Published In

Sustainability

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-2019

Subjects

Sustainability, Sustainable development -- Study and teaching, Environmental education

Abstract

This grounded theory action research study examines the impact of a graduate sustainability leadership program through the lens of its alumni. The study reveals elements of the leadership program that had the most impact on the lives and careers of its alumni, as well as suggestions for how the program could better prepare students in the future. This study finds that impactful sustainability leadership programs might incorporate opportunities for: paradigm and perspective shifts; a culture of support and care; holistic personal growth and development; experiential community-based learning opportunities; and leadership tools and skills that students can practice and use. This study also indicates that future students of sustainability leadership in higher education could benefit from more career preparation and job transition support, and from more emphasis on critical theory, social justice, and diversity/inclusion in all coursework. Implications for program design and implementation are discussed, including suggestions for future practice.

Rights

© 2019 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

DOI

10.3390/su11195223

Persistent Identifier

https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/29672

Download

Share

COinS