Abstract:

Sustainability is a complex concept, where divergent definitions and conceptualizations are a challenge for its integration in higher education. Students are the key stakeholders; they represent the future employees, managers or entrepreneurs, responsible for the embeddedness of the sustainable development. The focus of this study is on the awareness of the sustainability concept among students and on the students’ perceptions, points of view, attitudes and knowledge about sustainability in education. To achieve that, in addition to the focus groups with students and lecturers, we have conducted interviews with different stakeholders. Quantitative analysis includes students, lecturers and stakeholder’s surveys. The objective is to propose a schematic model of sustainability in education. Barriers and perspectives to integration of sustainability in higher education is discussed in order to construct a comprehensive framework for sustainability in education. The emphasis will be on the involvement of the three pillars of sustainability by integrating the holistic approach and the promotion of the critical reflection and interdisciplinary projects.

Keywords:

Embeddedness, holistic approach, model of sustainability, sustainable development.