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Transformative Learning for a Sustainable Future: An Exploration of Pedagogies for Change at an Alternative College

Author

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  • Joanna Blake

    (Centre for Sustainable Futures/PedRIO, Plymouth University, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, UK)

  • Stephen Sterling

    (Centre for Sustainable Futures/PedRIO, Plymouth University, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, UK)

  • Ivor Goodson

    (Education Research Centre, University of Brighton, Falmer, East Sussex BN1 9PH, UK)

Abstract

Educators and policy makers have long recognised the central role that education can play in creating a more sustainable and equitable world. Yet some question whether current processes across mainstream higher education prepare learners sufficiently to graduate with the capabilities or motivation to shape and create a future that is life-sustaining. This paper presents findings from a qualitative research project carried out by Plymouth University in association with Schumacher College, Devon, UK. Schumacher College is an alternative, civil society college, owned by the Dartington Hall Trust that claims to provide transformative learning opportunities within a broad context of sustainability. The study explored the nature and application of transformative learning as a pedagogical approach to advance change towards sustainability. If learners claimed transformational learning experiences, the research asked whether, and to what extent, this transformation could be attributed to the pedagogies employed at the College. The paper begins by setting out the broad background to the relationship between marginal and mainstream educational settings, and definitions and theoretical underpinnings of transformative learning, and then leads into the research design and findings. The potential for transformative pedagogies to be applied to and employed within the wider higher education (HE) sector is then discussed, and the overall findings and conclusions are presented.

Suggested Citation

  • Joanna Blake & Stephen Sterling & Ivor Goodson, 2013. "Transformative Learning for a Sustainable Future: An Exploration of Pedagogies for Change at an Alternative College," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 5(12), pages 1-26, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:5:y:2013:i:12:p:5347-5372:d:31273
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Raskin, Paul D., 2008. "World lines: A framework for exploring global pathways," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 65(3), pages 461-470, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Elizabeth Sidiropoulos, 2022. "The Influence of Higher Education on Student Learning and Agency for Sustainability Transition," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-35, March.
    2. Douglas Bourn & Nese Soysal, 2021. "Transformative Learning and Pedagogical Approaches in Education for Sustainable Development: Are Initial Teacher Education Programmes in England and Turkey Ready for Creating Agents of Change for Sust," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-19, August.
    3. Jonas Christensen & Nils Ekelund & Margareta Melin & Pär Widén, 2021. "The Beautiful Risk of Collaborative and Interdisciplinary Research. A Challenging Collaborative and Critical Approach toward Sustainable Learning Processes in Academic Profession," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-20, April.
    4. Andrea Gerbaudo & Francesca Lozar & Manuela Lasagna & Marco Davide Tonon & Elena Egidio, 2022. "Are We Ready for a Sustainable Development? A Survey among Young Geoscientists in Italy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-17, June.
    5. Stephen Allen & Ann L. Cunliffe & Mark Easterby-Smith, 2019. "Understanding Sustainability Through the Lens of Ecocentric Radical-Reflexivity: Implications for Management Education," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 154(3), pages 781-795, February.
    6. Marcia Juliana d’Angelo & Janette Brunstein & Jones Madson Telles, 2021. "Becoming Family Farmers: The Contribution of the Existential Ontological Perspective to the Social Learning for Sustainability Theory," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-20, July.
    7. Audrey L. Schroer & Heili E. Lowman & Craig L. Just, 2015. "Educating the Aware, Informed and Action-Oriented Sustainable Citizen," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(2), pages 1-15, February.
    8. Zehui Zhan & Patrick S.W. Fong & Hu Mei & Xuhua Chang & Ting Liang & Zicheng Ma, 2015. "Sustainability Education in Massive Open Online Courses: A Content Analysis Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(3), pages 1-27, February.
    9. Fu-Hsuan Chen, 2021. "Sustainable Education through E-Learning: The Case Study of iLearn2.0," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-15, September.
    10. James Ayers & Jayne Bryant & Merlina Missimer, 2020. "The Use of Reflective Pedagogies in Sustainability Leadership Education—A Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-21, August.
    11. Andrea Gerbaudo & Francesca Lozar & Manuela Lasagna & Marco Davide Tonon & Elena Egidio, 2023. "For a Sustainable Future: A Survey about the 2030 Agenda among the Italian Geosciences Community," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-15, July.
    12. Julia Bentz, 2020. "Learning about climate change in, with and through art," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 162(3), pages 1595-1612, October.
    13. Nijolė Burkšaitienė & Robert Lesčinskij & Jelena Suchanova & Jolita Šliogerienė, 2021. "Self-Directedness for Sustainable Learning in University Studies: Lithuanian Students’ Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-15, August.
    14. Stanislav Avsec & Vesna Ferk Savec, 2021. "Pre-Service Teachers’ Perceptions of, and Experiences with, Technology-Enhanced Transformative Learning towards Education for Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-28, September.
    15. 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.
    16. Vasiliki Kioupi & Nikolaos Voulvoulis, 2019. "Education for Sustainable Development: A Systemic Framework for Connecting the SDGs to Educational Outcomes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(21), pages 1-18, November.
    17. Eveliina Asikainen & Annukka Tapani, 2021. "Exploring the Connections of Education for Sustainable Development and Entrepreneurial Education—A Case Study of Vocational Teacher Education in Finland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-13, October.
    18. Ian Thomas, 2014. "Special Issue—Pedagogy for Education for Sustainability in Higher Education," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 6(4), pages 1-4, April.

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