Sustainability Education at a Tipping Point in the Tertiary Sector

Posted by on 15 May 2012

August 2009

A tipping point towards education for sustainability may have been reached in the tertiary sector in the South Island as institutions move quickly to explore, and in some cases, implement cross curricular education for sustainability.

Tertiary education institutions have traditional organised learning through disciplinary models of teaching and learning making it difficult to implement interdisciplinary learning around complex social issues like sustainability. Despite this limitation there is an emerging focus on content related to sustainability in both the Polytechnic and University sector.

Over the last two years the Otago Polytechnic has worked quickly to implement the concept of all graduates as sustainable practitioners. The upshot has resulted in a redesign of qualifications and course statements, student profiles, student outcomes, assessment and the teaching and learning process to address sustainability education. Much of this change is focused on a more cross-disciplinary learning process that is beginning to challenge traditional organisational structures.

CPIT in Christchurch is currently reviewing the impact of education for sustainability across the institution to determine next steps. Furthermore, both the University of Otagoand Canterbury University have established terms of reference for cross-institutional management teams to review and report back on the implications of how to manage education for sustainability in each organisation.

Watch this space! We might see some new opportunities emerge from the tertiary sector over the next couple of years!

Barry

Image source: Otago University