Conference : Education for Sustainability in Higher Education - Achievements and Prospects
8th January 2015, Plymouth University, hosted by PedRIO and the Centre for Sustainable Futures
January is named after Janus, the Roman god of gateways, endings and beginnings, so this is a timely opportunity to look back at what has been achieved in sustainability education and to explore and consider its future prospects and potential in higher education. This coming January also sees the end of the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and the ten-year anniversary of HEFCE’s influential policy document Sustainable Development in Higher Education, and marks ten years since the Centre for Sustainable Futures (CSF) was established here at Plymouth University, with the ambitious goal to embed sustainability across university policy and practice, particularly in teaching and learning.
This conference will bring together, showcase, and celebrate achievements in sustainability-related teaching and learning, Continuing Professional Development (CPD), pedagogic research, resource development, hybrid learning space design, and whole institutional change. We welcome abstracts for research papers and posters (500 words maximum) on the themes shown below.
While we particularly welcome submissions that address the indicative questions included here, we also invite broader abstracts that align with these overarching themes of the conference. ESD Pedagogy: Criticality, Creativity and Collaboration: What are the teaching and learning processes that enable students to (i) develop their own capacity to think critically and creatively in the face of global sustainability challenges and (ii) act collaboratively in ways that pursue more hopeful and sustainable futures?
Innovative Learning Spaces for sustainability education: What are the physical and social environments that provide opportunities for new forms of sustainability education to flourish? What lies beyond the lecture hall that is conducive to student learning through inquiry-based, active, participatory, interdisciplinary, and experiential methods?
Towards the Sustainable University: What are effective approaches for leading institutional change, organisational learning, and staff CPD towards sustainability? To submit an online abstract please click here (deadline: 12th September 2014).
Please note that while attending the conference is free (lunch and refreshments will be provided), delegates will be responsible for paying for their own travel and accommodation. If you have further queries or would like any additional information, please email Adam Fisher (adam.fisher@plymouth.ac.uk) or Dr Lynne Wyness (lynne.wyness@plymouth.ac.uk).
We look forward to seeing you there!
