scholarly journals Applying Action Research in Design Curricula to Fulfill University Social Responsibility—A Case Study of the Pnguu Community of the Tsou Tribe

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (24) ◽  
pp. 7132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hsiu Ching Laura Hsieh
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Action Research ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Lifelong Learning ◽  
Design Education ◽  
Learning Goals ◽  
Positive Outcomes ◽  
New Model

Due to the mainstream emphasis on university social responsibility (USR) in global and Taiwanese higher education, there is a growing need for universities to apply design to solve community problems. This study aims to explore the practical effectiveness of integrating USR into a design curriculum, thereby constructing a new model for USR fulfillment. Action research was applied in this study. The positive outcomes of integrating USR into the planning and implementation of a course titled ‘Culture and Design Communication’ were found to align with UNESCO’s lifelong learning goals. The resulting model of USR fulfillment through design education will benefit the future sustainable development of university design education.

scholarly journals A Holistic Approach to Integrate and Evaluate Sustainable Development in Higher Education. The Case Study of the University of the Basque Country

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 392
Author(s):  
Estibaliz Sáez de Cámara ◽  
Idoia Fernández ◽  
Nekane Castillo-Eguskitza
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Basque Country ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Institutional Setting ◽  
Practical Case ◽  
Development Indicators ◽  
Agenda 2030 ◽  
The University

Since the United Nations (UN) approved the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development in 2015, higher education institutions have increasingly demonstrated their commitment by supporting several initiatives. Although a great deal of progress has been made, there is still a lack of integrative approaches to truly implement Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in higher education. This paper presents a practical case that illustrates how to design and articulate SDGs within an institutional setting adopting a holistic approach: EHUagenda 2030 plan of the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU). It is based on empirical inquiry into global and holistic sustainable transformation and a real experience to move towards a verifiable and pragmatic contribution to sustainability. This plan describes the contribution to 12 of the 17 SDGs, along with three sectorial plans (Equality Campus, Inclusion Campus and Planet Campus), as well as the refocus of the UPV/EHU’s Educational Model and the panel of sustainable development indicators, which addresses the technical aspects of monitoring the SDGs. The methodology (mapping; mainstreaming; diagnosis and definition and, finally, estimation) is systematic and replicable in other universities yet to embark upon this integration. This case study makes a contribution towards the understanding of the complexity of the changes in Higher Education and the ways to approach it.

Framing the role of higher education in sustainable development: a case study analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Suzanna Elmassah ◽  
Marwa Biltagy ◽  
Doaa Gamal
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Educational Leaders ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Study Analysis ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Case Study Analysis

Purpose Higher education institutions (HEIs) should play a fundamental role in achieving the international 2030 sustainable development (SD) agenda. Quality education is the fourth of the sustainable development goals (SDGs), and one of the targets related to this is to ensure that by 2030 all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote SD. Therefore, the SDGs provide a motive for HEIs to integrate SD concepts into their day-to-day practices. This study aims to introduce a framework for HEIs’ sustainable development assessment. Such a framework guides HEIs and educational leaders to support their countries’ commitments to achieving the SDGs. Design/methodology/approach This paper presents the results of a case study analysis of the role and successful techniques of HEIs in achieving SD in three countries, namely, Germany, Japan and Egypt. Primary data was collected by semi-structured interviews with three Cairo University officials, while secondary data was collected by reviewing the universities' official websites, reports, publications and related papers. This study introduces a novel framework for HEIs' SD analysis and assessment, which guides HEIs and educational leaders to support SD to fulfill their countries' commitments to achieving the SDGs. This framework is based on the following five categories: strategic direction and institutional working practices, supporting students, supporting university staff competencies, supporting society's stakeholders and networking and sustainable campus. Consideration is given to the potential role of HEIs to support SD in each of these areas. Findings Cairo University could learn from the novel and pioneer practices of the Leuphana University of Lüneburg, and the University of Tokyo to fill in the gaps it has in different roles. It can also put more effort into adopting the suggested higher education programs of Egypt's Vision 2030. Research limitations/implications This paper is limited to a case analysis comparing three countries, Germany, Japan and Egypt. Second, this study has not considered school education, which is equally essential in countries' SD. Practical implications HEIs can use the framework and the findings in this paper to evaluate their current roles in supporting SD, identify the gaps and take actions accordingly to address their weaknesses. Originality/value The paper compares three universities, one in each of the case study countries. It draws conclusions that identify ways in which the paper's framework and findings can guide SD practice in HEIs internationally, especially those in the developing world.

scholarly journals Student Auditing of University Social Responsibility - Reform through Reflective, Experiential Learning?

