Barriers to the Implementation of Education for Sustainable Development in Namibia’s Higher Education Institutions

Abstract

One of the challenges of education for sustainable development in Namibian higher education institutions concerns the practice and linkage thereof to other initiatives in education and learning. This paper reports on research into barriers to the implementation of the interdisciplinary model of education for sustainable development in Namibian higher education institutions. The collected data were analysed by means of Microsoft Excel spread sheets and consistent observation of qualitative data. The results show the main barriers to be dispositional, situational and institutional. The members of management in Namibian higher education institutions must be convinced about the importance of education for sustainable development and urged to develop a policy that can be used as an extension for on-the-job training of lecturers. It is necessary to learn from other higher education institutions around the world how they implemented education for sustainable development in their respective institutions. Lecturers should be urged to use this experience to develop resources for implementing education for sustainable development in Namibian higher education institutions.

Share and Cite:

Kanyimba, A. , Hamunyela, M. and Kasanda, C. (2014) Barriers to the Implementation of Education for Sustainable Development in Namibia’s Higher Education Institutions. Creative Education, 5, 242-252. doi: 10.4236/ce.2014.54033.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1] Alshuwaikhat, H. M., & Abubakar, I. (2008). An Integrated Approach to Achieving Campus Sustainability: Assessment of the Current Campus Environmental Management Practices. Journal of Cleaner Production, 16, 1777-1785.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2007.12.002
[2] Anker, P. (2002). The Context of the Ecosystem Theory. Ecosystems, 6, 611-613.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10021-002-0106-8
[3] Ashley, M. (2005). Tensions between Indoctrination and the Development of Judgement: The Case against Early Closure. Environmental Education Research, 11, 187-197.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1350462042000338351
[4] Austin, M. (2007). Species Distribution Models and Ecological Theory: A Critical Assessment and Some Possible New Approaches. Ecological Modelling, 200, 1-19.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2006.07.005
[5] Barth, M., Godemann, J., Rieckmann, M., & Stoltenberg, U. (2007). Developing Key Competencies for Sustainable Development in Higher Education. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 8, 416-430.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/14676370710823582
[6] Clugston, R. M., & Calder, W. (2007). Critical Dimensions of Sustainability in Higher Education.
http://www.ulsf.org/pdf/Critical_dimensions_SHE.pdf
[7] Cortese, A. D., & McDonough, W. (2003). Education for Sustainability: Accelerating the Transition to Sustainability through Higher Education. The National Council for Science and the Environment Third National Conference on Science, Policy and the Environment: Education for a Sustainable and Secure Future, Washington DC, 30-31 January 2003.
[8] Cotton, D., Bailey, I., Warren, M., & Bissell, S. (2009). Revolutions and Second-Best Solutions: Education for Sustainable Development in Higher Education. Studies in Higher Education, 34, 719-733.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03075070802641552
[9] Creswell, J. W. (2009). Research Design. Quantitative, Qualitative and Mixed Approaches (3rd ed.). London: Sage.
[10] Cutter, S. L., & Renwick, W. H. (2004). Exploitation, Conservation, Preservation. A Geographic Perspective of Natural Resource Use. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley.
[11] Dale, A., & Newman, L. (2006). Sustainable Development, Education and Literacy. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 6, 351-362. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/14676370510623847
[12] Dawe, G., Jucker, R., & Martin, S. (2005). Sustainable Development in Higher Education: Current Practice and Future Developments a Report for the Higher Education Academy. Heslington: Higher Education Academy.
[13] Donald, D. R., Lazarus, S., & Lolwana, P. (2006). Educational Psychology in Social Context (3rd ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
[14] Down, L. (2006). Addressing the Challenges of Mainstreaming Education for Sustainable Development in Higher Education. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 7, 390-399. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/14676370610702190
[15] Earth Summit (1992). The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio De Janeiro. London: International Institute for Environment and Development.
[16] Gall, M. D., Gall, J. P., & Borg, W. R. (2011). Applying Educational Research (6th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.
[17] Glaser, M. (2006). The Social Dimension in Ecosystem Management: Strengths and Weaknesses of Human-Nature Mind Maps. Human Ecology Review, 13, 122-142.
[18] Government of the Republic of Namibia (2004). Namibia Vision 2030, Policy Framework for Long-Term National Development. Windhoek: Office of the President.
[19] Jickling, B., & Wals, A. E. J. (2008). Globalization and Environmental Education: Looking beyond Sustainable Development. Journal of Curriculum Studies, 40, 1-21.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00220270701684667
[20] Johnson, B., & Christensen, L. (2004). Educational Research (2nd ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.
[21] Jorgensen, S. E. (2002). Integration of Ecosystem Theories: A Pattern. Ecology & Environment, 3, 365-396.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-0381-0_16
[22] Kamp. L. (2006). Engineering Education in Sustainable Development at Delft University of Technology. Journal of Cleaner Production, 14, 928-931. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2005.11.036
[23] Kanyimba, A. T., & Coetzer, I. A. (2011). The Integration of Sustainability Education in Namibian Colleges of Education. Africa Education Review, 8, 133-147.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/18146627.2011.586157
[24] Lehtonen. M. (2004). The Environmental-Social Interface of Sustainable Development: Capabilities, Social Capital, Institutions. Ecological Economics, 49, 199-214.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2004.03.019
