ERIC Number: EJ977601
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012
Pages: 14
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1467-6370
EISSN: N/A
Embedding of ESD in Engineering Education: Experiences from Chalmers University of Technology
Svanstrom, Magdalena; Palme, Ulrika; Wedel, Maria Knutson; Carlson, Ola; Nystrom, Thomas; Eden, Michael
International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, v13 n3 p279-292 2012
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to report on methods developed, within a three-year Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) project at Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden, to achieve a higher degree of embedding of ESD in engineering programmes. The major emphasis is on methods used, results achieved and lessons learned from the work. Design/methodology/approach: The basic idea that methods and activities were built on was that the only way to achieve long-term changes is to increase the motivation and capacity of lecturers and program directors to perform the required changes. Findings: Activities that were developed and tested focused on coaching discussions and on workshops for teachers, gathering teachers from one programme at a time. These activities aimed at starting learning processes in individuals. Special care was taken into keeping the feeling of responsibility and initiative in the faculty members within the programmes. A special "resource group" of experienced ESD teachers was available as support for programme directors and lecturers. Originality/value: The methods reported on are further developments of a method that has been used in Delft University of Technology (the Individual Interaction Method) in the Netherlands. The experiences from Chalmers are discussed in such a way that they provide useful insights for others aiming at similar changes at university.
Descriptors: Engineering Education, Academic Achievement, Learning Processes, Engineering, Foreign Countries, Sustainable Development, College Faculty, Teaching Methods, Program Descriptions, Teacher Motivation, Workshops, Educational Change, Change Strategies, Curriculum
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Sweden
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A