Embedding sustainable development goals (SDGs) into the curricula using an interdisciplinary problem-based approach
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56433/t0vhf816Keywords:
Sustainability, Fashion, Pedagogy, Case study, InterdisciplinarityAbstract
Embedding sustainability into curricula has been a challenge many universities have been facing for a while. The nature of the topic could be classified as ‘dry’ when taught through a legislative lens, but a creative impactful method is required to enhance student engagement. One approach developed at a Scottish University is via the use of Design Thinking pedagogy in the context of a Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) hybrid workshop, where fashion management students and fashion and textile design students from the Scottish University partnered virtually with Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) fashion students. This case study will demonstrate the power of bringing students from other cultures and slightly different disciplines, with one being management and the other being practice-based, together to successfully demonstrate the use of an innovative method of delivery to enhance students' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) knowledge with impact.
References
Al Mansoori, K. (2024). Research on the impact of COIL projects in enhancing students’ public speaking skills. US-China Education Review, 14(2), 81–99. DOI:10.17265/2161-623X/2024.02.003
Anon (2022), How fast fashion can cut its staggering environmental impact. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-02914-2.
Anon a, (2024) Circular economy introduction. https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/topics/circular-economy-introduction/overview
Anon b, (2024) Collaborative online international learning (COIL).
Appiah-Kubi, P., & Annan, E. (2020). A Review of a Collaborative Online International Learning. International Journal of Engineering Pedagogy (iJEP), 10(1), pp. 109–124. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijep.v10i1.11678
Araujo-Morera, J., Verdejo, R., López-Manchado, M. A., & Santana, M. H. (2021). Sustainable mobility: The route of tires through the circular economy model. Waste Management, 126, 309–322. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2021.03.025
Azeez, F., & Aboobaker, N. (2024). Exploring new frontiers of experiential learning landscape: A hybrid review. The Learning Organization, https://doi.org/10.1108/TLO-02-2023-0022
BBC. (2023) Science & environment what is climate change? A really simple guide. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-24021772
Bläse, R., Filser, M., Kraus, S., Puumalainen, K., & Moog, P. (2024). Non‐sustainable buying behavior: How the fear of missing out drives purchase intentions in the fast fashion industry. Business Strategy and the Environment, 33(2), 626–641. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.3509
Bremner, P., Pirie, E., Marcella-Hood, M., & Singleton, A. (in press). Exploring knowledge and perceptions of level learning outcomes and meta-skills in a creative business school context. GILE Journal of Skills Development.
Bremner, P. A. M., & Air, C. (2023). Innovative interdisciplinary pedagogical approaches to enhance students' learning experiences and to benefit them in their future development. Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education, https://doi.org/10.1108/JARHE-07-2023-0290
Brown, T. (2009). Change by design Harper Collins. New York.
Chen, Z. (2024). Business strategy analysis: Evidence on Apple Inc. Paper presented at the 2024 4th International Conference on Enterprise Management and Economic Development (ICEMED 2024), 104–112.
Cicmil, S., Williams, T., Thomas, J., & Hodgson, D. (2006). Rethinking project management: Researching the actuality of projects. International Journal of Project Management, 24(8), 675–686. 10.1016/j.ijproman.2006.08.006
Climate Change Act(2008) https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2008/27/contents
Crawford, I., (2024). Essential skills for a global workplace: revisiting the DINAMITE model for post-pandemic higher education. Advances in online education [online].
Daniels, H. (1996). An introduction to Vygotsky. Routledge London.
Earle, A. G., & Leyva-de la Hiz, D. I. (2021). The wicked problem of teaching about wicked problems: Design thinking and emerging technologies in sustainability education. Management Learning, 52(5), 581–603. 10.1177/1350507620974857
Elkington, J. (1998). Partnerships from cannibals with forks: The triple bottom line of 21st‐century business. Environmental Quality Management, 8(1), 37–51.
Fernie, J., & Grant, D. B. (2019). Fashion logistics: Insights into the fashion retail supply chain. Kogan Page Publishers.
