Education for Sustainable Development: What Matters?

Rocsana Bucea-Manea-Țoniș, Dan Gheorghe Păun, Oliva M. D. Martins, Artur J. Santos () and Laura Urdeș
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Rocsana Bucea-Manea-Țoniș: Doctoral School, National University of Physical Education and Sport, 060057 Bucharest, Romania
Dan Gheorghe Păun: Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Spiru Haret University, 030045 Bucharest, Romania
Oliva M. D. Martins: Transdisciplinary Research Centre in Education and Development (CITED), Polytechnical University of Bragança, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal
Artur J. Santos: Transdisciplinary Research Centre in Education and Development (CITED), Polytechnical University of Bragança, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal
Laura Urdeș: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Spiru Haret University, 030045 Bucharest, Romania

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 21, 1-16

Abstract: There is a raising of concerns about the need to change environmental behaviours through economic and social activities. Education plays a significant role in this process, with schools enhancing the necessary behaviour adoption by youngsters and their community. Thus, the present study examines the relationship between different variables, such as sustainability (green public procurement, healthy food activity) and education (course, impact, interactive teaching methods/technology). We developed a survey regarding education for sustainable development (ESD), with five sections considering the referred variables. We applied it to 385 Romanian educators and teachers from kindergarten and primary school. An SEM model was formed to evaluate the relationship between the associated variables. The results showed that an organisation or school with a long-term plan incorporating green public procurement will positively stimulate initiatives that help the next generation adopt good eating habits. Moreover, this eco-sustainable approach affects the creation of interactive teaching methods and the courses and classes. Consequently, the changes in interactive methods will positively affect the overall impact. Nevertheless, the relationship between courses and impact was not significant. This means management decisions regarding green strategies can lead to a broader change in a school setting, fostering the ESD.

Keywords: sustainable curricula; cultural transformation; green procurement; interactive learning; eco-friendly behaviours (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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