Sustainable development concept in the chemistry curriculum

Author(s):  
Suganty Kanapathy ◽  
Khai Ern Lee ◽  
Subarna Sivapalan ◽  
Mazlin Mokhtar ◽  
Sharifah Zarina Syed Zakaria ◽  
...  

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the knowledge, attitude and behaviour of foundation chemistry learners concerning the sustainable development concept. Design/methodology/approach Qualitative and quantitative studies were conducted. Atlas.ti software was used to analyse the chemistry curriculum based on selected themes and sub-themes. A survey was carried out involving 132 chemistry learners. The chemistry learners were students from a foundation programme in a local university located in Selangor, Malaysia. The collected data were analysed using SPSS 21.0 involving descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings Document analysis on the chemistry curriculum shows that water is the theme most covered in the chemistry learners’ textbook, as compared to other themes. In general, the chemistry learners have good knowledge and attitude concerning the sustainable development concept. However, their knowledge and attitude do not reflect in their behaviour as an individual, as well as in the classroom. Moreover, their knowledge, attitude and behaviour focus more on environmental dimension, as compared to other sustainable development dimensions. Practical implications This paper is instrumental in assisting educators to assess how chemistry learners perceive sustainable development, and this may help to bring about changes to improve chemistry teaching and learning processes towards education for sustainable development. Originality/value This paper is an original and novel research paper which is first conducted on sustainable development concept in chemistry curriculum in Malaysia.

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Suganty Kanapathy ◽  
Khai Ern Lee ◽  
Mazlin Mokhtar ◽  
Sharifah Zarina Syed Zakaria ◽  
Subarna Sivapalan

Purpose In Malaysia, research indicates that there is an interest amongst the stakeholders, namely, administrators and academicians to be engaged in education for sustainable development (SD), but it is rarely implemented as a part of the higher education curriculum due to various barriers. This paper aims to develop a framework for integrating SD concepts into the chemistry curriculum, using a case study approach. Design/methodology/approach This study was conducted at a local university located in Selangor, Malaysia, offering a foundation programme to students between 17 to 18 years of age. Data was collected using a qualitative approach that involved 12 experts as informants. The collected data was analysed via three coding stages, namely, open coding, category coding and thematic encoding using Atlas.ti 7.0 software. Findings The research revealed that six aspects contribute to the integration of SD concepts into the chemistry curriculum, namely, educational policy, awareness, resources, curriculum, pedagogical approach and stakeholders’ engagement. The proposed framework was formulated by considering these aspects. Originality/value The findings of this study can be used as a guide to facilitate the integration of SD concepts into the chemistry curriculum. It is expected to encourage the involvement of more teachers in adopting sustainable chemistry teaching.


2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (7) ◽  
pp. 1204-1219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrian V. Ely

Purpose The urgent challenges of sustainability require novel teaching methods facilitating different types of learning. The purpose of this paper is to examine the important role of experiential learning in higher education programmes relating to sustainability and to evaluate a number of teaching and learning activities (TLAs) that can be used to leverage this approach. Design/methodology/approach Based on questionnaire surveys carried out for over seven years with students from a highly international master’s-level course, this paper describes the utility of experiential learning theory in teaching around “innovation for sustainability”. Drawing on Kolb’s theories and subsequent modifications, the paper reviews and evaluates the TLAs used in the course that have fostered experiential learning in the classroom, including role-play seminars, case study-based seminars and sessions centred around sharing and reflecting on personal professional histories. Findings The qualitative data and discussion illustrate the utility of experiential learning approaches in post-graduate education for sustainable development, especially in generating empathy and understanding for different sustainability perspectives and priorities from around the world. In particular, the paper offers novel insights into the strengths and limitations of the TLAs. Originality/value These insights are valuable to education for sustainable development practitioners dealing with international student intakes displaying variable levels of professional experience who are looking to foster experiential learning, reflection and inter-cultural empathy. They can inform the design of classroom-based TLAs that are capable of equipping students with not only the analytical skills for career success but also the inter-cultural sensibility required for international leadership in the sustainable development domain.


2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (9) ◽  
pp. 2255-2262 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Axinte ◽  
Georgeta Vasie ◽  
Elena-Carmen Teleman ◽  
Victoria-Elena Ro.ca ◽  
Andrei-Octav Axinte

2021 ◽  
Vol 1730 (1) ◽  
pp. 012109
Author(s):  
T Absalyamov ◽  
S Absalyamova ◽  
Ch Mukhametgalieva ◽  
R Sakhapov

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 397-409 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Nesticò ◽  
Francesco Sica

Purpose The decisions taken today relating to urban renewal interventions are rarely supported by logical and operational methodologies capable of effectively rationalising selection processes. For this purpose, it is necessary to propose and implement analysis models with the aim of promoting the sustainable development of the territory. The purpose of this paper is to define a model for the optimal allocation of scarce resources. Design/methodology/approach The Discrete Linear Programming (DLP) is used for selecting investments aimed at achieving financial, social, cultural and environmental sustainability. Findings The proposed model lends itself to the construction of investment plans on behalf of both types of decision makers, of both a public and a private nature. Research limitations/implications All projects are evaluated according to multi-criteria logics, so that it is possible to find compromise solutions, in accordance with the stakeholders’ different preferences. Practical implications The model, written with A Mathematical Programming Language using DLP logics, is tested – case study – so as to define an investment programme finalised for urban renewal of a vast area. Social implications The proposed econometric model makes it possible to obtain the optimal combination of projects for urban renewal with a view to achieving the sustainable development of the territory. Originality/value Using the proposed model, all projects are evaluated according to multi-criteria logics, so that it is possible to find compromise solutions, in accordance with the stakeholders’ different preferences.


