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Development of Sustainability Competencies in Secondary School Education: A Scoping Literature Review

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  • Kate Sposab

    (Department of Education, Faculty I, University of Vechta, 49377 Vechta, Germany)

  • Marco Rieckmann

    (Department of Education, Faculty I, University of Vechta, 49377 Vechta, Germany)

Abstract

This scoping review examines the development and application of sustainability competence frameworks in secondary education worldwide, identifying key trends and challenges in the field. An initial pool of 2659 peer-reviewed publications from 2003 to 2023 were subjected to a rigorous, multi-stage screening process, resulting in a refined selection for in-depth analysis. Through qualitative clustering, the review identifies two primary perspectives on sustainability competencies. The first perspective emphasizes transversal competencies, applicable across diverse educational contexts, including national policies, global educational guidelines, various subject areas, and innovative teaching and learning approaches. The second perspective focuses on specific frameworks that address the cognitive, affective, and behavioral dimensions of sustainability. The review highlights a global consensus on the importance of key competencies such as critical thinking, systems thinking, and action competence, which are essential for preparing secondary students to address sustainability challenges. Additionally, it underscores the need for a holistic approach to competence development that integrates cognitive, affective, and behavioral components. Despite this consensus, the review identifies a research bias, with a predominance of studies from Europe, particularly Germany and Sweden, and calls for increased regional diversity and collaboration in future research.

Suggested Citation

  • Kate Sposab & Marco Rieckmann, 2024. "Development of Sustainability Competencies in Secondary School Education: A Scoping Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-29, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:23:p:10228-:d:1527232
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Olusiji Adebola Lasekan & Claudia Myrna Méndez-Alarcón & Blessy Sarah Mathew & Evelyn Solange Campos, 2023. "Exploring the Potential of a Popular EFL Textbook to Foster Both Sustainability Awareness and Competencies among ESD Learners: A Content Analysis Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-19, August.
    2. Neil Taylor & Frances Quinn & Kathy Jenkins & Helen Miller-Brown & Nadya Rizk & Theodosia Prodromou & Penelope Serow & Subhashni Taylor, 2019. "Education for Sustainability in the Secondary Sector—A Review," Journal of Education for Sustainable Development, , vol. 13(1), pages 102-122, March.
    3. Andrea Corres & Marco Rieckmann & Anna Espasa & Isabel Ruiz-Mallén, 2020. "Educator Competences in Sustainability Education: A Systematic Review of Frameworks," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-24, November.
    4. Silvia Carrascal & Montserrat Magro & Juana María Anguita & María Espada, 2019. "Acquisition of Competences for Sustainable Development through Visual Thinking. A Study in Rural Schools in Mixco, Guatemala," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-18, April.
    5. Teresa Berglund & Niklas Gericke & Jelle Boeve-de Pauw & Daniel Olsson & Tzu-Chau Chang, 2020. "A cross-cultural comparative study of sustainability consciousness between students in Taiwan and Sweden," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 22(7), pages 6287-6313, October.
    6. Ola Uhrqvist & Lisa Carlsson & Ann-Sofie Kall & Therese Asplund, 2021. "Sustainability Stories to Encounter Competences for Sustainability," Journal of Education for Sustainable Development, , vol. 15(1), pages 146-160, March.
    7. Eleni Sinakou & Vincent Donche & Jelle Boeve-de Pauw & Peter Van Petegem, 2019. "Designing Powerful Learning Environments in Education for Sustainable Development: A Conceptual Framework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(21), pages 1-23, October.
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