International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education
Purpose Transformative learning and leadership are key leverage points for supporting society’s t... more Purpose Transformative learning and leadership are key leverage points for supporting society’s transition towards sustainability. The purpose of this study was to identify the outcomes of transformational learning within an international sustainability leadership master’s program in Sweden. The study also prototypes a typology for transformative learning (TTL) in the context of sustainability leadership education. Design/methodology/approach Alumni spanning 15 cohorts provided answers to a survey, and the responses were used to identify the outcomes of the program. Graduates were asked to describe what transformed for them through the program. Empirical data was coded prototyping the use of the TTL in sustainability education context. Findings Graduates of the Master’s in Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability program, described transformation with regards to their Self-in-relation to Others and the World, their Self-knowledge, sense of Empowerment/Responsibility; their Worldv...
An ongoing discussion in education for sustainable development (ESD) research has focused on defi... more An ongoing discussion in education for sustainable development (ESD) research has focused on defining a list of agreed upon sustainability competencies required for the work of sustainability change agents. This discussion has included the consideration of an ‘Intrapersonal’ perspective that considers the role of inner qualities in change agents and how this impacts their ability to implement sustainability. While many researchers have looked at the ‘inner dimension’ of sustainability work, the identification and function of an ‘Intrapersonal’ competence remains in question. Utilizing practitioner responses, this paper identifies eight Intrapersonal capacities that change agents described as beneficial to their implementation of sustainability. These capacities are the ability to: Hold complexity, Foster a learner’s mindset, Deeply value others, Let be, Show up as one’s full self, Regulate and manage the self, Persist with lightness and Ensure one’s wellbeing. The study provides ins...
This paper provides an overview of insights and lessons learned from nearly 20 years of running a... more This paper provides an overview of insights and lessons learned from nearly 20 years of running a Master’s unit called Leadership in Sustainability and how it has been used to foster change agents in small business enterprises, as well as other parts of our economy and community. The unit is based on five ‘C’ pillars, which are discussed in this paper to show how the teaching was able to assist potential leaders in their journey towards sustainability. Collective Wisdom is the theory of how leaders have used their imagination to solve collective ‘wicked problems’ and how sustainability requires such wisdom. The unit covers such theory from innovation, complexity, leadership, management and sustainability literatures, and the students are required to show they used this in solving a problem. Conversations are the main tool that is used because only through integrating diverse opinions have solutions been found to such problems as sustainability. The unit is based around case studies ...
In this thesis, sustainability is explored as it relates to local government in Perth, Western Au... more In this thesis, sustainability is explored as it relates to local government in Perth, Western Australia. Firstly the conversation around the concept of sustainability is explored by looking at key policies, and governmental initiatives in the area, as well as the leaders and focus areas that have shaped the dialogue of sustainability in Perth. Secondly the major projects that are being undertaken within local governments to address sustainability issues are presented, such as the Integrated Planning and Reporting Framework, Metropolitan Land Use Planning, climate change initiatives, and other educational and behavioural change programs. Finally the enablers and barriers in moving local governments towards sustainability are presented and discussed, and the places within the system to find agency and power to affect change for sustainability are explored.
In this thesis, sustainability is explored as it relates to local government in Perth, Western Au... more In this thesis, sustainability is explored as it relates to local government in Perth, Western Australia. Firstly the conversation around the concept of sustainability is explored by looking at key policies, and governmental initiatives in the area, as well as the leaders and focus areas that have shaped the dialogue of sustainability in Perth. Secondly the major projects that are being undertaken within local governments to address sustainability issues are presented, such as the Integrated Planning and Reporting Framework, Metropolitan Land Use Planning, climate change initiatives, and other educational and behavioural change programs. Finally the enablers and barriers in moving local governments towards sustainability are presented and discussed, and the places within the system to find agency and power to affect change for sustainability are explored.
International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 2021
Purpose Transformative learning (TL) and leadership are key leverage points for supporting societ... more Purpose Transformative learning (TL) and leadership are key leverage points for supporting society’s transition toward sustainability. The purpose of this study is to identify essential components of TL within an international sustainability leadership master’s program in Sweden that has been described by many students as life-changing, empowering and transformational. Design/methodology/approach Alumni spanning 15 cohorts provided answers to a survey and the responses were used to map components of TL as experienced by the students. Findings The survey confirms the anecdotal assertions that the program is transformational. The findings suggest that community, place, pedagogy, concepts and content, disorientation and hope and agency are essential components, combined with the synergy of those into an integrated whole that support transformational change according to many respondents. Originality/value This study provides program designers and educators with suggested components and ...
This paper presents a case study of a transdisciplinary scenario planning workshop that was desig... more This paper presents a case study of a transdisciplinary scenario planning workshop that was designed to link global challenges to local governance. The workshop was held to improve stakeholder integration and explore scenarios for a regional planning project (to 2050) in Blekinge, Sweden. Scenario planning and transdisciplinary practices are often disregarded by practitioners due to the perception of onerous resource requirements, however, this paper describes a ‘rapid scenario planning’ process that was designed to be agile and time-efficient, requiring the 43 participants from 13 stakeholder organizations to gather only for one day. The process was designed to create an environment whereby stakeholders could learn from, and with, each other and use their expert knowledge to inform the scenario process. The Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development (FSSD) was used to structure and focus the scenario planning exercise and its subsequent recommendations. The process was evaluat...
