ESD competence framework for the TU Dresden

Education for sustainable development is necessary for the transition to more equitable and sustainable futures (UNESCO, 2020). Universities have a special role in educating future professionals, leaders and teachers and research sustainable development. (Rieckman et al., 2024) So how can we strengthen ESD at the TU Dresden?
ESD is already part of many courses and programmes across faculties at the university. Certificate and key-qualification programs in Global Citizenship, Sustainability and ESD are either in planning or already established. However, there is more to be done to structurally anchor and strengthen ESD at TU Dresden.

One initiative which aims to strengthen and systemically anchor ESD at  TU Dresden is the piloting and eventual adoption of  a shared, research-informed definition of ESD competences. It is anticpated that this would provide transparent criteria for ESD learning, teaching and assessment across the university. It would also assist the development and evaluation of courses and assessments, and the communication of learning outcomes to students and their future employers.

Towards this aim, the competence framework developed by Brundiers et. al., (2021) will be piloted by staff and students from across the university in winter semester 2024. Learning from the process will inform the adoption or adaption of the framework for TU Dresden, or another framework will be tested.

Do you want to be involved? Mail to greenoffice@tu-dresden.de

References 

• Brundiers, K., Barth, M., Cebrián, G. et al. (2021) Key competencies in sustainability in higher education—toward an agreed-upon reference framework. Sustain Sci 16, 13–29 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-020-00838-2
• Rieckmann, Marco et al., [Hrsg.] (2024); Nachhaltige Entwicklung von Hochschulen. Erkenntnisse und Perspektiven zur gesamtinstitutionellen Transformation. Opladen • Berlin • Toronto : Verlag Barbara Budrich 2024, 233 S. - (Schriftenreihe "Ökologie und Erziehungswissenschaft" der Kommission Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Erziehungswissenschaft (DGfE))- URN: urn:nbn:de:0111-pedocs-288065 - DOI: 10.25656/01:28806; 10.3224/84742551
• UNESCO (2020). Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung: ein Fahrplan. UNESCO Publishing.  S. 73. Verfügbar unter: https://doi.org/10.54675/YFRE1448 (Zugriff am 20. Juni 2024)