| CODE | ACA2013 | |||||||||
| TITLE | Educating Adults on Sustainable Development | |||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course | |||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | |||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | |||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Arts, Open Communities and Adult Education | |||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit is informed by the premise of the Berlin Declaration on Education for Sustainable Development (UNESCO, 2021) that education is a powerful enabler of positive change of mindsets and worldviews. The emphasis of this study-unit, as per the Berlin Declaration, is on "action competences for the individual and societal dimensions of transformation" (UNESCO, 2021, p.2). It will be situated within the framework of transformative education. The study-unit challenges learners to reflect critically on their own worldviews, while learning about the crucial role of adult education in supporting the integration of all dimensions of sustainable development (economic, societal, environmental and cultural) in the decision making processes at all levels, from the individual level, to the community, national and global levels. Here adult education for ESD is discussed within the wide perspective of adult, youth and community. Case studies of initiatives that promote active participation and involvement of adults will be critically analyzed and evaluated. Particular attention will be given to effective methodologies that empower excluded groups. Study-Unit Aims: The study-unit aims to: - Ensure that ESD is a foundational element of training in adult education; - Empower those that chose adult education as a career as change agents for sustainable development; - Acquaint students with the main issues, concepts and methodologies in adult Education for Sustainable Development; - Identify methodologies that address the needs of identifiable cultural groups or the poor and the powerless. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Recognize the interrelatedness of all dimensions of sustainable development; - Identify main local and global sustainability challenges; - Describe the main concepts and methodologies in adult Education for Sustainable Development; - Explain the importance of transformative learning for people and the planet. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Appraise various perspectives in adult learning for ESD; - Develop adult learners as change agents for sustainable development; - Promote a whole-institution approach to adult learning; - Effectively use action/reflection/action methodologies in adult and community-based ESD programmes; - Develop opportunities for ESD learning and civic engagement. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: - Filho, W. & Mifsud, M. & Pace, P. (2018). Handbook of Lifelong Learning for Sustainable Development. Cham: Springer. - Orlovic Lovren, V. & Popovic, K.. (2017). Lifelong Learning for Sustainable Development—Is Adult Education Left Behind? In Filho, W. & Mifsud, M. & Pace, P. (2018). Handbook of Lifelong Learning for Sustainable Development. Cham: Springer. (Open access from here: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/319855812_Lifelong_Learning_for_Sustainable_Development-Is_Adult_Education_Left_Behind) Supplementary Readings: - Clover, D.E., Follen, S. and Hall, B. (2000). The Nature of Transformation: Environmental Adult Education. Toronto: Transformative Learning Centre, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education/University of Toronto; LEAP, ICAE, 2000. - O’Sullivan, E. V., Morrell, A. & O’Connor, M. A. (Eds.) (2002). Expanding the boundaries of transformative learning: Essays on theory and praxis. New York: Palgrave. - United Nations, Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization(UNESCO). (2021). Berlin Declaration on Education for Sustainable Development. (Open access, available at: https://en.unesco.org/sites/default/files/esdfor2030-berlin-declaration-en.pdf). |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Independent Study | |||||||||
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| LECTURER/S | Maria M. Brown (Co-ord.) Vincent Caruana |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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