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EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT – ECONOMICS STUDENTS’ PERSPECTIVES AT AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING IN SOUTH AFRICA

Year 2019, Volume: 11 Issue: 1, 53 - 68, 17.06.2019
https://doi.org/10.34111/ijebeg.20191114

Abstract

Sustainable development has become a major concern in recent years. Faced with a possible unsustainable future, including depletion of natural resources, greenhouse gases, environmental degradation, and the need to provide housing, food, water, and health care for an ever-increasing population, these novel complex problems will challenge citizens globally, and everything that has life in the world. This has led to the need for awareness of sustainable development, from university students, so that they are equipped with the knowledge to advocate for changes in behaviour, for a sustainable future. This study aimed at identifying how knowledgeable Economics students are on sustainability issues, establishing their level of concern on sustainability issues affecting South Africa and the globe, and finding out their personal lifestyles and reflections on sustainability concerns. A quantitative study was adopted, where questionnaires were distributed to second- and third-year Economics students at an institution of higher learning. The results were analysed from 114 responses using t-tests as well as ANOVA tests. The findings indicate that students are highly knowledgeable and concerned about water and energy savings concepts, and least knowledgeable about waste disposal concepts. The students felt that they have a responsibility towards taking care of the environment and society. The results also indicated that their lifestyles do not reflect their concerns about sustainability. Although the study found that the students lack knowledge on some key sustainability concepts such as sustainable development, they are concerned about sustainability of water and energy. In addition, though their lifestyles do not reflect their concerns about sustainability, the students are interested in learning more about sustainability. It is recommended that institutions of higher learning integrate programs to educate the students more on the importance of sustainable development.

