Higher education is a principal agent for addressing the sustainable development goals proposed by the 2030 Agenda, because of its key mission of knowledge generation, teaching and social innovation for sustainability. In order to achieve this, higher education needs to integrate transversally the values of sustainability in the way of developing the field of management, as well as research, university life and, of course, teaching. This paper focuses on teaching, and more specifically on the didactic strategies considered most relevant for training in sustainability competencies in college students, according to the guidelines commonly accepted by the international academic community. Through collaborative work among experts from six Spanish universities taking part in the EDINSOST project (education and social innovation for sustainability), funded by the Spanish R&D+i Program, in this paper the role of five active learning strategies (service learning, problem-based learning, project-oriented learning, simulation games and case studies) in education for sustainability are reviewed, and a systematic approach of their implementation in higher education settings is presented. The results provide a synthesis of their objectives, foundations, and stages of application (planning, implementation, and learning assessment), which can be used as valuable guidelines for teachers.

Higher education has an essential role in the promotion of sustainable development. For this to be possible, the use of methodologies in accordance with principles of sustainability must be fostered. This article theoretically analyzes the characteristics that make service-learning an effective tool in education for sustainable development. In order to understand the challenges involved in its implementation in higher education, first of all, the concepts of sustainable development and sustainability are defined. Next, the use of education for sustainable development and curricular sustainability in higher education is contextualized. Finally, the pedagogical proposal of service-learning is addressed and linked to the principles of sustainability in the university environment. To conclude, in relation to prospective applications of service-learning, it is argued that it is an optimal methodology to educate about, for, and from sustainability and that its institutionalization in higher education is highly desirable.

Service-learning is a teaching methodology that promotes students’ learning through active participation in experiences of community service. This methodology allows students to engage directly with those to whom it offers a needs- and context-adapted service, very often outside the classroom. While there are numerous projects that follow the service-learning methodology, surveys of experiences carried out at higher education level remain scarce. We performed a survey study with 424 undergraduate students participating in service-learning projects in order to identify the type and level of student participation, the skills and competences acquired; the characteristics of services provided; and the levels of satisfaction of students taking part. We found that the students had a positive perception of the effects of their participation; that the skills and competences developed were primarily teamwork, ethical commitment, adapting to new situations and problem-solving; and that the usefulness of the service was mainly in moral development and commitment.

In an era driven by technology and connectivity, where the sphere of learning goes beyond conventional classrooms, virtual service-learning merges the possibilities of technology with the principles of experiential education in a powerful blend. Service-learning (SL) is an educational proposal that has been recognized by UNESCO as an innovative educational tool through which to address the complex challenges of our society. The Sustainable Development Goals provide a framework around which to structure the SL projects and thus develop the skills needed to act on the full range of goals. Embedding digital service-learning means opening a debate on the intricate relationship between technology, education, and societal impact. This study aims to explore the perspectives of students, faculty and community partners on the combination of SL and digital empowerment (DE) under the sustainability education principles. The study adopted a qualitative approach. Data were gathered through two focus groups involving faculty, students and community partners. The focus group participants discussed the opportunities for innovation, the expected impact on them and on society as a whole, their needs, the pre-conditions for making SL and DE successful, and limitations or undesirable outcomes. The results are presented according to the six principles of sustainability education in the university environment, highlighting the transformative potential of combining these principles within SL and DE.

Son cada vez más los docentes universitarios que utilizan el aprendizaje-servicio como alternativa a los contextos tradicionales de enseñanza-aprendizaje. Esta realidad hace evidente la necesidad de contar con herramientas que faciliten los procesos de diseño, implementación y evaluación para esta nueva propuesta educativa. Actualmente son escasos los recursos para asegurar la calidad de las experiencias de aprendizaje-servicio, y con frecuencia no están validados. Este artículo describe el proceso seguido para el diseño de un cuestionario para la autoevaluación de experiencias de aprendizaje-servicio universitario y su posterior validación utilizando el método Delphi modificado online, que es una técnica de carácter cualitativo cuyo objetivo es proporcionar una respuesta grupal fidedigna.El proceso implicó dos rondas de consulta mediante el correo electrónico, en las que participaron 16 expertos académicos que valoraron la relevancia y claridad de los ítems propuestos. El objetivo de la primera ronda de consulta fue determinar la relevancia y la claridad de todos los ítems. En la segunda ronda se analizó la claridad de los ítems que habían sido reformulados. Los resultados sobre la validez de constructo y de contenido sugirieron la eliminación o reformulación de algunos ítems iniciales para constituir un cuestionario de 41 ítems relevantes y claros, que se valoran a través de una escala Likert de 5 puntos. Se concluye aportando dos vías posibles para dar continuidad a este trabajo: incluir en el proceso de validación los juicios de expertos no académicos y participantes en proyectos de aprendizaje-servicio; y profundizar en la validación psicométrica del cuestionario a través de métodos intra-pruebas e inter-pruebas.

Aprendizaje-servicio en la educación superior: once perspectivas de un movimiento global