IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/sae/jousus/v7y2013i2p151-165.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Scaling Sustainability Learning: Size and Scope Matter

Author

Listed:
  • Michael S. Duggan

    (Michael S. Duggan is a Research student at the Sustainability Research Centre, University of Sunshine Coast, Australia. Email: msd010@student.usc.edu.au)

  • Timothy F. Smith

    (Timothy F. Smith is the Director of the Sustainability Research Centre, University of Sunshine Coast, Australia. Email: TSmith5@usc.edu.au)

  • Dana C. Thomsen

    (Dana C. Thomsen is at the Sustainability Research Centre, University of Sunshine Coast, Australia. Email: DThomsen@usc.edu.au)

Abstract

Working across scales presents barriers and opportunities to Education for Sustainability (EfS) programmes. It changes the way these programmes are implemented and can provide the tools for addressing systemic problems that have so far eluded localized approaches to sustainability learning. In particular, issues of scale affect the implementation of contemporary EfS through: ( i ) greater use of communication technologies that can support information exchange and educational programmes across ever-increasing distances; ( ii ) the development of a broader scope for educational investment from outcomes based around individuals to opportunities for societies and even globally; and ( iii ) increased emphasis on the intractable nature of complex sustainability issues towards a focus on approaches that can effectively link local and global scales. Decentralized, global networks have emerged in the development, operation and implementation of EfS programmes to capitalize on these advantages and address issues associated with scale. However, there is little documented evidence of the success of decentralized global network approaches or of the inherent barriers and opportunities in scaling up EfS programmes from the local to the global scale. This article examines the concept of ‘scalability’ to develop a theoretical framework for the evaluation of EfS programmes delivered through decentralized global networks.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael S. Duggan & Timothy F. Smith & Dana C. Thomsen, 2013. "Scaling Sustainability Learning: Size and Scope Matter," Journal of Education for Sustainable Development, , vol. 7(2), pages 151-165, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:jousus:v:7:y:2013:i:2:p:151-165
    DOI: 10.1177/0973408214526484
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0973408214526484
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1177/0973408214526484?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Uvin, Peter & Jain, Pankaj S. & Brown, L. David, 2000. "Think Large and Act Small: Toward a New Paradigm for NGO Scaling Up," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 28(8), pages 1409-1419, August.
    2. Uvin, Peter, 1995. "Fighting hunger at the grassroots: Paths to scaling up," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 23(6), pages 927-939, June.
    3. Bernd Klauer & Martin Drechsler & Frank Messner, 2006. "Multicriteria Analysis under Uncertainty with IANUS—Method and Empirical Results," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 24(2), pages 235-256, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    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. Syrus M Islam, 2022. "Social impact scaling strategies in social enterprises: A systematic review and research agenda," Australian Journal of Management, Australian School of Business, vol. 47(2), pages 298-321, May.
    2. Simon Joncourt & Heiko Gebauer & Javier Reynoso & Karla Cabrera & Ana Valdes & Katharina Greve, 2019. "Extending the Base-of-the-Pyramid Concept," Service Science, INFORMS, vol. 11(3), pages 241-261, October.
    3. Islam, Syrus M., 2020. "Towards an integrative definition of scaling social impact in social enterprises," Journal of Business Venturing Insights, Elsevier, vol. 13(C).
    4. Ana María Sánchez Rodríguez & Malcolm MacLachlan & Aude Brus, 2021. "The coordinates of scaling: Facilitating inclusive innovation," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(6), pages 833-850, November.
    5. Didi van Doren & Peter PJ Driessen & Hens Runhaar & Mendel Giezen, 2018. "Scaling-up low-carbon urban initiatives: Towards a better understanding," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 55(1), pages 175-194, January.
    6. Tzeng, Cheng-Hua, 2010. "Managing innovation for economic development in greater China: The origins of Hsinchu and Zhongguancun," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 32(2), pages 110-121.
    7. Roberts, Susan M. & Jones III, John Paul & Frohling, Oliver, 2005. "NGOs and the globalization of managerialism: A research framework," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 33(11), pages 1845-1864, November.
    8. Kishore Kumar François & Hoe Chin Goi, 2023. "Business Model for Scaling Social Impact towards Sustainability by Social Entrepreneurs," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-17, September.
    9. Aikaterini Papapostolou & Charikleia Karakosta & Kalliopi-Anastasia Kourti & Haris Doukas & John Psarras, 2019. "Supporting Europe’s Energy Policy Towards a Decarbonised Energy System: A Comparative Assessment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(15), pages 1-26, July.
    10. Goodwin, Neva R., 2000. "Development connections: The hedgerow model," MPRA Paper 28541, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    11. repec:mpr:mprres:8097 is not listed on IDEAS
    12. Christian Busch & Harry Barkema, 2021. "From necessity to opportunity: Scaling bricolage across resource‐constrained environments," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 42(4), pages 741-773, April.
    13. Busch, Christian & Barkema, Harry, 2022. "Align or perish: Social enterprise network orchestration in Sub-Saharan Africa," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 37(2).
    14. Siebold, Nicole, 2021. "Reference points for business model innovation in social purpose organizations: A stakeholder perspective," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 710-719.
    15. Justin J. P. Jansen & Ciaran Heavey & Tom J. M. Mom & Zeki Simsek & Shaker A. Zahra, 2023. "Scaling‐up: Building, Leading and Sustaining Rapid Growth Over Time," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 60(3), pages 581-604, May.
    16. Kimberly Boller & Deborah Daro & Patricia Del Grosso & Russell Cole & Diane Paulsell & Bonnie Hart & Brandon Coffee-Borden & Debra Strong & Heather Zaveri & Margaret Hargreaves, "undated". "Making Replication Work: Building Infrastructure to Implement, Scale-up, and Sustain Evidence-Based Early Childhood Home Visiting Programs with Fidelity," Mathematica Policy Research Reports 717d1a3c61eb46ad887f306a7, Mathematica Policy Research.
    17. Gunjan Saxena & Avani Mohan Singh, 2014. "Amorphous Family Nexus: An Analytical Tool in Considering Community/m-MGO Haritika's Ties in Bundelkhand, Central India," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 46(10), pages 2419-2434, October.
    18. Gina Porter, 2003. "NGOs and poverty reduction in a globalizing world: perspectives from Ghana," Progress in Development Studies, , vol. 3(2), pages 131-145, April.
    19. Islam, Syrus M., 2020. "Unintended consequences of scaling social impact through ecosystem growth strategy in social enterprise and social entrepreneurship," Journal of Business Venturing Insights, Elsevier, vol. 13(C).
    20. Song, Tianqi & Deng, Guosheng, 2020. "Technology and scaling up: Evidence from an NGO for adolescents with intellectual disabilities in China," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    21. Hermans, Frans & Sartas, Murat & van Schagen, Boudy & van Asten, Piet & Schut, Marc, 2017. "Social network analysis of multi-stakeholder platforms in agricultural research for development: Opportunities and constraints for innovation and scaling," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 12(2), pages 1-21.

    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:sae:jousus:v:7:y:2013:i:2:p:151-165. 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: SAGE Publications (email available below). General contact details of provider: .

    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.