»?
Positioning the Workshop “Where’s the link”?

Vision of Sustainable Development (SD): the need for a great
transformation



Transformation as democratic societal «search and learn» process
What is the societal contribution of science?
How can Education for Sustainable Development support this
transformation?


SD included in the Swiss Federal Constitution of 1999
Mandate from the Cantonal Government to the University of Bern to
integrate SD (SD included in University Law)
Mandate from UniBE Rectorate to Faculties
Mandate to CDE: assist the Rectorate and UniBE lecturers
Project: Guidelines and Tools for including SD in Tertiary Education



Workshop «Where is the Link?», 18 March 2015, SUD St. Gallen, Centre for Development and Environment (CDE)
Tentative Structure of the Guidelines and Tools
Based on a workshop with SD-interested colleagues in Oct 2014

Background information: mandates, concept of transformation

Sustainable Development and Education for SD

SD – value orientation and implications for the science paradigm

Key qualifications (goals, competences, learning outcomes, etc.)

Contents, didactics, methodology

Linking one’s own discipline with SD


Disciplinary contributions to SD

Case studies
Annex
Workshop «Where is the Link?», 18 March 2015, SUD St. Gallen, Centre for Development and Environment (CDE)
Who is the Target Group?
Interest in SD
high
low
apparent
Connection
between
Discipline
and SD
How can hidden
links be made
apparent?
hidden
CoP, on board
Missing thematicmethodological link
Missing motivationalemotional link
Difficult to reach
them immediately
Workshop «Where is the Link?», 18 March 2015, SUD St. Gallen, Centre for Development and Environment (CDE)
Workshop «Where is the Link?»
Goal: capitalise on participants’ experiences and gain interesting insights
into the question of how to mainstream sustainable development into
different disciplinary curricula
Outcome: progress in establishing procedures (to integrate SD in existing
curricula and courses) and strengthening the community of practice (CoP)
Main question: what is your experience of identifying the link between your
discipline – or another – and SD?
Guiding questions:

What thematic or other links exist between my discipline and
sustainable development?

What are the specific disciplinary challenges?

What are the conceptual challenges?

How do I define learning outcomes related to this topic?

What didactic approach would be the most appropriate?
A
B
C
Workshop «Where is the Link?», 18 March 2015, SUD St. Gallen, Centre for Development and Environment (CDE)
Types of Knowledge needed for SD
Target Knowledge
Systems Knowledge
Vision: where do we want to go?
How does the
system work? What
processes are being
observed? Which
ones may destroy or
support the system?
Quelle: S. Gisler et al. 2010
Transformation Knowledge
How to move the system towards the target / vision?
Cartoon: K Herweg
Workshop «Where is the Link?»
Systems Knowledge
Understanding processes –
how the «system» works
Target Knowledge
Vision – where do we want
to go?
Transformation Knowledge
– how do we get there?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Functioning of nature, society, economy, politics
Transparent costs
Historical development
Human actions, behaviour
Power structures
…
Ethics
Justice, legal systems
Values
Visions
Recognise dogmas
Critical reflection
Negotiation, participation
…
Monitoring, indicators, methods
Alternative systems (energy, use of resources, social contract, economy)
Modelling, anticipation
Technology development
Legislation, laws, rules, institutions
Languages
Communication
Education
…
Workshop «Where is the Link?», 18 March 2015, SUD St. Gallen, Centre for Development and Environment (CDE)
Workshop «Where is the Link?»
How students envisage the links between SD and their discipline
Geography
Social
Media & Bus. admin.,
Psychology
anthropology Communic.
Economy
Philosophy
Maths,
Physics, IT
Languages,
Law
Systems
Knowledge
Target
Knowledge
Transformation
Knowledge
Workshop «Where is the Link?», 18 March 2015, SUD St. Gallen, Centre for Development and Environment (CDE)
How to implement ESD at university level?
4 levels of intensity, depth of engagement (based on Sterling & Thomas 2006):
1) denial (no change)
2) ‘bolt-on’ approaches (education about sustainability)
3) ‘build-in’ approaches (education for sustainability)
4) and finally curriculum redesign (sustainable education)
Levels 3 & 4 require more transformative learning, as well as a learning
and changing institution.
Workshop «Where is the Link?», 18 March 2015, SUD St. Gallen, Centre for Development and Environment (CDE)