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabel Menezes ◽  
Márcia Coelho ◽  
Fernanda Rodrigues ◽  
Peter Evans ◽  
Brian Martin
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Experiential Learning ◽  
Initial Data ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Public Engagement ◽  
European Universities ◽  
The Social ◽  
Teaching Support ◽  
The Impact

The emphasis on the social responsibility of higher education institutions emerged more systematically in the Post-Bologna European context. This paper presents an overview of a case study on a certificate in university social responsibility auditing, based on three European universities: Edimburgh, Kaunas and Porto. The goal is to develop an auditor training for students based on experiential learning, that is coherent and replicable in diverse contexts and that involves the various stakeholders. The project is based on a set of benchmarks of university social responsibility developed in the context of a European project, namely:  Research, Teaching, Support for Learning and Public Engagement; Governance; Environmental and Societal Sustainability; and Fair Practices. We will report on the initial data generated by the ESSA Project, in respect of student recruitment, baseline attitudes and the impact of participation in the training and the first audit.

scholarly journals Intercultural competence of university teachers: a challenge of internationalization

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Zelenková ◽  
Dana Hanesová
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Action Research ◽  
Intercultural Competence ◽  
English Language ◽  
Course Design ◽  
Medium Study ◽  
University Teachers ◽  
Significant Deficit ◽  
Intercultural Mediators

Abstract The aim of the authors is to respond to the growing demands on the intercultural competence of university teachers due to intensified internationalization pressures on higher education, especially due to the growing number of students and teachers’ international exchanges. They report on an intercultural course design responding to this need, presenting a case study from Slovakia. First, they define the need of intercultural competence of university teachers, especially those teaching in English-medium study programmes. Then they share a) findings from a needs analysis preceding the design of a new curriculum for an intercultural competence course (ICC) at Matej Bel University (MBU) with three aims (development of linguistic, cultural and pedagogic competences); and b) results from action research during piloting the ICC course. A comparison of 2011 and 2018 surveys pointed to the growing dominance of the English language, including an increasing command of English by MBU teachers. The ICC curriculum, tailored to the pre-identified teachers’ needs, proved to be a feasible way of facilitating their intercultural competence. Its implementation revealed persistent prejudices and difficulties associated with overcoming them. It also confirmed a significant deficit in preparing university teachers for their role as intercultural mediators in English-medium courses.

Equity and Access as Keys for Opening Open Learning

2016 ◽  
pp. 263-290 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luke van der Laan ◽  
Liz Neary
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Career Development ◽  
Lifelong Learning ◽  
Open Education ◽  
Critical Perspective ◽  
Education Demand ◽  
Equity And Access ◽  
Access And Equity ◽  
Key Drivers

This chapter adopts a critical perspective of how open education (OE), based on the principles of equity and access, aligns with the mega-drivers of contemporary higher education. These include key drivers of OE such as lifelong learning, self-directed career development and credentialing. The process of synthesising learning, work and transition within what is described as the ‘conceptual age' of work, is daunting to the majority of members of the workforce globally. A combination of regulation, academic dogma underpinning traditional university models and rigid assumptions as to the nature of knowledge frustrate the promotion of OE. This case study explores a work-based learning (WBL) university program designed to broaden access and equity to universities within the context of mega-drivers shaping higher education demand. The model complements rather than competes with traditional university offerings and represents a pragmatic response to the barriers to participation and OE principles.

scholarly journals A Study of Quality Assessment in Higher Education within the Context of Sustainable Development: A Case Study from Czech Republic

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 4769 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Vykydal ◽  
Martin Folta ◽  
Jaroslav Nenadál
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Quality Management ◽  
Management System ◽  
Quality Management System ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Success Factor

