Implementing Education for Sustainable Development in Organizations of Adult and Continuing Education: Perspectives of Leaders in China, Germany, and the USA

Ulrich Müller (), Dawson Hancock, Chuang Wang, Tobias Stricker and Qiao Liu
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Ulrich Müller: Institute for Educational Leadership and Management, Ludwigsburg University of Education, 71634 Ludwigsburg, Germany
Dawson Hancock: Educational Leadership, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
Chuang Wang: Educational Leadership, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
Tobias Stricker: Institute for Educational Leadership and Management, Ludwigsburg University of Education, 71634 Ludwigsburg, Germany
Qiao Liu: Educational Leadership, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 10, 1-26

Abstract: Societies need to develop more sustainable ways of living, working, and doing business. Education for sustainable development (ESD) plays a pivotal role in this endeavor. The aim is to provide people with the necessary knowledge, values, and skills for the needed transformation. Therefore, organizations of adult and continuing education must address issues of climate protection and sustainability in their programs and act accordingly in the way the organization is managed. This article reports on a qualitative study that involves leaders of adult education institutions in China, Germany, and the USA. This study seeks to investigate what these leaders do and how they act to implement ESD in their organizations. It specifically looks at current challenges, management strategies, beliefs, and values of the leaders. The results of this study show that leaders of adult and continuing education organizations recognize the need to address sustainability in adult education. However, they face many challenges in implementing ESD, including a lack of resources (e.g., finances and staff), structural barriers, and difficulties in reaching new target groups. Despite these challenges, many participants strive to develop their organizations in a more sustainable way, such as through curriculum design and campus management. Some leaders take a comprehensive approach, guided by the Whole Institution Approach, by integrating ESD into their institution’s vision and mission, establishing dedicated working groups, and forming new partnerships with external stakeholders. Overall, this study highlights the crucial role of leadership in advancing sustainability efforts.

Keywords: adult education; education for sustainable development; ESD; leadership for ESD; leadership for sustainability; whole institution approach; implementation of ESD (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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