IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v13y2021i3p1180-d485663.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Learning and Teaching Interdisciplinary Skills in Sustainable Urban Development—The Case of Tampere University, Finland

Author

Listed:
  • Jonathon Taylor

    (Faculty of Built Environment, Tampere University, 33720 Tampere, Finland
    J.T., S.J., and M.L. contributed equally to this work as joint first authors.)

  • Salla Jokela

    (Faculty of Social Sciences, Tampere University, 33014 Tampere, Finland
    J.T., S.J., and M.L. contributed equally to this work as joint first authors.)

  • Markus Laine

    (Faculty of Management and Business, Tampere University, 33100 Tampere, Finland
    J.T., S.J., and M.L. contributed equally to this work as joint first authors.)

  • Juho Rajaniemi

    (Faculty of Built Environment, Tampere University, 33720 Tampere, Finland)

  • Pekka Jokinen

    (Faculty of Management and Business, Tampere University, 33100 Tampere, Finland)

  • Liisa Häikiö

    (Faculty of Social Sciences, Tampere University, 33014 Tampere, Finland)

  • Antti Lönnqvist

    (Faculty of Built Environment, Tampere University, 33720 Tampere, Finland)

Abstract

Developing the economic, environmental, and social sustainability of urban environments is challenging due to the complex and interconnected nature of the context and objectives. In order to be successful in this challenging environment, professionals working in the urban development arena should have a holistic understanding of the different pillars of sustainable development, as well as various competencies and skills. This paper looks at sustainable urban development (SUD) from the perspective of the skills and competencies required and identifies effective pedagogic practices that could help educate future professionals. In particular, we explore interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary learning, reflective thinking, and experiential learning, which are needed for understanding various aspects of a complex phenomenon, collaborating with professionals from different fields and coming up with novel and constructive ways of solving complex problems. We first examine these through reviewing and analyzing relevant literature on education for sustainable development, with a focus on SUD. Then, we explore the application of these approaches in practice by describing and analyzing a newly introduced degree program at Tampere University, Finland.

