The university and transformation towards sustainability: The strategy used at Chalmers University of Technology
Journal article, 2012

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to present the strategy used for achieving change towards sustainability at Chalmers University of Technology (Chalmers). Examples of how this strategy has been used are described and discussed, and exemplified with different lines of activities in a project on Education for Sustainable Development, the ESD project. Design/methodology/approach - The strategy consists of three important building blocks: Create a neutral arena; Build on individual engagement and involvement; and Communicate a clear commitment from the management team. The analysis is made along three different lines of activities in. the ESD project: The work to improve the quality of the compulsory courses on sustainable development; The efforts to integrate ESD into educational programmes; and The work to collect and spread information on good teaching practices within ESD. Some other related examples where the strategy has been applied are also presented. Findings - The ESD project functioned as a neutral arena since it was not placed at any specific department but rather engaged participants from many departments. This neutral arena has been important, for example, to increase the willingness of teachers to share their good teaching examples. The process was successful in creating a shared responsibility and for starting learning processes in many individuals by the involvement of a broad range of educational actors at Chalmers. The strong and clear commitment from the management team has worked as a driving force. Originality/value - This paper can provide valuable input to universities that struggle with change processes.

Curricula

Change

Education for sustainable development

Transformation

Sustainable development

Universities

Curriculum greening

Sweden

Change management

Author

John Holmberg

University of Gothenburg

Chalmers, Energy and Environment, Physical Resource Theory

Mistra Urban Futures

Ulrika Lundqvist

University of Gothenburg

Chalmers, Energy and Environment, Physical Resource Theory

Mistra Urban Futures

Magdalena Svanström

Chalmers, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Chemical Environmental Science

Mistra Urban Futures

University of Gothenburg

Marie Arehag

Mistra Urban Futures

University of Gothenburg

Chalmers, Administration and Services

International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education

1467-6370 (ISSN)

Vol. 13 3 219-231

Driving Forces

Sustainable development

Subject Categories

Other Engineering and Technologies

Pedagogical Work

Learning and teaching

Pedagogical work

DOI

10.1108/14676371211242544

More information

Created

10/8/2017