Building a Pedagogical Framework for the Education of Sustainable Development using a Values-based Education Approach

Abstract

It is widely recognized that sustainability education is a key enabler for the Sustainable Development Goals, and that affective education significantly enhances such education. This paper introduces and demonstrates a comprehensive, feasible and applicable pedagogical framework in which sustainability can be explicitly fostered as an intrinsic value to its students by using the principles of Values-based Education in an Education for Sustainable Development context. Following a literature review and a series of two surveys, Values-based Education for Sustainable Development (VbESD) was defined. It is an approach developed from the opportunity identified that combines the roots of what is needed-the development of positive values, quality education, and sustainable development-in order to nurture engaged, responsible citizens who can create the needed social change for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world.