References

  • Adomßent, M., Fischer, D., Godemann, J., Otte, I., Rieckmann, M., Timm, J-M., & Herzig, C. (2014). Emerging Areas in Research on Higher Education for Sustainable Development: Management education, sustainable consumption and perspectives from Central and Eastern Europe. Journal of Cleaner Production, Vol. 62, No. 1, pp 1-7.
  • Alvarez, A., & Rogers, J. (2006). Going “Out There”: Learning About Sustainability in Place. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, Vol. 7, No. 2, pp 176–188.
  • Arkava, M. L. and Lane, T. A. (1983). Beginning social research work. Boston: Allyn and Bacon
  • Armstrong, C.M. (2011). Implementing Education for Sustainable Development: The Potential use of Time-Honoured Pedagogical Practice from the Progressive Era of Education. Journal of Sustainability Education, Vol. 2, 2011.
  • Baniasadi, N., Bazargan, Z., Sadeghi N. & Zahir, A.T. (2013). Education for Sustainable Development: A Survey Of Knowledge And Attitude Of Tehran Elementary Schools Students With Respect To ESD To Key Concepts. European Journal of Experimental Biology, Vol.3, No. 5, pp15–619.
  • Barth, M. & Michelsen, G., (2013). Learning for Change: An Educational Contribution to Sustainability Science, Sustainability Science, Vol. 8, No. 1, pp 103–19.
  • Teachers’ Views. Sustainability. Vol.5, No.7
  • Clarke, P. (2012). Education for Sustainability. Becoming Naturally Smart. New York; Routledge.
  • Cress, C. (2004). Critical Thinking Development in Service-Learning Activities: Pedagogical Implications for Critical Being and Action. Inquiry: Critical Thinking across the Disciplines, Vol.23, pp 87-93.
  • Dannenberg, S. & Grapentin, T. (2016). Education for Sustainable Development. Learning for Transformation. The Example of German. Journal of Future Studies. Vol. 20, No. 3, pp 7-20
  • Frisk, E. & Larson, K.L. (2011). Educating for Sustainability: Competencies & Practices for Transformative Action. Journal of Sustainability Education, Vol. 2.
  • Goddard, W. (2005). Research Methodology – An Introduction. 2nd Edition. Lansdowne: Juta and Co. Ltd.
  • Hicks, D. (2002). Lessons for The Future: The Missing Dimension in Education. Futures and Education Series. London: Routledge.
  • Loubser, C.P. (2015). Students’ Views about the Inclusion of Environmental Education and Education for Sustainability in Teacher Education Courses. Int J Edu Sci, Vol. 8, No. 1, pp 93-100
  • Martens, D.M. (2005). Research and Evaluation in Education and Psychology. California: Sage Publication, Inc.
  • McKeown, R. (2006). Education for sustainable development toolkit. http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0015/001524/ 152453eo.pdf. [ Accessed 22/06/2018].
  • Mezirow, J (1996). Contemporary Paradigms of Learning. Adult Education Quarterly, Vol 46, Issue 3, pp. 158 - 172
  • Mochizuki, Y. and Yarime, M. (2016). Education for Sustainable Development and Sustainability Science: Re-Purposing Higher Education And Research. (In: Barth, M., Michelsen, G., Rieckmann, M. and Thomas, I. (eds.). Routledge Handbook of Higher Education for Sustainable Development). Abingdon, Oxon and New York, NY: Routledge. pp. 11-24
  • O’Sullivan, E. (2002). The Project and Vision of Transformative Learning. (In E. O’Sullivan, A. Morrell, and M. O’ Connor (eds). Expanding the Boundaries of Transformative Learning: Essays on theory and praxis). New York: Palgrave Macmillan. pp 1-12
  • Reza, M. (2016). Sustainability in Higher Education: Perspectives of Malaysian Higher Education System. SAGE open, pp 1-9.
  • Santone, S. Saunders, S & Seguin, C. (2014). Essential Elements of Sustainability in Teacher Education. Journal of Sustainability Education, Vol. 6.
  • Sterling, S. (2001). Sustainable Education: Re-visioning Learning and Change. Schumacher Briefings. No. 6. Green Books Ltd.
  • Sterling, S. 2011. Transformative Learning and Sustainability: Sketching the Conceptual Ground. Learning and Higher Education, Vol. 5, pp 17-33.
  • Struwig, F.W. (2001). Planning, Designing and Reporting Research. Cape Town: Pearson Education , South Africa.
  • Teise, K. (2013). Education for Sustainable Development: Exposing Social Sustainable Policy Imperatives for South African Education. PhD Thesis. University of Free State.
  • Tuncer, G., Tekkaya, C., Sungur, S., Cakiroglu, J., Ertepinar, H., & Kaplowitz, M. (2009). Assessing Pre-Service Teachers’ Environmental Literacy in Turkey As A Mean To Develop Teacher Education Programs. International Journal of Educational Development, Vol. 29, pp 426–436.
  • Uitto, A. & Saloranta, S. (2017). Subject Teachers as Educators for Sustainability: A Survey Study. Educ. Sci. Vol 7, No. 8.
  • UNCED (1992). Agenda 21. http://www.un.org/ esa/dsd/agenda21/[Accessed 16.08.2017].
  • UNESCO (2002). Education for Sustainability from Rio to Johannesburg: Lessons learnt from a decade of commitment. http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0012/001271/127100e.pdf. [Accessed 14.04.2018]
  • UNESCO (2005). World decade of education for sustainable development. http://www.unesco.org/new/en/ education/themes/leading-the-international-agenda/education-forsustainable-development/ [Accessed 16.08.2017].
  • UNESCO (2014). Roadmap for Implementing the Global Action Programme on Education for Sustainable Development. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Paris, France.
  • Wals, A. (2010). Mirroring, Gestalt Switching and Transformative Social Learning: Stepping Stones for Developing Sustainability Competence. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, Vol. 11, No. 4, pp 380-390.
  • Wals, A. (2017). A Decade of Progress on Education for Sustainable Development: Reflection from the UNESCO chairs programme. UNESCO, Paris, France.
  • WCED, (1987). Our common future. Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development. G. H. Brundtland, (Ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Wiltshire, W. (2008) Teachers’ Guide for Education for Sustainable Development in the Caribbean. UNESCO Regional Bureau of Education for Latin America and the Caribbean OREALC / UNESCO Santiago
  • Zikmund, W.G. (2003). Business Research Methods. Ohio: South Western.
Year 2019, Volume: 11 Issue: 1, 53 - 68, 17.06.2019
https://doi.org/10.34111/ijebeg.20191114

