How do you teach students to participate in sustainable development?
For the first time ever, a Danish university is offering teaching that addresses the educational challenges related to sustainable development.
In the autumn semester of 2013, the Department of Education at Aarhus University is offering a new elective module: Education, Society and Sustainable Development. The module is open to Master’s degree students and Open University students.
The theme of the module is the educational challenges and possibilities related to teaching and learning about sustainable development. The module is research-based and closely connected with the Learning for Care, Sustainability and Health research programme. The module therefore has a special focus on educational research and the development of theory and practice within this area.
Students with different qualifications
The module is included as an elective module in the Master’s degree programme in general education, but students following other Master’s degree programmes will also have the opportunity to select the module as part of their studies. It is also possible (in exchange for a fee) to take the module as a daytime course (Open University), which also gives students following flexible Master’s degree programmes an opportunity to be admitted.
“We’re expecting students with a variety of qualifications. Some will have a background in education, while others will be students of the environment and sustainable development. Some will have a predominantly theoretical background, while others will have more practical experiences and competences. We will work in an interdisciplinary manner and move between theory and practice in order to turn their different qualifications into an advantage we can use in the course,” says Jeppe Læssøe, who is responsible for the module and also attached to the Learning for Care, Sustainability and Health research programme at the Department of Education.
Educational reflection and didactic thinking
The module will be offered from September 2013. During the semester, the students will be introduced to key issues and concepts as well as the practical challenges related to working with the promotion of learning in relation to sustainable development.
“The students will work with a single case from a variety of perspectives, incorporating education, theoretical reflection and didactic thinking as well as the particular educational dilemmas, challenges and implications relating to educational theory and practice that are attached to this very important topic,” says Jeppe Læssøe.
Facts about the Education, Society and Sustainable Development elective module:
- The module is offered both in Aarhus and in Copenhagen.
- During the autumn semester 2013, teaching will take place in Copenhagen on Thursdays at 9-12, and in Aarhus on Tuesdays at 12-15.
- Read more about the module in the course catalogue:
- Course catalogue Copenhagen
- Course catalogue Aarhus
- ECTS credits will be earned for the module subject to the advance approval of the student’s own study programme.
- Enquiries regarding registration for the module may be sent to Henrik Christensen via email: henc@dpu.dk
- Students who wish to take the module as a daytime course (Open University) must contact the Office of Continuing and Further Education at Aarhus University, only in danish.
- The module is related to the Learning for Care, Sustainability and Health research programme.
Further information:
Jeppe Læssøe
Professor with special responsibilities
Department of Education
Aarhus University
Tel. + 45 8716 3846 / + 45 2459 4446
Email: jepl@dpu.dk