[25] Lundegard, I., & Wickman, P. O. (2007). Conflicts of Interest: An Indispensable Element of Education for Sustainable Development. Environmental Education Research, 13, 1-15.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13504620601122566
[26] Mertler, C. C., & Charles, C. M. (2008). Introduction to Educational Research (7th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.
[27] Mezirow, J. (2003). Transformative Learning as Discourse. Journal of Transformative Education, 1, 58-63.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1541344603252172
[28] Ministry of Education (2009). The National Curriculum for Basic Education. Okahandja: National Institute of Education Development.
[29] Ministry of Environment & Tourism (2002). Namibia’s National Assessment Report for the World Summit on Sustainable Development. Windhoek: UNDP & Ministry of Environment and Tourism.
[30] Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (1990). The Constitution of the Republic of Namibia. Windhoek: Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
[31] Ministry of Wildlife, Conservation and Tourism (MWCT) (1992). Namibia’s Green Plan to Secure Present and Future Generations of a Safe and Healthy Environment and a Prosperous Economy. Windhoek: MWCT.
[32] Mogensen, F., & Schnack, K. (2010). The Action Competence Approach and the “New” Discourses of Education for Sustainable Development, Competence and Quality Criteria. Environmental Education Research, 16, 59-74.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13504620903504032
[33] Namibia National Commission for UNESCO (NATCOM) (2008). Outputs of the First National Consultative Seminar on Education for Sustainable development in Namibia. In Proceedings of the Workshop Report (pp. 1-25). Windhoek: NATCOM.
[34] Nicolaides, A. (2006). The Implementation of Environmental Management towards Sustainable Universities and Education for Sustainable Development as an Ethical Imperative. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 7, 414-424. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/14676370610702217
[35] Nielsen. S. N. (2007). What Has Modern Ecosystem Theory to Offer to Cleaner Production, Industrial Ecology and Society? The Views of an Ecologist. Journal of Cleaner Production, 15, 1639-1653.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2006.08.008
[36] Polytechnic of Namibia (2012a). Prospectus: School of Natural Resources and Tourism. Windhoek: Polytechnic of Namibia.
[37] Polytechnic of Namibia (2012b). Prospectus: School of Health and Applied Sciences. Windhoek: Polytechnic of Namibia.
[38] Polytechnic of Namibia (2012c). Prospectus: College for Open and Lifelong Learning. Windhoek: Polytechnic of Namibia.
[39] Preisendorfer, P. (2008). Environmental Issues. In J. J. Bezuidenhout (Ed.), A Reader in Selected Social Issues (pp. 176-188). Pretoria: Van Schaik.
[40] Qablan, A. M., ALRuz, J., & Al-Omari, A. (2009). Education for Sustainable Development: Liberation or Indoctrination? An Assessment of Faculty Members’ Attitudes and Classroom Practices. International Journal of Environmental & Science Education, 4, 401-417.
http://www.ijese.com/IJESE_v4n4_Oablan.pdf
[41] Rickinson, M., Lundholm, C., & Hopwood, N. (2009). Environmental Learning. Insights from Research into Student Experience. London: Springer.
[42] Rowe, D. (2007). Education for a Sustainable Future. Science, 317, 323-324. www.sciencemag.org
http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1143552
[43] Schurink, W., Fouché, C. B., & De Vos, A. S. (2011). Qualitative Data Analysis and Interpretations. In A. S. De Vos, H. Strydom, C. B. Fouché, & C. S. L. Delport (Eds.), Research at Grass Roots. To the Social Sciences and Human Service Professions (4th ed., pp. 397-423). Pretoria: Van Schaik.
[44] Seehausen, O. (2007). Chance, Historical Contingency and Ecological Determinism Jointly Determine the Rate of Adaptive Radiation. Heredity, 99, 361-363.
[45] Shriberg, M. (2002). Toward Sustainable Management: The University of Michigan Housing Division’s Approach. Journal of Cleaner Production, 10, 41-45. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0959-6526(01)00021-X
[46] Sipos, Y., Battisti, B., & Grimm, K. (2006). Achieving Transformative Sustainability Learning: Engaging Head, Hands and Heart. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 9, 68-86.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/14676370810842193
[47] Sterling, S. (2001). Sustainable Education-Putting Relationship Back into Education.
http://ecommunities.tafensw.edu.au/pluginfile.php/12139/mod_page/content/145/Stephen%20Stirling
%20article.pdf
[48] Sterling, S. (2003). Whole System Thinking as a Basis for Paradigm Change in Education. Explorations in the Context of Sustainability. Ph.D. Thesis, Bath: University of Bath.
[49] Thomas, I. (2004). Sustainability in Tertiary Curricula: What Is Stopping It Happening? International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 5, 33-47. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/14676370410517387
[50] UNESCO (2004). United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development: Draft International Implementation Scheme. Paris: UNESCO. http://portal.unesco.org/education/
[51] University of Namibia (UNAM) (2011a). Prospectus: Faculty of Education. Windhoek: UNAM.
[52] University of Namibia (UNAM) (2011b). Prospectus: Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. Windhoek: UNAM.
[53] University of Namibia (UNAM) (2011c). Prospectus: Faculty of Law. Windhoek: UNAM.
[54] University of Namibia (UNAM) (2011d). Prospectus: Faculty of Science. Windhoek: UNAM.
[55] Walliman, N. (2005). Your Research Project (2nd ed.). London: Sage.
[56] Wals, A. E. J. (2003). Sustainability as an Outcome of Transformative Learning. In J. Holmberg, & B. E. Samulesson (Eds.), Drivers and Barriers for Implementing Sustainable Development in Higher Education (pp. 103-119). Paris: UNESCO.
[57] Wals, A. E. J., & Jickling, B. (2002). Sustainability in Higher Education: From Doublethink and Newspeak to Critical Thinking and Meaningful Learning. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 3, 221-232.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/14676370210434688
[58] Walsh, M. (2001). Research Made Real: A Guide for Students. Cheltenham: Nelson Thornes.

Copyright © 2023 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc.

Creative Commons License

This work and the related PDF file are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.