Contribution of academic disciplines to the development of competencies for sustainable development in students: the perspective of academics

This paper investigates how different academic disciplines contribute to developing competencies for sustainable development in students. The study focuses on three key competencies: systems thinking, future orientation, and action and change competency. Researchers conducted focus groups with professors from various disciplines at the University of Guadalajara, Mexico. The findings show that disciplines approach these competencies differently. Some disciplines, like industrial engineering, take a unidimensional approach to systems thinking, focusing on internal relationships. Conversely, disciplines like economics take a multidimensional approach, considering both internal and external relationships. The study suggests multidimensional approaches are more effective for real-world problem-solving. Regarding future orientation, the paper identifies three levels of understanding among professors: temporal dimension, personal context, and social context. The most comprehensive level integrates all three, enabling students to consider long-term consequences and intergenerational equity. The research highlights the need for a common understanding of these competencies among faculty. This would allow for the development of effective learning strategies that equip future graduates with the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to address sustainability challenges. © 2024 IEEE.

Contribution of academic disciplines to the development of competencies for sustainable development in students: the perspective of academics Academic Article in Scopus