Survey Overview
An international survey conducted by Sulitest, a UN-linked non-profit, highlights significant challenges and strategies in integrating sustainability into higher education. Released during the UN High Level Political Forum on Sustainability in July 2024, the survey explores faculty engagement in sustainability and identifies obstacles and effective strategies for fostering this integration.
Key Findings
- Need for Multifaceted Approach:
- Survey Insights: Effective sustainability integration requires a combination of leadership support, practical engagement, continuous education, tailored training, and integration into university operations.
- Decamps’ View: Engaging faculty on sustainability involves connecting their core expertise to sustainability issues, even if this requires stepping outside their traditional disciplines.
- Faculty Engagement Profiles:
- Sustainability Deniers: Skeptical about the urgency of sustainability challenges.
- Orthodox Obstructionists: Believe past teaching remains relevant despite changing contexts.
- Well-intentioned, Yet Disconnected: Aware of sustainability but unclear on its application to their teaching.
- Aware, Yet Lost: Troubled by sustainability issues but unsure where to start.
- Systemic Experts: Highly experienced in sustainability, offering interdisciplinary support.
- Topical Experts: Specialized in areas like climate change, providing valuable knowledge.
- New Enthusiasts: Recently aware and eager to reform curricula, bringing energy and enthusiasm.
- Challenges Identified:
- Resistance to Change: Some faculty are resistant due to ideological beliefs, institutional barriers, or a lack of understanding.
- Training Needs: There is a demand for comprehensive and tailored training programs to address the diverse profiles of faculty and their varying levels of engagement with sustainability.
- Effective Strategies:
- Customised Training: Tailoring strategies and frameworks to suit different faculty profiles.
- Leverage Enthusiasm: Using the energy of New Enthusiasts to drive systemic change through mentorship and targeted training.
- Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Encouraging cross-disciplinary projects and joint teaching initiatives.
- Open Dialogue: Facilitating forums for discussing concerns and sharing perspectives on sustainability.
- Recommendations for Action:
- Implement Comprehensive Training: Develop interdisciplinary programs with both theoretical and practical elements focused on sustainability.
- Promote Interdisciplinary Work: Encourage collaboration on sustainability research and teaching.
- Foster Open Dialogue: Address resistance through forums and discussions.
- Share Success Stories: Highlight successful sustainability initiatives to demonstrate benefits and reduce skepticism.
- Refine Sustainability Profiles: Use data-driven approaches to better understand and engage diverse faculty profiles.
Conclusion
The survey underscores the importance of a strategic, nuanced approach to integrating sustainability into higher education. While progress has been made, significant gaps remain in actionable knowledge and systemic support. Addressing these challenges requires a holistic strategy that combines leadership support, practical engagement, and tailored training to effectively advance sustainability across academic institutions.
