Framework for introducing education for sustainable development into university curriculum

Abstract

Inclusion of education for sustainable development (ESD) in the curricula of universities, and in many forums, has been promoted for over a decade. Despite this apparent enthusiasm, there is little to show that ESD has been implemented in most universities. In Australia, surveys indicate an interest in ESD but it is rarely a part of the curriculum. Having identified barriers to the adoption of ESD and building on past experience with curriculum change at RMIT, we undertook the Beyond Leather Patches project to introduce ESD into two discipline fields. Using an action learning approach, where academics were involved in audits of their courses/subjects, workshops and renewal of their curricula, the project led to new and revised courses and more capable academic staff. From the experiences of the project, the framework reported in this article was developed to guide within RMIT and at other universities who are seeking a process to implement ESD.