Fostering Sustainability through Mobility Knowledge, Skills, and Attitudes

Eva M. De La Torre, Adriana Perez-Encinas and Gillian Gomez-Mediavilla
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Eva M. De La Torre: Department of Economics and Public Finance, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
Adriana Perez-Encinas: Research Institute for Higher Education and Science (INAECU), 28903 Madrid, Spain
Gillian Gomez-Mediavilla: Department of Geography, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 3, 1-14

Abstract: International mobility programmes embed higher education (HE) students in a learning process in which they gain key knowledge, skills, and attitudes (KSAs), some of them crucial in pursuing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We propose an innovative theoretical framework that links such KSAs to the UNESCO’s Key Competences for Sustainability and specific SDGs. Moreover, we analysed which KSAs are addressed by institutional initiatives to support mobility students, exposing their contribution to the SDGs. Finally, we revised mobile students’ needs of institutional support on KSA’s acquisition through focus groups. Results show that the KSAs most addressed by the institutional initiatives are related to several SDGs, but mainly to SDG4 (Quality Education) and SDG8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). Notwithstanding, additional institutional support may be needed for students to leverage their learning outcomes and transform international mobility into a key driver of the necessary social change towards the achievement of SDGs.

Keywords: sustainability; competences; knowledge; skills; attitudes; student mobility; higher education; Erasmus+ programme (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: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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