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Educating Systems Thinking for Sustainability: Experience with a Developing Country

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  • Nam C. Nguyen
  • Doug Graham
  • Helen Ross
  • Kambiz Maani
  • Ockie Bosch

Abstract

This paper describes an approach to teaching systems thinking and associated capacity building for a team of professionals and managers from a developing country (Vietnam), engaged in the sustainable management of a world biosphere reserve. Vietnamese environmental and development managers and UNESCO were attracted to a systems approach to managing the Cat Ba Biosphere Reserve because it offered a way to address components of sustainability holistically, while transcending organisational and disciplinary ‘silos’. Key features of the training approach include learning as a group of professionals, with senior organisational support and commitment to apply systems approaches in the workplace; enjoyable adult learning approaches tailored to the needs of participants; complementing teaching of systems thinking and techniques with participatory methods for working with the participants in developing solutions to their sustainability issues; and building in evaluation at every stage, through participatory methods taught in the course. The paper highlights the importance of teaching systems thinking and provides an example curriculum and teaching strategy based on adult learning principles. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Suggested Citation

  • Nam C. Nguyen & Doug Graham & Helen Ross & Kambiz Maani & Ockie Bosch, 2012. "Educating Systems Thinking for Sustainability: Experience with a Developing Country," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(1), pages 14-29, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:srbeha:v:29:y:2012:i:1:p:14-29
    DOI: 10.1002/sres.1097
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jeremy Cain & Charles Batchelor & Dominic Waughray, 1999. "Belief Networks: A Framework for the Participatory Development of Natural Resource Management Strategies," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 1(2), pages 123-133, June.
    2. Uusitalo, Laura, 2007. "Advantages and challenges of Bayesian networks in environmental modelling," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 203(3), pages 312-318.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Nam C. Nguyen & Ockie J. H. Bosch, 2013. "A Systems Thinking Approach to identify Leverage Points for Sustainability: A Case Study in the Cat Ba Biosphere Reserve, Vietnam," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(2), pages 104-115, March.
    2. Ilkka Ratinen & Lassi Linnanen, 2022. "Exploring Systems Thinking Competence of Finns in Fostering Sustainable Transformation," World, MDPI, vol. 3(2), pages 1-12, April.
    3. Małgorzata Gawlik-Kobylińska, 2021. "Can Security and Safety Education Support Sustainability? Lessons Learned from Poland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-13, February.
    4. Kwamina Ewur Banson & Daniel Kwasi Asare & Fidelis Doodaa Dery & Kwadwo Boakye & Akudugu Boniface & Moses Asamoah & Lourees Esi Awotwe, 2020. "Impact of Fall Armyworm on Farmer’s Maize: Systemic Approach," Systemic Practice and Action Research, Springer, vol. 33(2), pages 237-264, April.
    5. Rafael Marcos-Sánchez & Daniel Ferrández & Carlos Morón, 2022. "Systems Thinking for Sustainability Education in Building and Business Administration and Management Degrees," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-20, September.
    6. Steven E. Wallis, 2020. "Integrative Propositional Analysis for developing capacity in an academic research institution by improving strategic planning," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 37(1), pages 56-67, January.
    7. Ockie J. H. Bosch & Nam C. Nguyen & Takashi Maeno & Toshiyuki Yasui, 2013. "Managing Complex Issues through Evolutionary Learning Laboratories," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(2), pages 116-135, March.
    8. Nam C. Nguyen & Ockie J. H. Bosch, 2014. "The Art of Interconnected Thinking: Starting with the Young," Challenges, MDPI, vol. 5(2), pages 1-21, August.
    9. Gerald Midgley & Erik Lindhult, 2021. "A systems perspective on systemic innovation," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(5), pages 635-670, October.

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