Module manager: Dr Syafiq Mat Noor
Email: S.MatNoor@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2024/25
This module is not approved as an Elective
Education for Sustainable Development was born from the need for education to address growing sustainability challenges. This module is a response to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and employs action-oriented, innovative pedagogies to enable students to develop knowledge and awareness, and take action to transform society into a more sustainable one. It aims to address grand challenges, such as future food security, global mental health, social inequality, the climate emergency, and global security, and explores how these issues can be addressed through education. Students will be equipped with the knowledge, skills, and pedagogical tools necessary to inspire and enact change through education.
Students will gain knowledge about the core concepts and objectives of Education for Sustainable Development. This includes an exploration of how Education for Sustainable Development acts as a transformative force in achieving a sustainable future, using both theoretical frameworks and practical examples. Students will also examine various pedagogical approaches and methodologies used in Education for Sustainable Development, investigating how they contribute to transformative learning and action.
Students will develop the ability to critically analyse and understand the complexity of grand challenges, such as future food security, global mental health, social inequality, the climate emergency, and global security. This involves engaging in deep reflection on the interconnectedness of these issues and their impact on different aspects of society and the environment. In addition, students will learn to appreciate the need for innovative, interdisciplinary educational approaches to address these challenges, moving beyond traditional problem-solving methods. In particular, addressing these grand challenges often requires considering the role of education, and how teaching and learning happens outside of traditional schooling contexts.
Students will acquire skills in integrating knowledge from various disciplines to design and implement creative and sustainable solutions to real-world problems in education. This objective focuses on innovation and practical application, emphasising the importance of diverse perspectives and collaborative efforts in problem-solving. Students will also gain an understanding of the entire process of project development in the educational context, from ideation to implementation, ensuring that solutions are feasible, effective, and sustainable.
The core component of the module is the grand challenges project, which serves as a focal point for applying the knowledge and skills gained throughout the course. Students will deepen their understanding of critical issues such as future food security, global mental health, social inequality, the climate emergency, and global security, and develop practical skills in addressing them. The assessment element of the module is designed to encourage students to think critically and creatively, engaging them in hands-on experiences that bring theoretical concepts to life.
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
1. Understand the principles and practices of Education for Sustainable Development and its pivotal role in shaping a sustainable future through transformative learning and action.
2. Critically reflect on and analyse some of the world’s most complex and persistent issues in education, understanding their multifaceted nature and the necessity for innovative, interdisciplinary solutions.
3. Design interdisciplinary, innovative solutions to real-world challenges in education, integrating diverse knowledge and approaches for sustainable impact.
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
4. The ability to integrate systems, anticipatory, and critical thinking to address complex educational challenges, applying strategic, collaborative skills for innovative solutions.
5. Self-awareness and ethical competencies, enabling them to engage purposefully and responsibly in various personal and professional contexts within the field of education.
Details of the syllabus will be provided on the Minerva organisation (or equivalent) for the module.
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| presentation | 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Fieldwork | 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Lecture | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Practical | 7 | 3 | 21 |
| Seminar | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Independent online learning hours | 161 | ||
| Private study hours | 100 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 39 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 300 | ||
Written feedback on discussion board in learning management system, once or twice.
Verbal feedback, individual and group seminar presentation and supervision, once or twice.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Assignment | Coursework | 100 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
The reading list is available from the Library website
Last updated: 20/12/2024
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team