Special Report: Education for Sustainable Development IV
GLOBAL
Higher education and sustainability – Cultural diversity
In support of the global effort to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, University World News – in partnership with global quality assurance provider ABET – is publishing a series of special reports on how higher education can best equip students with the skills, knowledge and values needed to shape a sustainable future. This time, we focus on ‘cultural diversity’.
Patrick Blessinger, Abhilasha Singh and Madasu Bhaskara Rao
Cultural pluralism is a principle that embraces the differences in people. It is important in strengthening education for sustainable development in universities. Cultural pluralism is also important because the main problems facing the world today require diverse viewpoints, collaborative thinking and collective action.
Sustainable Development Goal 4 is to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education. But there is a global teacher shortage, too few teachers represent the students they teach, and the world is falling behind in quality. The time is right to focus on achieving a culturally diverse teaching workforce.
A demographic decline in youth numbers, rising demand for engineers and an array of global existential challenges that require urgent action are inspiring changes in engineering education – one of the sciences most essential to building a more sustainable world. Increased diversity is one solution, says leading American Engineering Professor Jenna P Carpenter.
Nelson Mandela famously said that “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”. Considering that he continued his studies while spending 27 years behind bars, his quote has been interpreted to refer to both individual empowerment and societal transformation.
Cultural pluralism is a principle that embraces the differences in people. It is important in strengthening education for sustainable development in universities. Cultural pluralism is also important because the main problems facing the world today require diverse viewpoints, collaborative thinking and collective action.
Sustainable Development Goal 4 is to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education. But there is a global teacher shortage, too few teachers represent the students they teach, and the world is falling behind in quality. The time is right to focus on achieving a culturally diverse teaching workforce.
A demographic decline in youth numbers, rising demand for engineers and an array of global existential challenges that require urgent action are inspiring changes in engineering education – one of the sciences most essential to building a more sustainable world. Increased diversity is one solution, says leading American Engineering Professor Jenna P Carpenter.
Nelson Mandela famously said that “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”. Considering that he continued his studies while spending 27 years behind bars, his quote has been interpreted to refer to both individual empowerment and societal transformation.