The conference aims to explore the crucial role educators play in advancing both research within the field(s) of education for sustainable development (ESD) and active engagement practices among their students. We invite educators, researchers, and teaching practitioners to participate and contribute their insights and experiences to this conference, so as to foster a collective commitment to sustainability within higher education.

Argument

The University of Craiova and the UNESCO Chair in Democratic Citizenship and Cultural Freedom from the University of La Rioja invite you to participate in this international conference, funded by the European Commission through the Development Education and Awareness Raising (DEAR) Programme within the project Mindchangers: Regions and Youth for Planet and People (CSO-LA/2020/415-010).

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted in 2015 by all United Nations (UN) Member States, calls upon all countries and sectors to collaborate and work towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which lie at its core.

Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) all over the world play an important role in promoting sustainability education. In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the need to incorporate sustainability competences in higher education curricula in order to address the challenges of creating a more sustainable world and to equip students with the knowledge, skills and values necessary to build it. Supporting students to reflect on the social and environmental implications of their actions, HEIs encourage youth engagement and thus align their efforts with the UN SDGs by educating individuals to become active agents of change. This goes beyond the traditional approach of academic disciplines and requires a new multidisciplinary perspective to address the multifaceted nature of sustainability.

The conference aims to explore the crucial role educators play in advancing both research within the field(s) of education for sustainable development (ESD) and active engagement practices among their students.

Key topics include, but are not limited to:

Section 1 Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)

1. The conceptual and theoretical framework of ESD
2. Interdisciplinary approaches to ESD
3. The key transversal competencies in ESD
4. Embedding ESD across the curricula
5. Innovative methodologies to develop and evaluate sustainability competences

Section 2 Youth engagement

1. Engaging students in sustainability projects
2. Overcoming challenges and barriers in youth participation
3. The paradox role of education in youth engagement: a barrier or a stimulus?
4. Building partnerships in youth engagement
5. Transformative learning for sustainability

Submission guidelines

Participants are invited to send proposals at confsust2024@gmail.com

Please include name, affiliation, title, abstract (max. 300 words), 3-5 keywords, contact details and short bio (max. 100 words) of the contributor(s). Online presentations can be arranged if needed, so please mention your option in the registration form.

The language of the conference is English.

Conference fee

The conference is free of charge. All costs related to conference materials, coffee breaks and lunch will be covered by the Mindchangers project. The participants should organise and pay for their own travel and accommodation arrangements.

Publication

Selected papers will be included in a thematic volume published with Peter Lang publishing house.

Important dates

• Abstract submission deadline: 25 October 2024

• Notification of acceptance: 1 November 2024
• Conference date: 23 November 2024

Conference scientific committee 

• Ionela Carmen Banța (University of Craiova)
• Claudiu Bunăiașu (University of Craiova)
• Otilia Clipa (Ștefan cel Mare University Suceava)
• Mihaela Colhon (University of Craiova)
• Esther Raya Diez (University of La Rioja)
• Anca Dinu (University of Bucharest)
• Alina-Andreea Dragoescu (University of Life Sciences "King Michael I", Timioara)
• Angela Fedi (University of Turin)
• Ana González-Marcos (University of La Rioja)
• Kristín Harðardóttir (University of Iceland)
• Fermín Navaridas-Nalda (University of La Rioja)
• Mihaela Cecilia Popescu (University of Craiova)
• Ragnheiður Hulda Proppé (University of Iceland)
• Aida Stoian (University of Craiova)
• Alexander Siegmund (Heidelberg University of Education)
• Alexandru Strungă (University of Craiova)
• Ana María Vega Gutiérrez (University of La Rioja)
• Ștefan Vlăduțescu (University of Craiova)

Conference organising committee

• Monica Tilea, Alina Reșceanu, Ion Reșceanu (Minchangers researchers)
• Anamaria Preda, Florentina Anghel, Oana-Adriana Duță, Sorin Cazacu, Melitta Szathmary, Anca Păunescu, Anca Tănasie