EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: A COMMON GOOD FOR BOTH NOW AND THE FUTURE

Abstract

"Altruistically speaking, humanity has now reached a point where it has recognised that it has a responsibility to achieve a development that is sustainable. This responsibility is outlined in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This notwithstanding, as an intrinsically selfish creature, humanity also has a need to fulfil its own needs. This concept is set out by Maslow. Education is undeniably a linch-pin in marrying these two concepts, aiming to meet the challenges and the needs of both today’s and future generations. Whether and how these needs are met for any learner affects the learner’s motivation to learn and the educator’s motivation to teach. Moreover, during their time in education learners form habits of mind, beliefs, and principles that will stay with them throughout their lives. This is why it is so crucial to reflect on the type of education that best ‘cultivates and guides the sustainable humanity’ of the learners. This is the challenge facing today’s Anthropocene society. Any approach must be based on the vision of a just and equitable future for the next generations on a stable and resilient planet. With this in mind, we describe the paradigm shift towards an education for sustainable development. Subsequently, one of the principle outcomes of this contribution is a series of eight features which could be used as a template for any realignment of education aiming to achieve sustainable development at the same time as fulfilling Maslow's needs. Finally, further research may build upon these conclusions so that researchers are spurred to examine the topic in more detail in future practical work."