scholarly journals Differences in Teachers’ Professional Action Competence in Education for Sustainable Development: The Importance of Teacher Co-Learning

2022 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 767
Author(s):  
Maria Magdalena Isac ◽  
Wanda Sass ◽  
Jelle Boeve-de Pauw ◽  
Sven De Maeyer ◽  
Wouter Schelfhout ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Secondary Education ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Measurement Instrument ◽  
Teaching Experience ◽  
Education For Sustainable Development ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Subject Specialization ◽  
Action Competence

This study builds on a research-practitioner partnership embedded within an education for sustainable development (ESD) project and aims to explore the major potential challenges (i.e., disciplinary boundaries set by subject specialization, especially in secondary education) and success factors (i.e., teacher co-learning experiences in ESD) associated with differences in teachers’ professional action competence (PACesd) in a sample of 557 in-service teachers in primary and secondary schools in Flanders, Belgium. The study employed a recently validated PACesd measurement instrument and involved quantitative data analysis in a structural equation modelling framework. The results show that primary education teachers tend to report higher PACesd levels compared to their peers in secondary education. Moreover, regardless of educational level, gender and teaching experience, all teachers participating in a working group or a learning community in ESD are more likely to show higher levels of PACesd. Implications of the findings, limitations and directions for future research are discussed.

scholarly journals KWReq—a new instrument for measuring knowledge work requirements of higher education graduates

2021 ◽  
Vol 55 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maximilian Trommer ◽  
Hildegard Schaeper ◽  
Gregor Fabian
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
English Language ◽  
Empirical Test ◽  
Questionnaire Development ◽  
Measurement Instrument ◽  
Knowledge Work ◽  
Replication Study ◽  
Future Research ◽  
New Instrument

AbstractStarting from the observation that questionnaires for appropriately measuring the changing working conditions and requirements of the highly qualified workforce do not exist, we developed a new German-language instrument focussing on knowledge work. Based on theoretical considerations, we first identified three basic dimensions that constitute knowledge work: novelty, complexity, and autonomy. During the subsequent process of questionnaire development with higher education graduates, including a cognitive pretest, a quantitative development study, and a replication study, these dimensions were operationalised by initially 173 and finally 22 items. Confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling of the data of both the development and the replication study show that the 22-item instrument validly and reliably measures novelty (4 items), complexity with three subdimensions (9 items), and autonomy, also with three subdimensions (9 items). An English version of the questionnaire is available. However, the empirical test of the English-language questionnaire as well as possible refinements of the measurement instrument, which will be discussed in the final section of the paper, are left to future research.

scholarly journals Contingent Factors and Sustainable Performance Measurement (SPM) Practices of Malaysian Electronics and Electrical Companies

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 1058
Author(s):  
Tze Ong ◽  
Boon Teh ◽  
Ah Lee
Keyword(s):  
Performance Measurement ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Driving Forces ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Performance Measurements ◽  
Sustainable Practices ◽  
Sustainable Performance ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Electronics And Electrical

In the present world, there is a rapidly growing level of awareness of social and environmental activities. Consequently, a company’s profile is not substantiated purely in relation to financial issues, rather, a need for the inclusion of environmental and social perspectives arises. This is known as sustainable performance. Hence, there is a persistent need for the practice of sustainable performance measurements (SPMs). However, despite the implementation of sustainable performance in developed climes like Europe, the US and the UK, the relevance of sustainable performance is still at a low in developing societies such as Malaysia. The main purpose of this paper is to determine the critical success factors that are attributable to sustainable performance measurement practices for Malaysian electronics and electrical (E and E) companies, as their success is subject to intense scrutiny from their developed competitors, with respect to compliance with social and environmental regulations. A self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted on 217 E and E companies. The path analysis and test of the hypotheses were carried out through structural equation modelling. This study has successfully unveiled a comprehensive SPM model with unprecedented scope, stretching from factors to indicators of a SPM model for Malaysian E and E companies. The findings indicate that pressure from stakeholders and globalization are the driving forces for E and E companies to be more proactive in sustainable practices. In this context, stakeholders, especially policy makers, should play the leading political and social roles in encouraging the adoption of SPMs in developing nations. It must be noted that E and E companies are likely to transform their learning culture and technology in terms of working towards sustainable practices once they have realized the financial benefits of adopting SPMs. With these benefits, a compounding effect due to SPMs will be created among E and E companies, where excellent performance can be achieved continuously. A major limitation of this study is the adoption of the contingency theory, which is yet to have a wide application in this area of study. Meanwhile, future research can be longitudinal in nature in addition to focusing on non-profit organizations.

