Paradox Skills and the Sustainability Mindset: Frameworks and Tools to Develop Sustainability Skills in Higher Education
摘要
Higher educationHigher education institutionsSustainability skills (HEIsHEIs) are recognized as pivotal agents in fostering competencies for sustainable developmentDevelopment to enable the urgently needed transformation toward sustainable living. This chapter presents frameworksFrameworks, toolsTools, and impact assessmentImpact assessment approaches designed to develop paradox skillsParadox skills that are considered essential for this transformation. Summarizing key concepts from UNESCOUNESCO's Education for Sustainable DevelopmentDevelopment (ESD) and frameworksFrameworks such as the OECD Learning Compass 2030 and European Union GreenComp agenda, the chapter highlights the necessity of paradox skillsParadox skills. These encompass abilities to navigate tensionsTensions, conflicting goalsConflicting goals, and ambiguitiesAmbiguity inherent in sustainable transformationSustainable transformation. The chapter explains the underlying concepts of generic as well as four sustainabilitySustainability-specific paradoxParadoxes categories: belonging, learning, organizing, and performing paradoxesParadoxes. Practical classroom exercises tailored to cultivate the required skillsSkills are presented, including, e.g., role-playing, simulations, and reflective exercises. To expand on these teaching approaches, the frameworksFrameworks sustainabilitySustainability and paradox mindsetsParadox mindset and the polarity mappingPolarity mapping and polarity systems tools are discussed. The Sustainability Mindset IndicatorSustainability mindset Indicator (SMISMI®) is presented as an assessment toolAssessment tool to evaluate impact and progress. By integrating these practical approaches into curricula, the authors aim at supporting HEIsHEIs in preparing future leaders to address the multifaceted and complex challenges of a transformation toward sustainabilitySustainability.