The purpose of this study is to explore the change in the perceptions of pre-service teachers after participating in a training process on Education for Sustainability. The research was conducted during academic year 2019–2020 in the context of the Master’s Degree in Educational Research for Teachers’ Professional Development. The changes related to Education for Sustainability, the knowledge of the Sustainable Development Goals, and methodological strategies to integrate both were analysed. An initial and a final questionnaire as well as the activities developed by the students during the course were used to gather information. An analysis was performed of three dimensions (Education for Sustainability, the Sustainable Development Goals, and methodological strategies) with the help of the NVivo 12 Plus software programme. The results show progress was made in all three dimensions. The most significant changes were detected with regard to the knowledge of the Sustainable Development Goals, and the majority of the student teachers indicated they knew them on completing the training process. Their perception of Education for Sustainability evolved towards more complex views, while the methodological strategies proposed at the end of the training process did not differ significantly from the initial ones. This shows it is imperative to insist on training processes that include methodological strategies. By doing so, future educational professionals will be able to incorporate Education for Sustainability into their teaching practice.

Within the framework of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, four case studies of the degree in Primary Education at three Spanish universities are analyzed. The aim is to study the suitability of three different active teaching-learning strategies: problem-based learning (PBL), project-oriented learning (POL), and a cross-disciplinary workshop. Another goal is to promote the integration of education for sustainable development (ESD) and measure the level of acquisition of several competencies of sustainability and the change in consumption habits of future teachers after implementing those pedagogical approaches. Initial and final ecological footprint (EF) as well as a rubric to measure the level of acquisition of competencies of sustainability were used as data collection instruments. The conclusions related to the research objectives show that when sustainability is implemented in the curriculum through active teaching-learning strategies, future teachers acquire competencies of sustainability. They also reveal that said strategies contribute to a change in consumption habits as a reduction in the EF is observed. There exists a relation between EF reduction and high levels of acquisition of competency in sustainability.

Humankind is faced with major global challenges to ensure the future of our planet. Target 4.7 of Sustainable Development Goal 4 (quality education) of the 2030 Agenda establishes the importance of ensuring that all learners acquire the theoretical and practical knowledge needed to promote sustainable development through education for sustainable development, human rights, gender equality, and global citizenship, amongst others. The research presented in this article is based on an exploratory study on the views of a group of university teachers from the area of Didactics of Mathematics in the Faculty of Education Sciences at Universidad de Cádiz with regard to Education for Sustainability and its integration in the field of training future teachers in mathematics education. It aims to analyse the perceptions teachers have regarding the subject of study, the work methodologies they use, etc. in greater depth. The authors of the research later interviewed three teachers in the area of Didactics of Mathematics who teach in different education degrees: bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, bachelor’s degree in primary education, and master’s degree in teacher training for compulsory secondary education and baccalaureate. Three instruments were used to collect data: the syllabi of the subjects for which the teachers were responsible, an initial exploratory questionnaire, and a semi-structured personal interview. The instrument employed to analyse the information was the Tool for Methodological Analysis through Sustainability (Herramienta de Análisis Metodológico desde la Sostenibilidad, HAMS in Spanish). The results show the different views and positions the university teachers in the area of Didactics of Mathematics at Universidad de Cádiz have with respect to integrating sustainability into future teachers’ training in mathematics education. It is concluded that the effective integration of sustainability into mathematics education requires university teachers to change and to work together from the same perspective—the one they intend to promote.

This article presents the results of the analysis of the presence of the sustainability competencies proposed by the Sectoral Commission of the Conference of Rectors of Spanish Universities in three degrees in the area of Didactics of Mathematics of the Faculty of Education Sciences at the Universidad de Cádiz (Spain): the degree in Early Childhood Education, the degree in Primary Education, and the Master’s degree in Teacher Training for Compulsory Secondary and Upper Secondary School Education (specialisation in mathematics). The research method used is content analysis, reflected in the syllabi of the subjects of the degrees analysed. To carry out the analysis, two instruments were used: an adaptation of the model of the Green Curriculum in Higher Education and the map of generic competencies in sustainability of the EDINSOST project. The global results show a very low relative presence of sustainability competences in the area of Didactics of Mathematics (25%), the competency related to ethical aspects having the lowest relative presence (10%). For the most part, the competencies related to sustainability are established for the lowest level of mastery, “know”. When comparing the degree programmes, the Master’s degree in Teacher Training for Compulsory Secondary and Upper Secondary School Education (specialisation in mathematics) is the degree that contributes the most to the development of the sustainability competency (32%), followed by the degree in Early Childhood Education (25%), and the degree in Primary Education (18%). Including sustainability in the curriculum of mathematics education in higher education can improve the training of professionals who engage in reflective and critical thinking. However, these results show there is still a long way to go.

Teachers play a key role in the construction of a more equal, fairer and sustainable world. Incorporating education for sustainable consumption into teacher training should therefore be a priority. This education should aim to develop students’ awareness of environmental issues, to encourage lifestyle changes, and to promote reducing their personal ecological footprint (EF). Training processes will hence lead to active learning approaches promoting critical thinking about production and consumption patterns, linking the curriculum content to real life, and involving students in activities that reduce their EF. This paper presents research carried out at three Spanish faculties of education. The main goal is to analyse the relationship between active teaching and learning strategies, and the reduction of the students’ individual EF. Pre- and post-test questionnaires were used to collect data. A total of 93 primary education degree students took part in this study. The results show the students’ individual EF decreased at the end of the learning processes. This proves that active teaching and learning strategies can foster sustainable consumption habits, and more sustainable lifestyles in general, in student teachers.