Abstract

References

  • Adomßent, M., Fischer, D., Godemann, J., Otte, I., Rieckmann, M., Timm, J-M., & Herzig, C. (2014). Emerging Areas in Research on Higher Education for Sustainable Development: Management education, sustainable consumption and perspectives from Central and Eastern Europe. Journal of Cleaner Production, Vol. 62, No. 1, pp 1-7.
  • Alvarez, A., & Rogers, J. (2006). Going “Out There”: Learning About Sustainability in Place. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, Vol. 7, No. 2, pp 176–188.
  • Arkava, M. L. and Lane, T. A. (1983). Beginning social research work. Boston: Allyn and Bacon
  • Armstrong, C.M. (2011). Implementing Education for Sustainable Development: The Potential use of Time-Honoured Pedagogical Practice from the Progressive Era of Education. Journal of Sustainability Education, Vol. 2, 2011.
  • Baniasadi, N., Bazargan, Z., Sadeghi N. & Zahir, A.T. (2013). Education for Sustainable Development: A Survey Of Knowledge And Attitude Of Tehran Elementary Schools Students With Respect To ESD To Key Concepts. European Journal of Experimental Biology, Vol.3, No. 5, pp15–619.
  • Barth, M. & Michelsen, G., (2013). Learning for Change: An Educational Contribution to Sustainability Science, Sustainability Science, Vol. 8, No. 1, pp 103–19.
  • Teachers’ Views. Sustainability. Vol.5, No.7
  • Clarke, P. (2012). Education for Sustainability. Becoming Naturally Smart. New York; Routledge.
  • Cress, C. (2004). Critical Thinking Development in Service-Learning Activities: Pedagogical Implications for Critical Being and Action. Inquiry: Critical Thinking across the Disciplines, Vol.23, pp 87-93.
  • Dannenberg, S. & Grapentin, T. (2016). Education for Sustainable Development. Learning for Transformation. The Example of German. Journal of Future Studies. Vol. 20, No. 3, pp 7-20
  • Frisk, E. & Larson, K.L. (2011). Educating for Sustainability: Competencies & Practices for Transformative Action. Journal of Sustainability Education, Vol. 2.
  • Goddard, W. (2005). Research Methodology – An Introduction. 2nd Edition. Lansdowne: Juta and Co. Ltd.
  • Hicks, D. (2002). Lessons for The Future: The Missing Dimension in Education. Futures and Education Series. London: Routledge.
  • Loubser, C.P. (2015). Students’ Views about the Inclusion of Environmental Education and Education for Sustainability in Teacher Education Courses. Int J Edu Sci, Vol. 8, No. 1, pp 93-100
  • Martens, D.M. (2005). Research and Evaluation in Education and Psychology. California: Sage Publication, Inc.
  • McKeown, R. (2006). Education for sustainable development toolkit. http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0015/001524/ 152453eo.pdf. [ Accessed 22/06/2018].
  • Mezirow, J (1996). Contemporary Paradigms of Learning. Adult Education Quarterly, Vol 46, Issue 3, pp. 158 - 172
  • Mochizuki, Y. and Yarime, M. (2016). Education for Sustainable Development and Sustainability Science: Re-Purposing Higher Education And Research. (In: Barth, M., Michelsen, G., Rieckmann, M. and Thomas, I. (eds.). Routledge Handbook of Higher Education for Sustainable Development). Abingdon, Oxon and New York, NY: Routledge. pp. 11-24
  • O’Sullivan, E. (2002). The Project and Vision of Transformative Learning. (In E. O’Sullivan, A. Morrell, and M. O’ Connor (eds). Expanding the Boundaries of Transformative Learning: Essays on theory and praxis). New York: Palgrave Macmillan. pp 1-12
  • Reza, M. (2016). Sustainability in Higher Education: Perspectives of Malaysian Higher Education System. SAGE open, pp 1-9.
  • Santone, S. Saunders, S & Seguin, C. (2014). Essential Elements of Sustainability in Teacher Education. Journal of Sustainability Education, Vol. 6.
  • Sterling, S. (2001). Sustainable Education: Re-visioning Learning and Change. Schumacher Briefings. No. 6. Green Books Ltd.
  • Sterling, S. 2011. Transformative Learning and Sustainability: Sketching the Conceptual Ground. Learning and Higher Education, Vol. 5, pp 17-33.
  • Struwig, F.W. (2001). Planning, Designing and Reporting Research. Cape Town: Pearson Education , South Africa.
  • Teise, K. (2013). Education for Sustainable Development: Exposing Social Sustainable Policy Imperatives for South African Education. PhD Thesis. University of Free State.
  • Tuncer, G., Tekkaya, C., Sungur, S., Cakiroglu, J., Ertepinar, H., & Kaplowitz, M. (2009). Assessing Pre-Service Teachers’ Environmental Literacy in Turkey As A Mean To Develop Teacher Education Programs. International Journal of Educational Development, Vol. 29, pp 426–436.
  • Uitto, A. & Saloranta, S. (2017). Subject Teachers as Educators for Sustainability: A Survey Study. Educ. Sci. Vol 7, No. 8.
  • UNCED (1992). Agenda 21. http://www.un.org/ esa/dsd/agenda21/[Accessed 16.08.2017].
  • UNESCO (2002). Education for Sustainability from Rio to Johannesburg: Lessons learnt from a decade of commitment. http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0012/001271/127100e.pdf. [Accessed 14.04.2018]
  • UNESCO (2005). World decade of education for sustainable development. http://www.unesco.org/new/en/ education/themes/leading-the-international-agenda/education-forsustainable-development/ [Accessed 16.08.2017].
  • UNESCO (2014). Roadmap for Implementing the Global Action Programme on Education for Sustainable Development. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Paris, France.
  • Wals, A. (2010). Mirroring, Gestalt Switching and Transformative Social Learning: Stepping Stones for Developing Sustainability Competence. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, Vol. 11, No. 4, pp 380-390.
  • Wals, A. (2017). A Decade of Progress on Education for Sustainable Development: Reflection from the UNESCO chairs programme. UNESCO, Paris, France.
  • WCED, (1987). Our common future. Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development. G. H. Brundtland, (Ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Wiltshire, W. (2008) Teachers’ Guide for Education for Sustainable Development in the Caribbean. UNESCO Regional Bureau of Education for Latin America and the Caribbean OREALC / UNESCO Santiago
  • Zikmund, W.G. (2003). Business Research Methods. Ohio: South Western.
There are 36 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Journal Section Articles
Authors

