Insights and Next Challenges for the Italian Educational System to Teach Sustainability in a Global Context

Cecilia Smaniotto (), Anna Saramin, Laura Brunelli and Maria Parpinel
Additional contact information
Cecilia Smaniotto: Department of Medicine, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy
Anna Saramin: Department of Medicine, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy
Laura Brunelli: Department of Medicine, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy
Maria Parpinel: Department of Medicine, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-17

Abstract: Education is recognized as a dimension in which a more sustainable future can be promoted and supported. It is described both as a specific goal under the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and as a goal within other SDGs. Since sustainability can be taught at all levels of education, students progressively acquire a variable knowledge of these issues and find academic, professional and social contexts in which they are expected to implement this knowledge. Italian universities could gradually adapt to incorporate this knowledge through specific courses, the integration of sustainability in learning programs, and the promotion of sustainable behaviors. This offers a unique opportunity to integrate sustainability in didactic activities and in the whole academic environment, presenting the university as a model for a more sustainable life. The same path can be followed by other institutions engaged in lifelong learning and improving general education and sustainability literacy. This essay presents a general diagnosis of the current situation in the global and national integration of sustainability in education, the level of knowledge of Italian students and teaching staff about sustainability, why this knowledge should be enhanced, and how lifelong learning can harmoniously continue the process to achieve such integration.

Keywords: sustainable development goals; 2030 Agenda; Italy; sustainable education; education for sustainable development (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/1/209/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/1/209/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2022:i:1:p:209-:d:1012377

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().