This presentation is based on many years of work focusing on the role of education and learning in relation to the state of society and the wider world as global conditions present multiple critical challenges to present and future generations.

The presentation echoes growing international calls for educational systems and pedagogies to be transformed so that education can play a full part in catalysing and supporting the difficult societal changes that the sustainability crisis necessitates. Taking an ecological or systems-based approach, the talk suggests that higher education is not yet sufficiently aligned to the realities of complexity, instability, unsustainability, and the need for rapid socio-economic transition towards a liveable and safer planet and world.

With reference to the presenter’s new book Learning and Sustainability in Dangerous Times (2024) the lecture will outline key ideas which reflect an ecological or holistic view of the nature and role of education. It will also focus on four areas: Context and challenge, including the distinction between the Probable Future and the Preferable Future; Critique of the response of education to our times; Vision, looking at the possiblity of transformation in education and learning, and lasting Design, which discusses ways of implementing transformative change in institutions and in teaching and learning.

   wednesday, October 2, 2024

   from 11.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m.

   Mercè Rodoreda Auditorium of the Campus de la Ciutadella 

   Language of the conference: English

  Activity aimed at the teaching and research staff of the Pompeu Fabra University, open to other teachers and professionals in the field of education, students as well as interested administrative and service staff of the UPF.

  Participation will be certified as a teaching activity.

Programme:

11:00 h Presentation by Professor Humberto Llavador
11:10 to 12:10 h Lecture by Professor Stephen Sterling “Educating for the future we want: sustainability and transformation in critical times”.
12:10 to 12:50 h Open discussion with the audience
12:50 to 13:00 h Closing remarks by Professor Humberto Llavador

Stephen Sterling is Emeritus Professor of Sustainability at the University of Plymouth, where he worked for 12 years, mostly as Head of Education for Sustainability. In that role, he pursued the idea of whole institutional change and ‘The Sustainable University’ as part of a growing international movement to redirect higher education towards the extraordinary global challenges that society faces, and which will affect young people’s lives in this century. He has an international reputation as a thought leader in sustainability education and is extensively published in this area. His research interest is in ecological thinking, systemic change, and transformative learning at individual and institutional scales to help meet the challenge of accelerating the educational and learning response to the sustainability agenda and multiple global crises.

Prior to joining the University of Plymouth, he was a founder of the Education for Sustainability programme at London South Bank University. Also, he was consultant in environmental and sustainability education in national and international level; working with a broad range of clients including international agencies (particularly UNESCO), governments, academia and NGOs (including some years with WWF-UK). Before that, he was deputy director of a national environmental education NGO, and many years ago, a secondary school classroom teacher in the UK and Canada.

When not working, he enjoys nature, walking, cycling, growing veggies, community involvement - and attempting still to master jazz guitar after years of trying! More about his background and learning journey can be found in his doctoral thesis ‘Whole Systems Thinking’.

Registration