House Master School: A Model for Cross-disciplinary learning and ESD in the Construction and Built Heritage Field

Paper in proceeding, 2010

This paper outlines some of the main characteristics of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in the context of sustainable building, conservation and transformation of the built environment. It addresses the various aspects of ESD, shows how these relate to construction technology, heritage preservation and design, urban planning and development, and the emergence of this inter- and crossdisciplinary field. Some key developments affecting the various professions involved are introduced, including the learning and utilization of leadership, management, business and entrepreneurship, the role of democracy, diversity and crafts, and the need for inclusion of various groups and perspectives. In this paper, an integrated conceptual framework and a model for ESD, educational development and research is introduced; i.e. the House Master School (HMS). This paper discusses the concept and rationale for the development of the HMS model, and the participatory action planning and research, which underpins it. The author describes the learning objectives, expected outcomes, the anticipated content and structure of the HMS model, and reflects on the experience of delivering such education and research programs in the future. The attention is focused on the role of engineering education in relation to ESD and other disciplines in the field.