Competence-oriented teaching that leads to the sustainable transformation of both the individual and society requires a holistic learning process that addresses the cognitive, socio-emotional and behavioural domains of learning in a balanced way. This article questions whether a personal dimension of competences (addressing the individual’s values, attitudes, and lived experiences) is relevant for higher education in addition to the systemic dimension (learning objectives emphasizing cognitive processes). A theoretical concept for analysing competence frameworks from this point of view was developed in a multi-step qualitative research process: two existing competence frameworks underpinning international ESD policies were compared and, based on the findings, an analytical tool to analyse competence dimensions was drafted as a two-dimensional matrix. This tool was tested on competence frameworks reported in the literature and on examples from practice in confrontation with related academic discussion. The analysis of sustainability competences with this tool illustrates the transformative dimension on a scale from holistic thinking through future orientation to achieving transformation, and the normative dimension that indicates the complementarity of the personal and systemic character of competences. The analysed competence frameworks include competences more or less evenly distributed in both dimensions; the competences in the socio-emotional learning domain were often associated with envisioning change and achieving sustainable transformation. As anticipating the future in an active way is relevant for sustainability-oriented HE programs, not only should this dimension of competences be afforded greater consideration, but pedagogies addressing the personal level should also be further investigated and implemented in HE.

Numerous publications demonstrate that outdoor and nature-based education benefit school children both physically, cognitively, emotionally and socially and may also promote pro-environmental behaviour. This study assesses the perceptions of 22 students aged 11 to 12 years old after a nature field trip. Such students attended a state-funded primary school and participated in an integrated school programme which aimed to promote environmental awareness and to help children value the natural and cultural heritage of their surroundings. After interviewing the school children in focus groups and analysing data through a coding process and comparison system within an interpretative paradigm, the results illustrate that contribution to field trips benefit children mostly emotionally and socially, while cognitive outcomes are less apparent. These results are particularly relevant in multicultural contexts similar to the one studied.

Service-learning is an educational practice that promotes learning processes of eclectic and thorough contents, competences and values through a community service and its critical review with the help of reflective tools. Its implementation is necessary, particularly in teacher training, in order to foster change in the education system and to progress towards sustainability. In this paper we describe and analyse three projects involving the use of service-learning related to sustainability in the practicum phase of initial teacher training. In order to obtain the results, we have analysed outputs generated by the teacher trainees under the Rubric for the Self-Assessment and Improvement of Service-Learning (RSAISL) projects (Rubio-Serrano, Puig-Rovira, Martín-García and Palos-Rodríguez, 2015). The results show that the trainees are capable of leading and executing successful service-learning projects at schools, despite the limiting factors, such as time constraints or the lack of consolidation of some of these projects.

Service-learning is conceived of as an active pedagogical approach that integrates community services into learning processes. Although this practice has a long history in the Americas, it is still emerging in some European countries. Since the Bologna Process, Spanish universities have faced challenges associated with introducing learner-centered pedagogies and fostering students’ social responsibility. However, service-learning fuses these two lines of intervention. This article aims to provide data about the degree to which service-learning has been established and institutionalized at Spanish universities. To obtain these data, an electronic questionnaire based on a self-assessment rubric for the institutionalization of service-learning in higher education was sent to selected informants at Spanish universities. The results showed that most Spanish universities are at a very early stage in the institutionalization of service-learning; in fact, only a few appear to have mechanisms in place to achieve such institutionalization. The authors reflect on the need to support this emerging pedagogical practice to improve the quality of education and community engagement in the context of Spanish higher education.

El projecte NANOL, finançat amb fons de la UE, va ser creat amb l’objectiu de fomentar les activitats a l’aire lliure i el contacte amb la natura de les escoles de l’educació primària en espais naturals protegits i ha apropat educadores i educadors de diferents àmbits, bàsicament d’escoles de natura o centres d’educació ambiental, d’escoles d’educació primària i d’universitats que treballen en la formació inicial i permanent del professorat. El treball ha estat contextualitzat en la realitat de cada soci (Regne Unit, França, Eslovènia, Finlàndia i Catalunya) i s’han respectat les diferents necessitats. El que recollim en aquesta publicació són les experiències que cada soci ha dut a terme. Totes elles són diferents, però igual d’interessants i complementàries, ja que es recolzen en la tendència creixent de millorar l’educació a partir d’iniciatives que fomenten el contacte amb l’entorn escolar proper i un alumnat actiu i implicat en temes reals del món en què vivim.

El projecte NANOL, finançat amb fons de la UE, va ser creat amb l’objectiu de fomentar les activitats a l’aire lliure i el contacte amb la natura de les escoles de l’educació primària en espais naturals protegits i ha apropat educadores i educadors de diferents àmbits, bàsicament d’escoles de natura o centres d’educació ambiental, d’escoles d’educació primària i d’universitats que treballen en la formació inicial i permanent del professorat. El treball ha estat contextualitzat en la realitat de cada soci (Regne Unit, França, Eslovènia, Finlàndia i Catalunya) i s’han respectat les diferents necessitats. El que recollim en aquesta publicació són les experiències que cada soci ha dut a terme. Totes elles són diferents, però igual d’interessants i complementàries, ja que es recolzen en la tendència creixent de millorar l’educació a partir d’iniciatives que fomenten el contacte amb l’entorn escolar proper i un alumnat actiu i implicat en temes reals del món en què vivim.