Integrating Sustainability Education into Universities

Dr. Erin RedmanAaron Redman

Intro• How is sustainability education different in a

developing country context?

• How do these differences impact collaborations?

• What can we do to support the progress of sustainability in higher education in Mexico?

Background

The National University of Mexico opened a new multi-disciplinary campus in 2011 in Leon, Guanajuato

Background

1. No existing Sustainability or Environmental initiatives on this campus

2. Intent to break down academic silos

3. Large degree of autonomy

Rigid Silos of Mexican Universities

• Not a “liberal arts” approach

• Students take 100% of their courses within their own degree program

• Trying multidisciplinary education but interdisciplinary is rare

What we did

1. Proposed a Sustainability degree

2. Sustainability courses within different degree programs

3. Interdisciplinary Sustainability elective

1. Sustainability Degree

Aspects of the Degree Proposal

• Only Interdisciplinary courses

• Designed to achieve learning objectives:– Sustainability Competencies– General Competencies– Content Knowledge– Employability– Personal Transformation

• Emphasis on innovative pedagogy

2. Sustainability Courses within Degree Programs

Desarrollo y Gestión

Intercultural

Economía Industrial

Administración Agropecuaria

Ciencias Agrogenómicas

Cultura, Sociedad y

Medio Ambiente

Sistemas de Mejoramiento

Ambiental

Economía Ambiental

Desarrollo Sustentable

Agroecología y sustentabilidad

Objectives

1. Utilize innovative pedagogical approaches

2. Introduce students to Sustainability and spark a long term interest

3. Focus on the applicability of Sustainability to their careers

Pros & Cons

Operates within the current disciplinary structure– Scheduling is easier & students/professors

are accustomed to this format

– Students continue to work/collaborate only with others in their same degree program

Pros & Cons

Highlights sustainability as a central aspect for their future careers– The students take sustainability concepts with

them into their future professions, leading to broader diffusion of sustainability concepts/knowledge

– Sustainability is a field of science unto itself but students only get a glimpse of it as an ‘add-on’

3. Interdisciplinary Sustainability Elective

**First & only course ever offered at ENES that brought students together from different degree programs

Objectives

1. Utilize innovative pedagogical approaches

2. Introduce students to Sustainability and spark a long term interest

3. Focus on the applicability of Sustainability to their personal lives

Sustainability Fair

Student Feedback

• Enjoyed hands-on, dynamic pedagogy & themes that were connected to their personal lives—tangible & at a scale they could influence change

• Struggled with the group project being a big part of their grades

Suggestions based on Feedback

• Incorporate diverse pedagogical approaches & connect content to students’ personal lives

• Provide opportunities for students to make-up points if they are struggling with something that has never before been attempted at your university

Results1. Degree program is pending

2. Sustainability courses are functioning well within other degree programs

3. Sustainability elective is popular– First run had 90 students– 100% would recommend the

course to their peers– But professors still operate as though

students never take courses outside of the degree program and schedule talks, classes, and workshops without considering the elective

Lessons Learned

• Scheduling is done by degree programs

• Semesters are longer but many of our students didn’t have classes or even professors selected till mid-February

• Interdisciplinary means that students take all their courses within a degree program but the teachers may be from different areas of expertise

• Technology is not used in other courses, creating a technology barrier

What does this mean for collaboration?

• Internet and technology-based education tools are unlikely to be adopted by professors in Mexico

• Having a course that brings together students from different majors is pushing the boundaries of the traditional Mexican system

• Terms commonly used in Sustainability Education may mean something different in the Mexican context

What does this mean for collaboration?

Be aware that there is no ‘campus community’ or ‘student life’ at Mexican universities– No student housing– Hours of operation are short: everything is

closed on evenings & weekends, including library, cafeteria, etc.

– Transportation to & from the rural campuses is limited making community projects difficult

Gracias!

Dr. Erin Redman: erin.n.redman@gmail.com

Aaron Redman

aaron.redman@gmail.com

@RealAaronRedman

For news and analysis on Sustainability issues:

http://achievingsustainability.com