Managing Diversity : The Challenges of Inter-University
Cooperation in Sustainability Education

J 2019

Managing Diversity : The Challenges of Inter-University Cooperation in Sustainability Education

ČINČERA, Jan, Grzegorz MIKUSINSKI, Bohuslav BINKA, Luis CALAFATE, Cristina CALHEIROS et. al.

Basic information

Original name

Managing Diversity : The Challenges of Inter-University Cooperation in Sustainability Education

Authors

ČINČERA, Jan (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution), Grzegorz MIKUSINSKI (616 Poland), Bohuslav BINKA (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution), Luis CALAFATE (620 Portugal), Cristina CALHEIROS (620 Portugal), Alexandra CARDOSO (620 Portugal), Marcus HEDBLOM (752 Sweden), Michael JONES (752 Sweden), Alex KOUTSOURIS (300 Greece), Clara VASCONCELOS (620 Portugal) and Katarzyna IWINSKA (616 Poland)

Edition

Sustainability, Basel, MDPI, 2019, 2071-1050

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Field of Study

50301 Education, general; including training, pedagogy, didactics [and education systems]

Country of publisher

Switzerland

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

References:

článek - open access

Impact factor

Impact factor: 2.576

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14230/19:00110939

Organization unit

Faculty of Social Studies

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su11205610

UT WoS

000498398900067

Keywords in English

international cooperation; higher education institutions; European project; educational resources; sustainability; diversity

Abstract

V originále

One of the main challenges in sustainability discourse is its multifaceted nature often requiring that many different disciplines must cooperate in order to achieve progress. This issue also concerns sustainability education. In the article, we highlighted the experiences from the international cooperation of university teachers and researchers with highly diverse professional backgrounds who worked together on developing educational materials for university students in sustainability-oriented courses. The study is based on qualitative, participatory evaluation research, applying two rounds of open-ended questionnaires distributed to the same respondents (n = 18). For the analysis, we used the open-coding procedure for identifying the main categories. The results show some of the opportunities and barriers that emerged in the process of this cooperation. In particular, we discuss the issues related to the high heterogeneity of the group, such as the clashes of the different perspectives on the topics covered, group dynamics issues, trust, facilitation challenges, and also opportunities that such heterogeneity offers. We highlight the importance of open reflectivity in sustainability-oriented educational projects as the key to their successful implementation. Finally, we believe that results of this participatory study are useful in designing new projects aiming at further improvement of academic education in sustainability and sustainable development.

Links

2015-1-PL01-KA203-016621, interní kód MU

Name: Widening Interdisciplinary Sustainability Education (Acronym: WISE)

Investor: European Union, Strategic Partnerships in the field of education, training and youth

Files attached

Managing_Diversity.pdf

Find similar documents

Citovat

ČINČERA, Jan, Grzegorz MIKUSINSKI, Bohuslav BINKA, Luis CALAFATE, Cristina CALHEIROS, Alexandra CARDOSO, Marcus HEDBLOM, Michael JONES, Alex KOUTSOURIS, Clara VASCONCELOS and Katarzyna IWINSKA. Managing Diversity : The Challenges of Inter-University Cooperation in Sustainability Education. Sustainability. Basel: MDPI, 2019, vol. 11, No 20, p. 1-16. ISSN 2071-1050. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su11205610.

@article{1568817,
   author = {Činčera, Jan and Mikusinski, Grzegorz and Binka, Bohuslav and Calafate, Luis and Calheiros, Cristina and Cardoso, Alexandra and Hedblom, Marcus and Jones, Michael and Koutsouris, Alex and Vasconcelos, Clara and Iwinska, Katarzyna},
   article_location = {Basel},
   article_number = {20},
   doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su11205610},
   keywords = {international cooperation; higher education institutions; European project; educational resources; sustainability; diversity},
   language = {eng},
   issn = {2071-1050},
   journal = {Sustainability},
   title = {Managing Diversity : The Challenges of Inter-University Cooperation in Sustainability Education},
   url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/20/5610},
   volume = {11},
   year = {2019}
}

TY  - JOUR
ID  - 1568817
AU  - Činčera, Jan - Mikusinski, Grzegorz - Binka, Bohuslav - Calafate, Luis - Calheiros, Cristina - Cardoso, Alexandra - Hedblom, Marcus - Jones, Michael - Koutsouris, Alex - Vasconcelos, Clara - Iwinska, Katarzyna
PY  - 2019
TI  - Managing Diversity : The Challenges of Inter-University Cooperation in Sustainability Education
JF  - Sustainability
VL  - 11
IS  - 20
SP  - 1-16
EP  - 1-16
PB  - MDPI
SN  - 20711050
KW  - international cooperation
KW  - higher education institutions
KW  - European project
KW  - educational resources
KW  - sustainability
KW  - diversity
UR  - https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/20/5610
L2  - https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/20/5610
N2  - One of the main challenges in sustainability discourse is its multifaceted nature often requiring that many different disciplines must cooperate in order to achieve progress. This issue also concerns sustainability education. In the article, we highlighted the experiences from the international cooperation of university teachers and researchers with highly diverse professional backgrounds who worked together on developing educational materials for university students in sustainability-oriented courses. The study is based on qualitative, participatory evaluation research, applying two rounds of open-ended questionnaires distributed to the same respondents (n = 18). For the analysis, we used the open-coding procedure for identifying the main categories. The results show some of the opportunities and barriers that emerged in the process of this cooperation. In particular, we discuss the issues related to the high heterogeneity of the group, such as the clashes of the different perspectives on the topics covered, group dynamics issues, trust, facilitation challenges, and also opportunities that such heterogeneity offers. We highlight the importance of open reflectivity in sustainability-oriented educational projects as the key to their successful implementation. Finally, we believe that results of this participatory study are useful in designing new projects aiming at further improvement of academic education in sustainability and sustainable development.
ER  -

ČINČERA, Jan, Grzegorz MIKUSINSKI, Bohuslav BINKA, Luis CALAFATE, Cristina CALHEIROS, Alexandra CARDOSO, Marcus HEDBLOM, Michael JONES, Alex KOUTSOURIS, Clara VASCONCELOS and Katarzyna IWINSKA. Managing Diversity : The Challenges of Inter-University Cooperation in Sustainability Education. \textit{Sustainability}. Basel: MDPI, 2019, vol.~11, No~20, p.~1-16. ISSN~2071-1050. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su11205610.

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