Becoming a competent teacher in education for sustainable development

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 630-653 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan-Ole Brandt ◽  
Lina Bürgener ◽  
Matthias Barth ◽  
Aaron Redman
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Student Teachers ◽  
Content Knowledge ◽  
Teacher Education Program ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Education For Sustainable Development ◽  
Competence Development ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Action Competence

Purpose This paper aims to provide a holistic approach to assessing student teachers’ competence development in education for sustainable development (ESD). This is to provide evidence on which teaching and learning formats help to foster which aspects of ESD-specific professional action competence in teachers. The studied competencies consist of content knowledge (CK), pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) and the willingness to actively support and implement ESD. Design/methodology/approach A multiple case study design was used on two sequential modules of a university’s teacher education program. A mixed-methods approach was applied that combined surveys, videotaped and PhotoVoice-supported focus groups, as well as pre- and post-assessment tools. Qualitative data analysis was based on the coding paradigm of the qualitative content analysis, whereas quantitative data were interpreted by means of descriptive statistics and paired sample t-tests. Findings The results from this study clearly indicate that the two courses contributed to a shift in students’ non-cognitive dispositions. The study also provides evidence on the students’ competence development and demonstrates how two different learning settings support different dimensions of teachers’ professional action competence in terms of ESD. Originality/value The triangulation of data enabled not only a mere competence assessment but also deeper insights into learning processes, as well as into the drivers of and barriers to competence development. Furthermore, the study introduces an innovative approach to assessing the development of PCK.

Education for sustainable development in Pakistani higher education institutions: an exploratory study of students’ and teachers’ perceptions

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 1249-1267 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zulkaif Ahmed Saqib ◽  
Qingyu Zhang ◽  
Jin Ou ◽  
Khubaib Ahmad Saqib ◽  
Salman Majeed ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Private Universities ◽  
Education For Sustainable Development ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Teachers Perceptions

Purpose This study aims to determine the current state of implementation and effectiveness of education for sustainable development (ESD) in Pakistani higher education institutions (HEIs) using students’ and teachers’ perceptions of sustainability. Design/methodology/approach A survey on teachers and students was conducted in public and private universities in Punjab, Pakistan. Data from 1,915 students and 120 teachers were collected through semi-structured questionnaires implemented during face-to-face interviews. Students were asked to rank social, environmental and economic indicators of sustainability consciousness (SC) on a five-point Likert scale. Structural equation model and regression model are used to analyze the data. The perceptions of students and teachers were assessed from their knowledge of sustainability. Findings The occurrence of ESD in Pakistani HEIs is low and teachers have inadequate knowledge of sustainability. The holistic approach to ESD has a more pronounced effect on students’ SC as compared to the pluralistic approach to ESD. Also, there is a correlation between the students’ grades/class and the effectiveness of ESD. There is a need to pay more attention to implement ESD for undergraduate students in Pakistani HEIs. Originality/value The study stands out for using cross-sectional data from public and private universities of Pakistan. Furthermore, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study in Pakistan which attempts to investigate the effectiveness of ESD in terms of students’ SC.

scholarly journals Developing the Concept of Firm Success among Muslim SMEs in Malaysia: a Study of Islamic Religion Practices as Moderator

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (3.30) ◽  
pp. 374
Author(s):  
Nadratun Nafisah Abdul Wahab ◽  
Shahrina Othman ◽  
Noraini Binti Nasirun @ Hirun ◽  
Abdullah Abdul Ghani ◽  
Mohd Rushdi Idrus
Keyword(s):  
Entrepreneurial Orientation ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Business Success ◽  
Resource Based View ◽  
Firm Success ◽  
Islamic Religion ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship

