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Title
The impacts of environmental science on Bhutanese students' environmental sustainability competences
Author(s)
Publication Date
2023
Early Online Version
Open Access
Yes
Abstract
<p>The subject of environmental science (ES) was introduced into Bhutanese schools to educate students about sustainable environmental conservation. This study aims to answer the research question: What are the impacts of studying ES on Bhutanese students for environmental sustainability? The study employed mixed methods to draw data from interviews with six principals, 14 teachers and 189 students, and surveys with 14 teachers and 563 students from six secondary schools. Participants indicated the development of students' Gross National Happiness value of sustainable environmental and socioeconomic development. However, an anthropocentric perspective appeared to be dominant among participants, suggesting a need to develop ecocentric worldviews to support sustainability. Most students noted their changed behaviours, development of optimism, stewardship and agency towards ecological sustainability from studying ES. To prepare students to take action to address sustainability issues, teachers could leverage students' optimism, agency and stewardship through action-oriented approaches to teaching ES.</p>
Publication Type
Journal Article
Source of Publication
Australian Journal of Environmental Education, v.39, p. 437-451
Publisher
Cambridge Univ Press
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2020
2023
Place of Publication
United Kingdom
ISSN
2049-775X
0814-0626
File(s) openpublished/TheimpactsMongar2023JournalArticle.pdf (508.96 KB)
Published version
Fields of Research (FoR) 2020
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2020
Peer Reviewed
Yes
HERDC Category Description
Peer Reviewed
Yes
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