Education for sustainable development

Additional Reference Material

Handbook of Sustainability Literacy: Skills for a Changing World: Arran Stibbe, Senior Lecturer in English Language at the University of Gloucestershire has edited this book which takes a sharp look at the skills and attributes that learners will need for surviving and thriving in the 21st century. (The Handbook, plus supporting interviews with contributors including Greg Garrard from English Literature at Bath Spa, is also available online). The handbook is critical of some mainstream skills agendas which focus narrowly on skills for industrialisation and economic expansion, and instead promotes a more open-ended approach including abilities such as values reflection, ecological intelligence, and critical awareness of the social structures that underpin unsustainable societies.

Composition and Sustainability: Teaching for a Threatened Generation: This book, by Derek Owens, argues that, in the light of worsening environmental crises and accelerating social injustices, we need to use sustainability as a way to structure courses and curricula in English studies. Published by the National Council of Teachers of English, 2001 ISBN 0814100376

Sustainability Education edited by Paula Jones et al published by Earthscan 2010: How do we equip learners with the values, knowledge, skills, and motivation to help achieve economic, social and ecological well-being? Amid rising expectations on HE from professional associations, funders, policy makers, and undergraduates, and increasing interest amongst academics and senior management, a growing number of higher education institutions are taking the lead in embracing sustainability. This response does not only include greening the campus but also transforming curricula and teaching and learning. This book explains why this is necessary and - crucially - how to do it. Whilst the book is organised by traditional disciplines, the authors and editors emphasise transferable lessons and interdisciplinarity so that readers can learn from examples outside their own area to embed sustainability within their own curricula and teaching.

Soundings in Sustainability Literacy: This Higher Education Academy project was led by Arran Stibbe, Senior Lecturer in English Language at the University of Gloucestershire. It conducted a coordinated exploration of sustainability literacy skills and how to embed them across the curriculum.

Reading and Writing Society: the role of English Subjects in Education for Sustainability: This article by Arran Stibbe appeared in our Spring 2008 Newsletter.