Mk Kimanzi This is me

Publication Date June 17, 2019
Submission Date February 12, 2019
Published in Issue Year 2019 Volume: 11 Issue: 1

Cite

APA Kimanzi, M. (2019). EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT – ECONOMICS STUDENTS’ PERSPECTIVES AT AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING IN SOUTH AFRICA. International Journal of EBusiness and EGovernment Studies, 11(1), 53-68. https://doi.org/10.34111/ijebeg.20191114
AMA Kimanzi M. EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT – ECONOMICS STUDENTS’ PERSPECTIVES AT AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING IN SOUTH AFRICA. IJEBEG. June 2019;11(1):53-68. doi:10.34111/ijebeg.20191114
Chicago Kimanzi, Mk. “EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT – ECONOMICS STUDENTS’ PERSPECTIVES AT AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING IN SOUTH AFRICA”. International Journal of EBusiness and EGovernment Studies 11, no. 1 (June 2019): 53-68. https://doi.org/10.34111/ijebeg.20191114.
EndNote Kimanzi M (June 1, 2019) EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT – ECONOMICS STUDENTS’ PERSPECTIVES AT AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING IN SOUTH AFRICA. International Journal of eBusiness and eGovernment Studies 11 1 53–68.
IEEE M. Kimanzi, “EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT – ECONOMICS STUDENTS’ PERSPECTIVES AT AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING IN SOUTH AFRICA”, IJEBEG, vol. 11, no. 1, pp. 53–68, 2019, doi: 10.34111/ijebeg.20191114.
ISNAD Kimanzi, Mk. “EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT – ECONOMICS STUDENTS’ PERSPECTIVES AT AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING IN SOUTH AFRICA”. International Journal of eBusiness and eGovernment Studies 11/1 (June 2019), 53-68. https://doi.org/10.34111/ijebeg.20191114.
JAMA Kimanzi M. EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT – ECONOMICS STUDENTS’ PERSPECTIVES AT AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING IN SOUTH AFRICA. IJEBEG. 2019;11:53–68.
MLA Kimanzi, Mk. “EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT – ECONOMICS STUDENTS’ PERSPECTIVES AT AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING IN SOUTH AFRICA”. International Journal of EBusiness and EGovernment Studies, vol. 11, no. 1, 2019, pp. 53-68, doi:10.34111/ijebeg.20191114.
Vancouver Kimanzi M. EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT – ECONOMICS STUDENTS’ PERSPECTIVES AT AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING IN SOUTH AFRICA. IJEBEG. 2019;11(1):53-68.