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- The portuguese sustainable campus network: a knowledge collaboration for sustainability transformation in higher education institutionsPublication . Barros, F. M.; Caeiro, Sandra; Disterheft, Antje; Madeira, Ana; Manteigas, Vítor; Martins, António Gomes; Teixeira, Margarida Ribau; Soares, AldinaNetworks are an important mechanism for systemic change towards sustainability in higher education institutions. In Portugal there is no formal law or regulation at governmental level pressuring for this change. Also, there was a need for action and a lack of collaboration between the Portuguese higher education community to allow an advanced sustainability implementation in higher education institutions. This chapter presents the activities that the Portuguese Network Sustainable Campus—Rede Campus Sustentável (RCS) has been undertaking. The history and organisation of the network are presented as well as a summary of its main initiatives, namely the results of the first survey report on the Implementation of Sustainability in Higher Education in Portugal, where the actual practices in the main dimensions are listed. This work aims to contribute to the studies about sustainability-oriented networks in higher education, addressing its current and future challenges.
- Cross-curricular teaching: recommendations for cross-curricular teaching implementationPublication . Timmerman, Virginie; Caeiro, Sandra; Dalaaker, Dina; Hjort, Michael Fabrin; Gaussel, Marie; Greczylo, Tomasz; Harju, Vilhelmiina; Michelsen, Claus; Paz, João; Reverdy, Catherine; Rintakumpu, Annina; Rostworowski, Michal; Serrano, Ana; Teixeira, António; Tervaniemi, Antonio Mari; Viana, IsabelThis eBook is the fourth and last output of the CROSSCUT project. The main purpose of CROSSCUT is to support the professional development of secondary school teachers by training them to develop the competences necessary for the implementation of cross curricular teaching. The eBook contains key information and tools produced during three years by participating institutions. It aims at providing the project’s targeted audiences with key recommendations backed by research conducted during the three years of the project. This eBook is organised in a way that, depending on who you are, you are directly pointed to the results and messages that may be of interest for you. Nevertheless, the CROSSCUT team invites you to read the eBook in its entirety.
- Attitudes, barriers and motivators as factors for sustainability of higher education e-Learning programmes at Universidade Aberta, PortugalPublication . Nicolau, Paula Bacelar; Caeiro, Sandra; Martinho, Ana Paula; Azeiteiro, UlissesIn higher education distance learning institutions, where studies are carried on through a variety of distance learning regimes, from the correspondence and earlier forms of distance education to fully online e-learning programmes, and where planners and administrators seize the effective adoption and deployment of technology-enabled education, student attitude and motivation assume considerable significance. Attitudinal pre-dispositions, institutional and allied barriers (including appropriate policy initiatives), besides the scientific and pedagogical quality of degree programmes are assumed to play a crucial role in sustainability of higher education systems. This article reports the findings of a study conducted at Universidade Aberta, Portugal—the Portuguese Distance Learning Education University—to examine student attitudes towards e-learning and to identify barriers and motivators of e-learning adoption, which are key factors for decreasing dropout rates of a 2nd cycle degree e-learning programme, analysed as a case study.
- The challenge of widening citizen participation in climate change education: developing open educational resources on the lived experiences of climate changePublication . Teixeira, António; Nicolau, Paula Bacelar; Caeiro, Sandra; Dams, Lieve; van Dorp, Kees-JanIf climate change education is to become more than self-serving and contribute to meeting the global challenge of sustainable development, it must broaden its scope to include a wider range of students in terms of age, social group and ethnicity than is usually the case. In this paper the authors discuss how open and flexible learning can apply its strengths in the area of widening participation, as it can lever years of experience with non-traditional target groups. They show how flexible learning universities, such as Open Universities, may offer their curriculum as open educational resource (OER) for these types of learning and can indeed contribute for achieving such a needed critical mass. Mass education of this type may have a key role to play in meeting any global challenge, and climate change is no exception. In this paper, the authors exemplify it through an exploration of a partnership project between eight European universities in developing the LECH-e materials for a Master’s curriculum on the lived experiences of climate change.
- Educação para a sustentabilidade: implementação de projetos de educação para a sustentabilidadePublication . Caeiro, SandraVídeo de apresentação sobre um curso de Aprendizagem ao Longo da Vida Educação para a Sustentabilidade: tópico Implementação de projetos de Educação para a Sustentabilidade.
- Normas sobre referências bibliográficasPublication . Caeiro, SandraExplicação sobre as normas de efetuar referencias bibliográficas em trabalhos académicos.