Furtak, E. M., Seidel, T., Iverson, H., & Briggs, D. C. (2012). Experimental and quasi-experimental studies of inquiry-based science teaching: A meta-analysis. Review of Educational Research, 82(3), 300–329.
Garg, S., & Bhardwaj, R. (2023). Modeling of environmental pollution due to the fashion industry using fractional programming. Environmental Sciences Proceedings, 27(1), 22. https://doi.org/10.3390/ecas2023-15508
Guth, S., & Rubin, J. (2015). How to get started with COIL. Globally networked teaching in the humanities (pp. 28–45). Routledge.
Handa, Y. (2012). Teasing out repetition from rote: An essay on two versions of will. Educational Studies in Mathematics, 79(2), 263. 10.1007/s10649-011-9343-0
Jenkins, M., Bokosmaty, R., Brown, M., Browne, C., Gao, Q., Hanson, J., & Kupatadze, K. (2017). Enhancing the design and analysis of flipped learning strategies. Teaching and Learning Inquiry, 5(1), 65–77.
Joensuu-Salo, S., Viljamaa, A., & Varamäki, E. (2022). Testing the EntreComp framework and its relation to start-up behaviour in seven european countries. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, 29(6), 920–939.
Keane, K. (2024) Scotland to ditch key climate change target. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-68841141
King Ramírez, C. (2020). Influences of academic culture in collaborative online international learning (COIL): Differences in Mexican and US students' reported experiences. Foreign Language Annals, 53(3), 438–457.
Kolb, D. A. (2014). Experiential learning: Experience as the source of learning and development. FT press.
Kyoto (2024) protocol to the United Nations framework https://unfccc.int/resource/docs/convkp/kpeng.pdf
Lee, M. (2024). Intercultural understanding: Implications for multicultural education. Multicultural Education Review, 1–5. DOI: 10.1080/2005615X.2024.2376305
McKinsey. (2023). The state of fashion 2024 report https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/retail/our-insights/state-of-fashion
Noh, S. C., & Abdul Karim, A. M. (2021). Design thinking mindset to enhance education 4.0 competitiveness in Malaysia. International Journal of Evaluation and Research in Education, 10(2), 494–501. DOI: 10.11591/ijere.v10i2.20988
The Paris Agreement | UNFCCC. https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement
Pratomo, L. C., & Wardani, D. K. (2021b). The effectiveness of design thinking in improving student creativity skills and entrepreneurial alertness. International Journal of Instruction, 14(4), 695–712. DOI: 10.29333/iji.2021.14440a
Rakowska, A., & de Juana-Espinosa, S. (2021). Ready for the future? employability skills and competencies in the twenty-first century: The view of international experts. Human Systems Management, 40(5), 669–684. DOI:10.3233/HSM-201118
Singh, A., & Blessinger, P. (2024). The new future and the employment imperative: Effectively aligning student interest, industry needs and university programmes. Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education, 16(2), 469–482.
Skills Development Scotland (2023), Meta-skills Toolkit - Skills Development Scotland Retrieved Sept 11 2024 https://www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/what-we-do/scotlands-careers-services/education-team/meta-skills-toolkit
Smith, B. L., & MacGregor, J. T. (1992). What is Collaborative Learning? Washington centre for improving the quality of undergraduate education
UNESCO. (2024) UNESCO and sustainable development goals | UNESCO https://www.unesco.org/en/sdgs
Vygotsky, L. S., & Cole, M. (1978). Mind in society: Development of higher psychological processes. Harvard university press.
World Economic Forum (2024) Future of jobs: These are the most in-demand skills in 2023 - and beyond. (2023, -05-01). Retrieved Sep 11, 2024, from https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2023/05/future-of-jobs-2023-skills/
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Pauline A M Bremner, Josie Steed
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
Journal of Perspectives in Applied Academic Practice has made best effort to ensure accuracy of the contents of this journal, however makes no claims to the authenticity and completeness of the articles published. Authors are responsible for ensuring copyright clearance for any images, tables etc which are supplied from an outside source.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
