Purpose: This paper aims to present the results from a questionnaire distributed to a group of Spanish postgraduate teacher students pursuing a Master’s Degree in Secondary School Education. The aims of the administered questionnaire were to identify students’ perceptions of the development of sustainability competencies; to analyse the relationship between students’ perceived level of competence and the subject area, previous teaching experience and previous participation in sustainability projects; and to explore the strengths and limitations of the assessment tool used. Design/methodology/approach: An ad hoc questionnaire of 18 items was designed to analyse students’ self-conception of the development of four sustainability competencies. A set of six units of competence were identified and three levels of acquisition for each unit Knowledge (referred to conceptual learning), Knowhow (related to practical skills) and Do (linked to the demonstration in action and its transferability to real-life situations). The sample included 183 postgraduate secondary teacher students from different disciplines and subject areas. Findings: The findings of this study show that students positioned themselves for the four sustainability competencies in a medium level of competence. No statistical significant differences exist between the subject areas and the level of sustainability competence. A statistically significant difference was found between previous teaching experience and participation in sustainability projects in relation to their perceived level of sustainability competencies. Participation in sustainability projects is clearly shown as a differentiating factor in the levels of sustainability competencies. Originality/value: An empirical study has been conducted to investigate preservice teachers’ perceptions on the self-development of four sustainability competencies, considering three levels of acquisition (Know, Knowhow and Do). This study provides insights into ESD teaching and learning approaches and the assessment of Education for Sustainable Development outcomes. It also points out the importance of conceptualising sustainability competencies and operationalising these competencies in assessment tools that can help measure sustainability competencies’ development.

INTRODUCCIÓN. El objetivo de esta investigación ha sido indagar sobre la influencia de la metodología de aprendizaje-servicio en el desarrollo de competencias en sostenibilidad de los estudiantes de las titulaciones de Educación (Primaria, Infantil y Social) de tres universidades espa- ñolas (UIC, UAM y USAL). MÉTODO. Se utilizó una muestra de 129 alumnos universitarios del curso académico 2017-2018. Se llevó a cabo un estudio preexperimental mediante pretest-postest con grupos naturales, sin grupo control, con la finalidad de valorar el desarrollo de competencias en sostenibilidad de los estudiantes que cursaron cinco asignaturas impartidas mediante la estrategia didáctica aprendizaje-servicio. RESULTADOS. Los resultados de este estudio indican que el aprendizaje-servicio ha contribuido a mejorar la comprensión y conocimiento de la sostenibilidad, así como las interrelaciones entre las dimensiones social, ambiental y económica en los cinco casos de estudio. También, se demuestra cómo el uso del aprendizaje-servicio promueve el desarrollo del saber cómo, habilidades prácticas asociadas a la acción. DISCUSIÓN. Se pone en evidencia que el aprendizaje-servicio incide significativamente en el aprendizaje de la competencia en sostenibilidad asociada a la contextualización del conocimiento y el establecimiento de relaciones entre las dimensiones social, ambiental y económica de la sostenibilidad. De los tres niveles de dominio-adquisición de competencias: saber, saber cómo y saber hacer, se observa que el aprendizaje-servicio tiene un impacto mayor en el saber cómo, hecho que se atribuye a la propia metodología que ahonda en la praxis y aplicación del conocimiento teórico en contextos reales. Las asignaturas específicas en sostenibilidad son las que más contribuyen al aprendizaje de competencias en sostenibilidad. Además de integrar las competencias en el currículum de manera holística, es necesario incluir asignaturas específicas en sostenibilidad.

Within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals, it is necessary to move towards quality education that promotes opportunities based on the principles of equity and equality. For this reason, the environment where the teaching–learning process occurs plays a fundamental role. Our research shows the results of the effects of the environment in the learning processes of university students (N = 33). Using a method of sampling experiences, the students assessed how the new environment learning (NEL) compared to the traditional classroom (TC) encouraged their attention, participation in class, creativity, curiosity, critical thinking, motivation to learn and mood (hedonic tone and activation level). In addition, the students assessed to what extent the class seemed visually appealing to them. The design was of repeated measures, so that the experiences of the same subjects in both classrooms were evaluated over a period of 53 days. Over this period of time, after finishing each of the classes selected for the study, the participants received a message on their mobile phones with a link to a short ad hoc questionnaire that evaluated their experience in relation to the learning environment of the classes they had just attended. In total, we recorded 359 responses in relation to the TC and 209 in relation to the NEL. The results show statistically significant differences in the degree of participation and visual appeal, with higher levels in the NEL. These elements are vital in achieving the education for sustainable development, oriented towards critical thinking, responsibility and social transformation.

This study examined the effect of three socio-educational interventions in teacher training students on the reduction of stigma: a serious game called Stigma-Stop, a program based on direct contact between students and people with mental health problems, and the broadcast of a documentary with a talk from a professional. The sample consisted of 120 undergraduates of the Degree in Teaching in Early Childhood Education and the Degree in Teaching in Primary Education of a Spanish university, with a pretest-posttest experimental design, the participants were randomly divided into three experimental groups and a control group. The results show a statistically significant reduction in stigma levels between the pretest and posttest in the three interventions, but not in the control group, which remained stable in both measurements. This showed that the three interventions were effective in reducing stigma, predominantly in the danger dimension and the total score. El presente estudio examinó el efecto de tres intervenciones socioeducativas en estudiantes de Magisterio sobre la reducción del estigma: un juego formativo denominado Stigma-Stop, programa basado en el contacto directo entre estudiantes y pacientes con problemas de salud mental y, en tercer lugar, la emisión de un documental junto con la charla de un profesional. Se contó con la participación de 120 alumnos que cursaban el Grado de Magisterio en Educación Infantil y de Magisterio en Educación Primaria. Se trata así de un un diseño experimental pretest-postest, en el que los participantes se dividieron de manera aleatoria en tres grupos experimentales y un grupo de control. Los resultados mostraron una reducción estadísticamente significativa del grado de estigma entre el pretest y postest en las tres intervenciones, a diferencia del grupo control que se mantuvo estable en ambas mediciones, lo cual implica que las tres intervenciones fueron eficaces en la reducción del estigma, particularmente en la dimensión de peligro y en la puntuación total.

For the past 15 years, a regular indoor football competition has been taking place in Madrid (Spain) with 15 teams from different mental health services in the city, in which teams face off weekly as part of a competition lasting nine months of the year. We are not aware of whether a similar competition experience is offered in other cities. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate whether participating in this league, called Ligasame, has an influence on participants’ self-stigma. To do so, the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness scale (ISMI) was adapted into Spanish and applied to 108 mental health patients, 40% of which participated in Ligasame, and the remainder of which did not. The results obtained reflect significant differences between those participating in Ligasame and those that did not in terms of two specific dimensions related to self-stigma (stereotype endorsement and stigma resistance) and total score. On the other hand, no significant differences were found in terms of other variables, such as patients’ prior diagnosis, age or belonging to different resources/associations. In this article, we discuss the importance of these results in relation to reducing self-stigma through participation in a regular yearly mental health football league.

The aim of this multiple case-study analysis was to find out the influence that service-learning methodology has on the development of sustainability competences amongst university students (Preschool, Primary and Social Education) of three Spanish Universities (UIC, UAM and USAL). A sample of 129 university students of the academic year 2017–18 was used. A pre-experimental study was carried out, using a pre-test-post-test study with natural groups, without a control group. The findings of this study show that service-learning contributed to improve knowledge in sustainability in the 5 case studies analysed. The findings also demonstrate how the use of service-learning promotes the development of practical skills associated with sustainability action.