Suggested Citation

  • Jonathon Taylor & Salla Jokela & Markus Laine & Juho Rajaniemi & Pekka Jokinen & Liisa Häikiö & Antti Lönnqvist, 2021. "Learning and Teaching Interdisciplinary Skills in Sustainable Urban Development—The Case of Tampere University, Finland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-16, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:3:p:1180-:d:485663
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/3/1180/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/3/1180/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ceulemans, Kim & De Prins, Marijke & Cappuyns, Valérie & De Coninck, Wouter, 2011. "Integration of sustainable development in higher education's curricula of applied economics: Large-scale assessments, integration strategies and barriers," Journal of Management & Organization, Cambridge University Press, vol. 17(5), pages 621-640, September.
    2. Melissa Keeley & Lisa Benton-Short, 2020. "Holding Complexity: Lessons from Team-Teaching an Interdisciplinary Collegiate Course on Urban Sustainability," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 9(5), pages 1-18, May.
    3. Kateryna Wowk & Larry McKinney & Frank Muller-Karger & Russell Moll & Susan Avery & Elva Escobar-Briones & David Yoskowitz & Richard McLaughlin, 2017. "Evolving academic culture to meet societal needs," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 3(1), pages 1-7, December.
    4. Rodrigo Lozano & Michelle Y. Merrill & Kaisu Sammalisto & Kim Ceulemans & Francisco J. Lozano, 2017. "Connecting Competences and Pedagogical Approaches for Sustainable Development in Higher Education: A Literature Review and Framework Proposal," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(10), pages 1-15, October.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Sanober Naheed & Salman Shooshtarian, 2022. "The Role of Cultural Heritage in Promoting Urban Sustainability: A Brief Review," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-17, September.
    2. Kirsi Pauliina Kallio & Salla Jokela & Mikko Kyrönviita & Markus Laine & Jonathon Taylor, 2021. "Skatescape in the Making: Developing Sustainable Urban Pedagogies through Transdisciplinary Education," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-16, August.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Rocío Valderrama-Hernández & Fermín Sánchez-Carracedo & Lucía Alcántara Rubio & Dolores Limón-Domínguez, 2019. "Methodology to Analyze the Effectiveness of ESD in a Higher Degree in Education. A Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-27, December.
    2. Xiaodan Zhou & Ling-Hsiu Chen & Chin-Ling Chen, 2019. "Collaborative Learning by Teaching: A Pedagogy between Learner-Centered and Learner-Driven," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-14, February.
    3. Werner Riess & Monika Martin & Christoph Mischo & Hans-Georg Kotthoff & Eva-Maria Waltner, 2022. "How Can Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) Be Effectively Implemented in Teaching and Learning? An Analysis of Educational Science Recommendations of Methods and Procedures to Promote ESD Goa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-16, March.
    4. Kifah Imara & Fahriye Altinay, 2021. "Integrating Education for Sustainable Development Competencies in Teacher Education," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-17, November.
    5. Carolina Feliciana Machado & João Paulo Davim, 2022. "Higher Education for Sustainability: A Bibliometric Approach—What, Where and Who Is Doing Research in This Subject?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-15, April.
    6. Rodrigo Lozano & Maria Barreiro-Gen & Francisco J. Lozano & Kaisu Sammalisto, 2019. "Teaching Sustainability in European Higher Education Institutions: Assessing the Connections between Competences and Pedagogical Approaches," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-17, March.
    7. Mirjam Braßler & Martin Schultze, 2021. "Students’ Innovation in Education for Sustainable Development—A Longitudinal Study on Interdisciplinary vs. Monodisciplinary Learning," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-17, January.
    8. Pilar Colás-Bravo & Patrizia Magnoler & Jesús Conde-Jiménez, 2018. "Identification of Levels of Sustainable Consciousness of Teachers in Training through an E-Portfolio," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-18, October.
    9. Temilade Sesan & Willie Siyanbola, 2021. "“These are the realities”: insights from facilitating researcher-policymaker engagement in Nigeria’s household energy sector," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 8(1), pages 1-11, December.
    10. Valeria Andreoni & Valeria Ruiz Vargas, 2020. "Tracking the Interlinkages across SDGs: The Case of Hill Centered Education Network in Bogota, Colombia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-13, September.
    11. Charlotte R. Clark & Tavey M. Capps, 2020. "Synergy of the (Campus) Commons: Integrating Campus-Based Team Projects in an Introductory Sustainability Course," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-21, February.
    12. Maria Rosario Perello-Marín & Gabriela Ribes-Giner & Odette Pantoja Díaz, 2018. "Enhancing Education for Sustainable Development in Environmental University Programmes: A Co-Creation Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-17, January.
    13. Asma Fahim & Qingmei Tan & Bushra Naz & Qurat ul Ain & Sibghat Ullah Bazai, 2021. "Sustainable Higher Education Reform Quality Assessment Using SWOT Analysis with Integration of AHP and Entropy Models: A Case Study of Morocco," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-19, April.
    14. Liliana Mâță & Otilia Clipa & Katerina Tzafilkou, 2020. "The Development and Validation of a Scale to Measure University Teachers’ Attitude towards Ethical Use of Information Technology for a Sustainable Education," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-20, August.
    15. Alba Manresa & Jasmina Berbegal-Mirabent & Úrsula Faura-Martínez & Juan-Vicente Llinares-Ciscar, 2021. "What Do Freshmen Know about Sustainability? Analysing the Skill Gap among University Business Administration Students," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-21, August.
    16. Rosa Kuipers-Dirven & Matthijs Janssen & Jarno Hoekman, 2023. "Assessing university policies for enhancing societal impact of academic research: A multicriteria mapping approach," Research Evaluation, Oxford University Press, vol. 32(2), pages 371-383.
    17. Tina Lynn Evans, 2019. "Competencies and Pedagogies for Sustainability Education: A Roadmap for Sustainability Studies Program Development in Colleges and Universities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(19), pages 1-36, October.
    18. M. Teresa Fuertes-Camacho & Mariona Graell-Martín & Mariana Fuentes-Loss & M. Carmen Balaguer-Fàbregas, 2019. "Integrating Sustainability into Higher Education Curricula through the Project Method, a Global Learning Strategy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-25, February.
    19. Vien-Thong Nguyen & Philip Hallinger & Parinya Showanasai, 2024. "Evaluating the Effectiveness of the Leading Change for Sustainability in Schools Simulation: A Research and Development Project," Simulation & Gaming, , vol. 55(1), pages 51-81, February.
    20. Marcel Bassachs & Teresa Serra & Remigijus Bubnys & Dolors Cañabate & Jordi Colomer, 2022. "Multimodal Approaches to Math and Physical Education within Cooperative Learning to Enhance Social Attitudes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-16, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:3:p:1180-:d:485663. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.