Research topic

There is a widespread understanding that schools play a pivotal role in protecting and preserving biological, social, and material resources, as education is a well-proven strategy for fostering the coming generations and empowering individuals to think and perform in wise and respectful ways. However, this requires a certain kind of education that supports shared responsibility and promotes competences in collaboration and critical and creative thinking. This approach, which in both policy and research has been denoted education for sustainable development (ESD), is a response to the need to educate students to cope with the complex challenges associated with sustainable development and future societies. This is an approach that to some degree challenges traditional schooling and calls for an education that empowers students by enhancing their action competences and their awareness of how to contribute to positive sustainable changes with the purpose of transforming society in a more sustainable direction (Forssten Seiser et al, 2022). This project took place in a mid-sized municipality in Sweden. ESD was introduced in 2016, and the school administration supported and managed the work for 3 years. The process was organized and described as professional development and as a partnership between researchers and school leaders.