INSTITUTIONAL SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN THE INITIATIVES OF EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN LATVIA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17770/sie2024vol1.7806Keywords:
education for sustainable development, initiatives, institutional social responsibility, sustainable development goals, sustainable team managementAbstract
The article deals with the implemented initiatives of education for sustainable development in educational institutions and the evidence of institutional social responsibility in them. The data were collected by the content analysis of 15 homepages of institutions implementing education for sustainable development, questionnaire to 151 students aged 14-19 years and 24 interviews with 12 principals and 12 teachers on the state of the art of sustainability issues in their organisations. The sample of 12 educational institutions, principal and teacher represented the same educational institution: 4 primary schools, 4 secondary schools and 4 state gymnasiums with a wide geographical representation – capital, urban, small town and rural schools, as well as 7 online correspondences with the representatives of organisations implementing education for sustainable development initiatives in Latvia.
The data show that sustainable development initiatives are not systematically implemented and monitored in educational institutions in Latvia. There is no co-financing at national level to provide targeted methodological support for teachers in implementing practice-based education for sustainable development, instead schools attract funding from Erasmus+ or other projects. There is also a lack of a common understanding of sustainability culture among the members of the education management team, as well as no studies have been carried out on institutional social responsibility in educational institutions and regarding the implementation of education for sustainable development in curricula.
References
Bagdonienė, D., Galbuogienė, A., Paulavičienė, E. (2009). Darnios organizacijos koncepcijos formavimas visuotinės kokybės vadybos pagrindu [Formation of a Coherent Organizational Concept on the Basis of Global Quality Management]. Ekonomika ir vadyba [Economy and Management], 14, 1044–1053. Available: https://www.lituanistika.lt/content/22390
Cross-Sectoral Coordination Centre. (2020). National Development Plan of Latvia for 2021-2027. Available: https://www.pkc.gov.lv/sites/default/files/inline-files/NAP2027__ENG.pdf
European Commission. (n.d.). Key Benefits. Eco-Management and Audit Scheme. Available: https://ec.europa.eu/environment/emas/emas_for_you/premium_benefits_through_emas/key_ benefits_en.htm
Ferrer-Estevez, M. & Chalmeta, R. (2021). Integrating Sustainable Development Goals in Educational Institutions. The International Journal of Management Education. Vol 19, 2. Available: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijme.2021.100494
Glass, L.M., Newig, J. (2019). Governance for Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals: how important are participation, policy coherence, reflexivity, adaptation and democratic institutions? Earth System Governance Volume 2, April 2019, 100031. Available: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esg.2019.100031
Glavic, P. (2020). Identifying Key Issues of Education for Sustainable Development. Sustainability, 12(16). Available: https://doi.org/10.3390/su12166500
Holmberg, J. & Larsson, J. (2018). A Sustainability Lighthouse—Supporting Transition Leadership and Conversations on Desirable Futures. Sustainability 10(11). Available: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/10/11/3842
Kioupi, V. & Voulvoulis, N. (2019). Education for Sustainable Development: A Systemic Framework for Connecting the SDGs to Educational Outcomes. Sustainability 11 (21). Available: https://doi.org/10.3390/su11216104
Koehn, P.H., Uitto, J.I. (2017). Universities and the Sustainable Development Future Evaluating Higher-Education Contributions to the 2030; Earthscan: London, UK.
