Competences for sustainable development and sustainability Significance and challenges for ESD

摘要

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to draw attention of the education for sustainablerndevelopment (ESD) community to recent discussions on competence approaches and to examine thernadequacy of a competence-based model as the means of achieving educational and societalrntransformation towards sustainability. The paper analyses and highlights some important aspects ofrncase studies of the contributing authors to the special issue.rnDesign/methodology/approach - The paper is based on the review of relevant literature andrnreflections on the articles that constitute this special issue. It also reflects the authors' observationsrnthrough their extensive interactions with theoreticians, practitioners and policy makers on ESD in therncontext of the United Nations decade of education for sustainable development (DESD) and higherrneducation for sustainable development (HESD).rnFindings - The paper recognises a highly complex nature of the conceptualizations of competencesrnfor SD and their articulation in educational programmes. It also highlights a growing interest inrncompetence-based approaches from institutions of higher education and their stakeholders in differentrnparts of the world.rnPractical implications - The paper provides a broad picture of influential international processesrnand diverse players driving competence-based approaches in ESD and indicates a need for morerncoherent critical multi-level analysis of such processes.rnOriginality/value - The paper contributes to a broader debate on strategies of implementation ofrnESD and education for sustainability (EfS) by mapping arguments on competences for SD andrnsustainability with a particular focus on higher education institutions.