This paper intended to develop the concept of firm success among Muslim SMEs in Malaysia. The researchers used entrepreneurial orientation multidimensional as independent variable (innovative, risk and proactive) to examine the relationship of these dimensions towards the success of Muslim SMEs by using Islamic religion practices as moderator. It is about developing the concept of Islamic success factors, as the failure of Muslim SMEs is alarming and the empirical references to Muslim SMEs success focusing on Islamic religion practices are limited. There were many attempts to connect entrepreneurial orientation to the Resource-Based View theory of firms. Resource-Based View, as underpinning theory, helps to describe the proposed research theoretical framework. Recent studies related to firm success have shown that entrepreneurial orientation is composed of innovation, risk and proactive having significant relationship with the firm success in the develop countries. However in Malaysia, there was only one study has documented the conceptual religiosity that influence relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and business success of entrepreneurs among the Malay community. The methodology for this study uses quantitative analysis, specifically, the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) in processing the data. The population of the study is 2,286 PUNB (Perbadanan Usahawan Nasional Berhad) firms in Malaysia. Finally, this concept finding is able to facilitate future research proposals and to fill the knowledge gap in Resource-Based View concerning the relationship of Resource-Based View towards firm success. This study also contributed to the Resource-Based View literature on the perspective of Islamic religion practices as moderator. 

Green innovation a strategic resource to attain competitive advantage

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nasrin Barforoush ◽  
Akbar Etebarian ◽  
Amirreza Naghsh ◽  
Arash Shahin
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Organizational Factors ◽  
Oil Refining ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Competitive Advantages ◽  
Green Innovation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Sustainable Development

Purpose Many industries accomplish green innovation for sustainable development, but it should play a significant role in the sustainable development and implementation of an organizations benefit. The purpose of this paper is to examine if green business innovation in terms of technology, organization, stakeholder and policies is able to develop competitive advantages. Design/methodology/approach This study was carried out in two stages and covered 4 variables and 21 indicators. Based on the experts’ opinions and literature review, a self-administered questionnaire was distributed among 113 experts of oil refining companies in Iran. The data were analyzed by the structural equation modeling technique. Findings The results indicated the effects of organizational factors, legislation, regulations and technology on green innovation. They also revealed the role of green innovation in reaching competitive advantages. Moreover, the relationship between stakeholder and green innovation was investigated. Practical implications The findings provide guidance on how firms can be better prepared for green innovation and get the most out of it and deal with the risks involved in green innovation, it is important that companies evaluate organization, technology and environment readiness and formulate corresponding strategies. Such a proactive approach can help enterprise control and minimize the risks of green innovation. A self-evaluation of the green innovation readiness of an enterprise helps the enterprise establish a mechanism to keep track of technological evolution. Originality/value This study contributes to the emerging field of green innovation which embed organization, technology, stakeholders, legislation and flows of the value created, delivered and captured in a value network. It also highlights the gaps in addressing the challenges of an innovative model for competitive advantages and suggests avenues for future research.

Systemic Basis in Education for Sustainable Development

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 16-25
Author(s):  
Marfenin Nikolay N. ◽  
◽  
Popova Lyudmila V ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
System Analysis ◽  
Anthropogenic Impacts ◽  
Teaching Experience ◽  
Education For Sustainable Development ◽  
Natural Systems ◽  
The Core ◽  
Latent Effects ◽  
External Causes ◽  
The Stability

The paradigm of sustainable development (SD) is broader than discrete methods of resource conservation and environmental protection. The core of the SD concept is in maintaining a balance within changing socio-natural systems, which is determined by people’s behavior. Education for sustainable development (ESD) is not limited to explaining the foundations of SD, but must train the population to take into account the latent effects, i. e. long-term consequences of anthropogenic impacts. So far, the main attention in education is focused on the external causes of destabilization. We cannot limit ourselves to this, because internal causes of the transformation of systems (both natural and social), similar to succession, violate stability no less than external ones. By studying the environmental and social involuntary processes that determine the transformation of the corresponding systems, one can teach the population to live successfully in constantly changing conditions, counteracting unwanted changes, while maintaining the stability of society and ecosystems. The article details the tasks of ESD, a significant part of which is not sufficiently taken into account in the educational programs of secondary and higher schools. The systemic basis is a new concept that designates in the field of education the basis of the system analysis algorithm – the key to understanding the core of the system in dynamics, in other words, those main processes on which all the others depend, jointly forming the system as such: its structure and the area of possible changes. Methodically, the work is based on the principles and approaches of the General systems theory and personal teaching experience, which made it possible to identify four main goals of ESD, three of which have not been previously presented in the scientific literature.

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