Institute of Corporate Sustainability and Responsibility. (n.d.) Atbildīga biznesa novērtējums. [Assessment of Responsible Business]. Available: https://www.incsr.eu/novertejumi/atbildiga-biznesa-novertejums-2/
Kvelde, A. & Odina, I. (2023). The Notion of Sustainable Team in Education Institution. Proceedings of the ATEE International Scientific Conference To be or Not to Be a Great Educator, 2022. Available: https://doi.org/10.22364/atee.2022.22
Latvian Platform for Development Cooperation [LAPAS]. (n.d.). Globālā izglītība [Global Education]. Available: https://lapas.lv/works/darbibas-virzieni/globala-izglitiba/
Latvian Platform for Development Cooperation [LAPAS]. (n.d.). Ilgtspējīga godīga attīstība [Sustainable and Just Development]. Available: https://lapas.lv/works/darbibas-virzieni/ilgtspejiga-godiga-attistiba/
Latvijas Republikas Valsts kontrole/ [State Audit Office of Latvia]. (2023). Are the Preconditions Created in Latvian for Achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals? Available: https://www.lrvk.gov.lv/en/getrevisionfile/29654-pMxs84mPi1_xo1cJ5ogyyglKpzgBjalZ.pdf
Leal Filho, W., Platje, J., Gerstlberger, W. (2016). The Role of Governance in Realising the Transition Towards Sustainable Societies. Journal of Cleaner Production, Volume 113, 1 February 2016, Pages 755-766. Available: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.11.060
Menzie-Ballantyne, K. & Ham, M. (2022). School Strike 4 Climate: the intersection of education for sustainable development, education for global citizenship and the Australian Curriculum. Australian Journal of Environment Education. 38, 85-95.
Morrissey, J. & Heidkamp, P. (2022). Sustainability after COVID-19: Pillars for a Just Tran- sition. Environmental Sustainability, 5, 261–269. Available: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s42398-022-00231-y
Müller, U., Lude, A., Hancock, D.R. (2020). Leading Schools Towards Sustainability. Fields of Action and Management Strategies for Principals. Sustainability, 12(7), 3031. Available: https://doi.org/10.3390/su12073031
Rieckman, M. (2012). Future-oriented higher education: Which key competencies should be fostered through university teaching and learning? Futures. 44 (2), 127-135. Available: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.futures.2011.09.005
Risi, D., Vigneau, L., Bohn, S., Wickert, C. (2022). Institutional Theory-Based Research on Corporate Social Responsibility: Bringing Values Back in. International Journal of Management Review. Available: https://doi.org/10.1111/ijmr.12299
Sant, E., Sant, Davies, I., Pashby, K., Lynette, S. (2018). Global Citizenship Education: A Critical Introduction to Key Concepts and Debates. Accessible: http://dx.doi.org/10.5040/9781474286749
Ssosse, Q., Wagner, J., Hopper, C. (2021). Assessing the Impact of ESD: Methods, Challenges, Results. Sustainability, 13, 2854. Available: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/5/2854
Swamidass, P.M. (2000). Deming Cycle (PDCA). In: Encyclopedia of Production and Manufacturing Management. Springer, Boston, MA. Available: https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-0612-8_229
UNESCO. (2016). Global Action Programme on Education for Sustainable Development: information folder. Available: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000246270
UNESCO. (2017). Education for Sustainable Development Goals: Learning Objectives. Available: (https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000247444
UNESCO. (2019). UNESCO Associated Schools Network: Guide for Members. Available: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000368992
UNESCO. (2020). Education for Sustainable Development for 2030 Toolbox. Available: https://en.unesco.org/themes/education-sustainable-development/toolbox
UNESCO. (2021). UNESCO 2021 World Conference on Education for Sustainable Development. Available: https://en.unesco.org/events/ESDfor2030
UNESCO. (n.d.). UN Decade of ESD. Available: https://en.unesco.org/themes/education-sustainable-development/what-is-esd/un-decade-of-esd
United Nations General Assembly. (2015). Transforming Our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Available: https://sdgs.un.org/2030agenda
Wals, A. E. J. & Lenglet, F. (2016). Sustainability Citizens: Collaborative and Disruptive Social Learning. In Sustainability Citizenship in Cities: Theory and Practice; Horne, R., Fien, J., Beza, B., Nelson, A., Eds.; Routledge: London, UK. Warner, B., Elser, M. (2015). How Do Sustainable Schools Integrate Sustainability Education? An Assessment of Certified Sustainable K-12 Schools in the United States. The Journal of Environmental Education, 46, 1–22. Available: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/280216697