Education for sustainability in technological vocational education

Abstract

Building capabilities for the technological world of tomorrow is the primary aim of vocational education. That includes developing the skills and technical knowledge to problem-solve unseen needs by being able to design for a sustainable future. Education for sustainability is now a widely accepted concept which promotes sustainability skills and awareness throughout a learner's educational pathway. Using the results from three case studies this paper argues the necessity to integrate education for sustainability with traditional VET skills by involving students in practical applications. It contends that the inclusion of the quadruple bottom line (economics, environment, governance and society) into VET allows students to transform their attitudes to their trades and view productivity through the lens of maintaining a ‘liveable’ world. It concludes with the need to further research synergies between sustainability in the VET sector and aligning curricula to the needs of industry.