Education for sustainability in university curricula: policies and practice in Victoria

Education for sustainability (EfS) is education which seeks to achieve sustainability, with a particular focus on cultivating knowledge and skills to making a practical, ongoing difference. It comprises environmental, economic and cultural dimensions of sustainability. Australia has a National Action Plan for EfS. For Victoria's universities, it represents a step beyond operational sustainability (e.g. 'campus greening') initiatives and education about sustainability; many advocates view it as something that can be imbued through all educational activities. Many enthusiastic environmentalists have pioneered EfS in Australian universities; the challenge now is to make it mainstream and accessible to newcomers to sustainability as an educational value. This report provides an account of the state of development of EfS in Victoria's universities and is intended to inform government and other agencies and, especially, policy making within universities.

Excerpt from publication. Show less