Developing assessment tools for evaluating key competencies in sustainability across programs at UBC

TitleDeveloping assessment tools for evaluating key competencies in sustainability across programs at UBC
Faculty/College/UnitEducation
StatusCompleted
Duration2 Year
Initiation04/01/2017
Completion03/31/2019
Project Summary

The idea for this proposal was submitted as a LOI for a large TLEF in July 2016. While questioning the wisdom of starting the research with a large, rather than small TLEF grant, the committee was in "full agreement of the pressing need to develop a set of competencies around the teaching of ‘sustainability’ within the context of education, as well as measures that can assess those competencies." Following this encouraging response, the following proposal has been drafted.

The overall research objective is to develop and apply a set of key sustainability competencies to sustainability programs at UBC so that students have the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to be sustainability practitioners. The development of assessment tools will help UBC to better equip our students for green jobs by rigorously developing, testing, assessing student sustainability competencies and then feeding results back to the UBC faculty members so future students can benefit. Research methods include international expertise, program directors from UBC, and, of course, UBC students.

Funding Details
Year 1: Project YearYear 1
Year 1: Funding Year2017/2018
Year 1: Project TypeSmall TLEF
Year 1: Principal InvestigatorRobert Vanwynsberghe
Year 1: Funded Amount22,336
Year 1: Team Members

Robert Vanwynsberghe, Associate Professor, Educational Studies, Faculty of Education
Jean Marcus,Associate Director, Teaching, Learning and Research, University Sustainability Initiative

Year 2: Project YearYear 2
Year 2: Funding Year2018/2019
Year 2: Project TypeSmall TLEF
Year 2: Principal InvestigatorRobert Vanwynsberghe
Year 2: Funded Amount13,784
Year 2: Team Members

Robert Vanwynsberghe, Associate Professor, Educational Studies, Faculty of Education
Jean Marcus, Associate Director, Teaching, Learning and Research, University Sustainability Initiative