Author(s):  
Здольник ◽  
Daria Zdolnik ◽  
Тищенко ◽  
Olga Tishchenko ◽  
Тищенко ◽  
...  

The article analyzes the main causes of resistance to the principles of the sustainable development concept as the results of the research in the oil company "Bashneft". In addition, the article describes the main risks of the industry, which led to changes in strategy and, as a consequence, changes in project portfolio, including sustainable development projects. There is also a system of the implementation management of the changes related to the sustainable development concept developed and the main methods of combating and preventing resistance identified in the article.


2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (40) ◽  
pp. 73-86
Author(s):  
Sergii Bardash ◽  
Tetiana Osadcha

Research relevance lies in the irreversibility of course choice for embodiment of the sustainable development concept. However, a pluralism of opinions, concerning the implementation of model definition of this concept, as well as the priority tasks for realization of its constituents significantly decelerates the socio-economic development of Ukraine. An inadequate scientific research of the sustainable development problems on a microeconomic level generates the reduction of expected management results and the degree of progressive changes at the level of individual business units. The role and transformation of accounting science, necessary for the implementation of the sustainable development concept, are not fully disclosed. The research purpose and tasks are to determine the accounting component of sustainable development concept on the basis of the rent theory, to outline the directions of rent accounting development under the following factors influence: globalization and transformation of the ownership institution and scientific research activation on this basis, aimed at forming the theoretical and methodological baseline of rent accounting ‘as an additional income. The methodology of the research includes general scientific methods of cognition the necessity and invariant implementation of the sustainable development concept, its constituents allocation and specification; dialectical method for cognition the economic content of rent; a comparative analysis of the definition differences, formed at different stages and forms of realization of economic relations; modeling method for determining the direction and logic of the rent accounting development under the influence of such factors, as globalization and ownership institution transformation. It has been established that realization of sustainable development concept should take place with understanding of the interaction mechanisms of economic, social and environmental components. These generate new ideas about the basic socialization mechanisms and social development of human, external influences on the environment and cost estimation. The interconnection of the constituent of sustainable development concepts and the economic, social and ecological system as a whole is the basis for the theory and practice development of accounting. The accounting information creates preconditions for assessing the achievement and forecasting of further sustainable development of the economy as a separate economic entity, region, country, and the world as a whole. It has been established that the existence of discussion aspects in the treatment of rent and failure to recognize the last object of accounting should be considered as one of the essential factors in accelerating the implementation of the sustainable development concept. Bearing the results of research in mind, the development of a conceptual approach to rent accounting, as an additional entity income, should be based on the recognition the rent as a management object, that requires adequate information support for users’ requests from the accounting system side, based on the systematic development of the theoretical, methodological and organizational-practical regulations of rent accounting. The practical value of research is to formulate a methodological provision of rent accounting, which will further improve an active and passive income distribution of relation participants in the economic sphere.  The obtained scientific results will form the prospects for further research, which will lay in proving the need for the transformation of the property institute in the post-Soviet countries, to determine the models of rent relations between different parties in the field of economic relations, as well as to determine the rent-forming factors of production for the development of the rent assessing methodology.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kempe Ronald Hope, Sr.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to assess African performance for substantially reducing all forms of corruption and bribery on the continent by 2030, through the indicators for achieving Target 16.5 of the sustainable development goals (SDGs). Design/methodology/approach Drawing on the available and accessible relevant data from credible sources, this work quantifies, outlines and analyses the relationship between corruption/bribery and sustainable development as it applies primarily to sub-Saharan Africa; assesses the trends in the region through the official indicators for achieving Target 16.5 of the SDGs; and recommends other indicators for assessing ethical behaviour in African political, administrative and business leadership and institutions for achieving sustainable development and improved ethical performance towards significant reductions in all manifestations of bribery and corruption on the continent by 2030. Findings Corruption and bribery are found to affect all SDG-related sectors, undermining development outcomes and severely compromising efforts to achieve the SDGs in Africa. Consequently, prioritising corruption reduction including from money laundering, bribery and other illegal activities is a necessary requirement for achieving sustainable development, good governance, building effective and inclusive institutions as required by SDG 16, and funding the achievement of the SDGs. Originality/value The main value of the paper is the insights it provides through the very comprehensive compilation of statistical information that quantifies, and with analysis, the corruption/bribery avenues and the resultant deleterious effects on sustainable development in Africa.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 1053-1069
Author(s):  
Llorenç Bagur-Femenías ◽  
Marian Buil-Fabrega ◽  
Juan Pedro Aznar

Purpose The purpose of this research is to analyse how to adapt teaching and learning methodologies to new generations of digital natives to promote their commitment to sustainable development. The research explores the existence of a relationship between digital natives’ characteristics, individual dynamic capabilities and their commitment to innovation and therefore to sustainability. Design/methodology/approach A structural equation model is used to test the proposed hypothesis by a survey conducted with 532 digital-native higher education students. Findings The results show the existence of a significant relationship between digital natives’ competences, individual dynamic capabilities and a better approach to managing situations with regard to relationships with key stakeholders and the fostering of innovation and commitment to the social and environmental issues demanded by society. Research limitations/implications The limitations of this study are that it is based on a sample from a specific Spanish university that cannot be representative of all digital natives from all universities and different cultural contexts. The variables measuring the characteristics of digital natives have only recently been used in the academic literature. Practical implications The research proposes including individual dynamic capabilities and innovation courses in sustainable development education to accelerate the implementation of sustainable development goals. These research findings can be used as insights into the development of university programmes and courses. Originality/value This research is one of the first attempts at understanding how to promote education for sustainable development among digital natives and at identifying them as future change makers for sustainable development.


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