Possibilities and Challenges in Education for Sustainable Development in Korean Universities - Focused on Curriculum, Partnership, and Sustainable University Management -

우리나라 대학에서의 지속가능발전교육의 가능성과 과제 - 교육 과정 파트너쉽, 지속가능한 대학 경영을 중심으로 -

  • Received : 2011.03.07
  • Accepted : 2011.03.30
  • Published : 2011.03.31

Abstract

This study aims to address the current status of ESD(Education for Sustainable Development) in Korean universities since UN DESD was launched in 2005, and to explore the possibilities and challenges in them. For this purpose we conducted questionnaire surveys and case studies on members of university communities which were engaged in green campus activities or interested in SD and ESD. Results of questionnaire surveys showed that most of those who answered the questionnaire were well aware of SD, but had comparatively low understanding of ESD. The highest number of respondents answered that since 2005 they had newly opened courses on SD or ESD, or added contents on SD or ESD to existing ones. Ratio of network participation among ESD-related universities was over 30%, and they appeared to have the highest partnership ratio with NGOs. Not many universities had policies for sustainable school management, and 'green space conservation and ecosystem protection' and 'energy and resource saving campaign and monitoring' were most common sustainable environment protection activities. Through case studies on eight universities, it was discovered that ESD programs in universities took various forms such as whole-university approaches, participatory courses and club activities. We suggest that it is needed to make efforts to find out good examples of ESD in Korean universities and share the results with university leaders, professors and staffs for further development of ESD.

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Acknowledgement

Supported by : 유네스코한국위원회