Education for sustainable development is about preparing the next generation of learners to address complex societal challenges. The UNESCO Roadmap points to ESD skills that are intended to promote transformation in all areas of society – skills such as networked, critical and forward-looking thinking as well as creativity, empathy and resilience. Education is seen as an integral method on the way to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals, because “it enables learners to make informed decisions and act responsibly” (UNESCO, 2017).
At the UHH there is a rich and diverse range of courses in various subject areas relevant to the topic of sustainability in the sense of the 17 UN Sustainability Goals (SDG): from climate knowledge to peace education. Broad, interdisciplinary engagement and a broader discourse on sustainability have the potential to influence and change society as a whole.
The Sustainability Office offers an interdisciplinary, holistic and action-oriented Sustainability certificate program to. The certificate explicitly shows acquired sustainability skills. A variety of didactic methods are used that focus on open and constructive learning and promote the learners’ ability to act. Topics vary from sustainability reporting to the practical promotion of biodiversity through planting wildflower meadows.
Program participants report that they find it interesting to see approaches to sustainability outside of their own discipline – they value practical experiences (such as urban gardening) and real stories combined with scientific analysis around sustainability issues.
The Sustainability Office also develops digital sustainability content, which is intended to reduce barriers to access to high-quality web-based education and contribute to the Twin Transformation of the UHH.