- Corporate sustainability reporting and the relations with evaluationPublication . Ramos, Tomás B.; Cecílio, T.; Douglas, Calbert H.; Caeiro, SandraThis paper assesses how sustainability reporting practices have been adopted in organizations which operate in a Southern European country, Portugal, and how those practices are related with environmental management and evaluation systems. A questionnaire survey was carried out in 2006, involving a statistical population of 69 firms, specifically the member companies of the Business Council for Sustainable Development Portugal, the Portuguese branch of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. The questionnaire survey was designed to assess: (i) the use of environmental management systems (EMS) and environmental performance evaluation (EPE) frameworks and (ii) practices connected with environmental and sustainability performance reporting, namely: report formats; regularity; key target audiences; reporting driving forces; guidelines; and future intentions. The results indicate that the environmental management system was a well-accepted environmental management tool. More than half of the companies surveyed had adopted environmental performance evaluation related frameworks. Corporate sustainability reporting was found to be a growing issue in a high number of organizations. Those companies that produce a sustainability/environmental report have an EMS and EPE in place. Most organizations in the study produced annual reports, in accordance with Global Reporting Initiative guidelines. Despite the increasing interest among organizations in the adoption of environmental and sustainability measurement and reporting practices, this issue was mainly confined to larger companies. The six Portuguese Small and Medium Enterprises analyzed show a poor environmental management and environmental performance evaluation and sustainability reporting profile. The findings show that they needed to be more engaged with these practices. Specific drivers must be used to enable these directions, including environmental education and raising awareness, since that is the first step toward improving the current scenario of reaching a better sustainable profile.
- Educação ambiental : grandes problemas do ambientePublication . Caeiro, Sandra; Carapeto, Cristina; Trindade, Ana José; Parente, Ana MariaOs principais problemas ambientais como a rarefação da camada do ozono, o efeito de estufa e as chuvas ácidas.
- Universities speak up regarding the implementation of sustainable development challenges: the case of PortugalPublication . Farinha, Carla; Caeiro, Sandra; Azeiteiro, UlissesPurpose – This study aims to expand knowledge and provide further insights on how education for sustainable development (ESD) has been integrated into programmes at higher education institutions (HEIs) in Portugal. Design/methodology/approach – A questionnaire survey was given to key actors in charge of sustainability implementation at each Portuguese public university. Semi-structured interviews were also conducted with 13 of the survey respondents and the data were analysed. Findings – Results showed that Portuguese public universities have their own strategies and policies on ESD, leading them to introduce initiatives arising from their proactiveness rather than governmental edicts. Some universities implemented ESD planning and beneficial “green” practices such as waste separation and recycling and ways to reduce energy consumption that can be a result of the improvement after the United Nations Decade 2005-2014. However, these actions seem to have been taken in isolation and not holistically integrated. Universities face many barriers including lack of funding, not properly trained people and inept government policies. They also must overcome challenges in implementing ESD. Research limitations/implications – This research into the implementation of ESD has a national scope; the findings should be interpreted only in a Portuguese university context despite the high number of interviewees. Practical implications – The study has increased knowledge, provided further insights on how ESD has been integrated at HEIs and provided examples of integrated practices at Portuguese universities. A Sustainability4U platform was proposed for enhancing awareness of the need for increasing sustainable development. Originality/value – This study contributes to defining a country’s profile and how to implement sustainability in HEIs. The importance of obtaining information from key actors in sustainability at Portuguese public universities was highlighted.
- Education for sustainable development through policies and strategies in the public portuguese higher education institutionsPublication . Farinha, Carla; Azeiteiro, Ulisses; Caeiro, SandraMany European countries, particularly in Northern Europe, have conducted integrated studies on Sustainable Development in Higher Education. In Portugal, no attempt has been made to evaluate in detail how Public Higher Education Institutions (HEI) are incorporating Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) at policy and strategy level and how it was implemented within Ministry of Education and Science. This study aimed to determine how sustainability was integrated into policies and strategies of 14 HEI in Portugal within the framework and goals of the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD) 2005- 2014. Based on grounded theory strategy, multi case studies and documental content analysis a deductive approach was undertaken. Pre-selected key terms based on literature search were used for the content analysis. Documentary research on polices, plans and programs from the Governmental Great Planning Options as Governmental Constitutional Plans and the Portuguese Ministry of Education and Science was performed through the analysis of the possible forms of implementation of DESD, and their consequent impacts on strategies of the public Institutions taking part of the Portuguese Council of Rectors. Given that 2014 was the final year of DESD 2005-2014 and 2005 was the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) assessment year, the approach of sustainability in public policies and strategies in the Portuguese HEI is on schedule. Notwithstanding some international drivers and a few practical examples at University level, preliminary results showed that ESD is still in its early stages of development and that there is a lack of national integrated strategies or policies. There is an absolute need for a change in the paradigm of Portuguese HEI and several barriers to overcome, both through learning and application of best practices from other European and worldwide countries.