Quality has become an increasingly important and critical success factor at higher education institutions, particularly universities. Numerous discussions have been held about education quality in the context of sustainable development. However, the quality of that education strongly depends on the overall quality of the management system which operates at schools. The principal aim of this article is to present the approaches to the quality management systems’ development and their assessment at universities, and share some lessons learned from this area of research. Some possibilities of the ISO 9001 standard’s implementation, as well as the application of excellence models as a response to community demands, will be discussed, especially in the context of the recently-introduced Act No. 111/1998 Coll on Higher Education Institutions, which requires quality assurance and quality evaluation. A case study from The VSB-Technical University of Ostrava shows approaches, results and effects of the quality management system implementation.

scholarly journals Teaching for a Better World. Sustainability and Sustainable Development Goals in the Construction of a Change-Maker University

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (15) ◽  
pp. 4224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisco Zamora-Polo ◽  
Jesús Sánchez-Martín
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Primary Teacher ◽  
Practical Consideration ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Postgraduate Students ◽  
Development Goals

Sustainability, as a key concept in the education field, has submitted a relevant change during the last years. Thus, there is a growing debate about its meaning. It has undergone a crucial merging of significances from many fields: Ecology, environmental awareness, but also from politics, ethics or even spiritual approaches. All these fields have been co-involved in the building of such subject concept. In this sense, this article addresses the different ways of understanding sustainability as a polyhedral concept and how sustainability can be understood under the umbrella of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Furthermore, it is proposed a conceptual framework to teach this UN Program at Higher Education, contributing to the training of undergraduate and postgraduate students from both a professional and a personal point of view. This framework is applied in a case study—in particular, in a course of Primary Teacher Degree called Didactics of Matter and Energy. This article finishes with practical consideration to build a change-maker University.

scholarly journals "The relationship of social responsibility and excellence of the public sector in achieving sustainable development of society. "Case Study of the Department of Land and Survey: علاقة المسؤولية الاجتماعية بالتميز في القطاع العام ودورهما في تحقيق التنمية المستدامة للمجتمع. "دراسة حالة لدائرة الأراضي والمساحة"

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
‏​‏​‏​​‏​‏​​‏​‏​‏​‏​‏​‏ Ghassan Awad Al - Aatharbah
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Public Sector ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Study Data ◽  
Investment Climate ◽  
The Public ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Purposive Sample

The study aimed to investigate the relationship of social responsibility and excellence of the public sector in achieving sustainable development, and to know the relevance of social responsibility and excellence to internal and external environment for Land and Survey Department in sustainable development achievement in Jordan society. T0 achieve this goal the study data was collected from a random sample totalling 120 employees. , Leaders were selected as purposive sample amounting (10), within the sample to investigate the importance of sustainable development from their perspective because they develop strategies of public policies related to national national agenda and government trends within all working methodologies. The study used questionnaire as a tool to gather information. The study found that there is an impact of CSR on excellence and also found the that there is a relationship between social responsibility and sustainable development as well as having the effect of excellence on sustainable development. The study recommended the management of land and Survey Department to empower staff; in order to enhance the work environment and the application of the principle of equality of opportunity and to authorize powers. And to review the laws and legislation that govern department work in line with national developments and aspirations in Jordan, and enhance the investment climate for investors, whether internal or external; in order to support economic development in Jordan.

scholarly journals Strategy of the University of Maribor 2021–2030

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Lifelong Learning ◽  
Academic Integrity ◽  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Quality Of Education ◽  
Institutional Autonomy ◽  
Autonomy Development ◽  
The University

The strategy of the University of Maribor pursues an inclusive, innovative and integrated higher education area that will train active, critically-thinking and responsible citizens, guarantee the quality of education and research, academic integrity, and cultivate concern for sustainable development of society. It stresses the importance of the freedom of research and institutional autonomy, development of lifelong learning, digitalisation and green infrastructure. It follows the orientations of the Rome Ministerial Communiqué of 2020 on the development of higher education in Europe, the Magna Charta Universitatum 2020 principles and the national strategic documents on higher education.

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