Re-thinking Education for Sustainable Development: Key Learning Insights from the SDSN USA Transformative Education Summit 2023

Authors

Radhika Iyengar, Center for Sustainable Development, Climate School, Columbia University, New York, NYFollow
Sumie Song, The GREEN Program, Philadelphia, PAFollow
Deepak Sridhar, Independent Scholar, New York, NYFollow
Wendy M. Purcell, Rutgers School of Public Health, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MAFollow
Ann Nielsen, National Institute for Excellence in Teaching, Scottsdale, AZFollow
Iveta Silova, Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College and Global Futures Laboratory, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZFollow
Matthew A. Witenstein, Department of Educational Administration, University of Dayton, Dayton, OHFollow
Wen-wen Tung, Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, INFollow

Publication Date

Winter 12-14-2023

Abstract

This paper summarizes key learning insights from the 2023 U.S. Summit on Transformative Education organized by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network USA. Over 400 members from higher education institutions, non-governmental organizations, think tanks, students, and teachers, joined the online event held February 23-25. The Summit created a bridge between social justice issues with an historical lens and sustainable development. Learning insights include those shared by session speakers, dialogue among participants during thematic conversations and regional networking forums, comments made by attendees on session Jamboards and the Zoom Chat function, and post-Summit feedback. A high-level thematic review was undertaken to cluster emergent themes and develop a rubric that might help education facilitators create curriculum, lesson plans, and activities together with signposting resources to support the global movement towards a more just and sustainable world. It is clear that higher education is embracing transformation, undertaking intentional self-disruption with a focus on action, ethics, and mindfulness. The Summit shows the sector is becoming more connected to the society it serves, engaging in radical collaboration with stakeholders, with sustainable development activities fueled by the convening power of universities and colleges and the agency of students.

Recommended Citation

Iyengar, Radhika; Song, Sumie; Sridhar, Deepak; Purcell, Wendy M.; Nielsen, Ann; Silova, Iveta; Witenstein, Matthew A.; and Tung, Wen-wen (2023) "Re-thinking Education for Sustainable Development: Key Learning Insights from the SDSN USA Transformative Education Summit 2023," Journal of Contemplative and Holistic Education: Vol. 1: Iss. 1, Article 9.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.25035/jche.01.01.09
Available at: https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/jche/vol1/iss1/9