This paper presents a case study about embedding sustainability into a local government in Perth,... more This paper presents a case study about embedding sustainability into a local government in Perth, Western Australia, through the introduction of a sustainability policy and the accompanying education and culture change program. This longitudinal case study describes the approach and impact of the program initiated and delivered by internal officers between 2011 and 2016. The use of personal experience, document review and staff interviews present an ethnography of a bureaucracy that casts some light upon the seldom seen inner workings of a local government organisation as it introduced a sustainability program over a period of more than 5 years. The case study provides evidence of the potential power of learning as a key leverage point for transformational sustainability change.
This study aims to examine the use of reflective pedagogies in sustainability leadership educatio... more This study aims to examine the use of reflective pedagogies in sustainability leadership education by investigating two specific pedagogical tools—the Portfolio and Pod—employed by the Master’s in Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability (MSLS) program at Blekinge Institute of Technology in Karlskrona, Sweden. The study analyzed data gathered from student surveys, teacher interviews, and staff reflections to determine the benefits and challenges faced by students and staff in implementing and engaging with these pedagogical tools. Benefits include the provision of distinct structures to guide student reflection towards individual skill development and the use of collective reflection to encourage generative dialogue between students and staff. This holds benefits for collaboration, self-awareness, understanding of multiple perspectives, and creating self-directed graduates. Staff and students also, however, suggest a number of challenges. These include the ‘constrictive’ nature o...
International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education
Purpose Transformative learning and leadership are key leverage points for supporting society’s t... more Purpose Transformative learning and leadership are key leverage points for supporting society’s transition towards sustainability. The purpose of this study was to identify the outcomes of transformational learning within an international sustainability leadership master’s program in Sweden. The study also prototypes a typology for transformative learning (TTL) in the context of sustainability leadership education. Design/methodology/approach Alumni spanning 15 cohorts provided answers to a survey, and the responses were used to identify the outcomes of the program. Graduates were asked to describe what transformed for them through the program. Empirical data was coded prototyping the use of the TTL in sustainability education context. Findings Graduates of the Master’s in Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability program, described transformation with regards to their Self-in-relation to Others and the World, their Self-knowledge, sense of Empowerment/Responsibility; their Worldv...
An ongoing discussion in education for sustainable development (ESD) research has focused on defi... more An ongoing discussion in education for sustainable development (ESD) research has focused on defining a list of agreed upon sustainability competencies required for the work of sustainability change agents. This discussion has included the consideration of an ‘Intrapersonal’ perspective that considers the role of inner qualities in change agents and how this impacts their ability to implement sustainability. While many researchers have looked at the ‘inner dimension’ of sustainability work, the identification and function of an ‘Intrapersonal’ competence remains in question. Utilizing practitioner responses, this paper identifies eight Intrapersonal capacities that change agents described as beneficial to their implementation of sustainability. These capacities are the ability to: Hold complexity, Foster a learner’s mindset, Deeply value others, Let be, Show up as one’s full self, Regulate and manage the self, Persist with lightness and Ensure one’s wellbeing. The study provides ins...
This paper provides an overview of insights and lessons learned from nearly 20 years of running a... more This paper provides an overview of insights and lessons learned from nearly 20 years of running a Master’s unit called Leadership in Sustainability and how it has been used to foster change agents in small business enterprises, as well as other parts of our economy and community. The unit is based on five ‘C’ pillars, which are discussed in this paper to show how the teaching was able to assist potential leaders in their journey towards sustainability. Collective Wisdom is the theory of how leaders have used their imagination to solve collective ‘wicked problems’ and how sustainability requires such wisdom. The unit covers such theory from innovation, complexity, leadership, management and sustainability literatures, and the students are required to show they used this in solving a problem. Conversations are the main tool that is used because only through integrating diverse opinions have solutions been found to such problems as sustainability. The unit is based around case studies ...
In this thesis, sustainability is explored as it relates to local government in Perth, Western Au... more In this thesis, sustainability is explored as it relates to local government in Perth, Western Australia. Firstly the conversation around the concept of sustainability is explored by looking at key policies, and governmental initiatives in the area, as well as the leaders and focus areas that have shaped the dialogue of sustainability in Perth. Secondly the major projects that are being undertaken within local governments to address sustainability issues are presented, such as the Integrated Planning and Reporting Framework, Metropolitan Land Use Planning, climate change initiatives, and other educational and behavioural change programs. Finally the enablers and barriers in moving local governments towards sustainability are presented and discussed, and the places within the system to find agency and power to affect change for sustainability are explored.
In this thesis, sustainability is explored as it relates to local government in Perth, Western Au... more In this thesis, sustainability is explored as it relates to local government in Perth, Western Australia. Firstly the conversation around the concept of sustainability is explored by looking at key policies, and governmental initiatives in the area, as well as the leaders and focus areas that have shaped the dialogue of sustainability in Perth. Secondly the major projects that are being undertaken within local governments to address sustainability issues are presented, such as the Integrated Planning and Reporting Framework, Metropolitan Land Use Planning, climate change initiatives, and other educational and behavioural change programs. Finally the enablers and barriers in moving local governments towards sustainability are presented and discussed, and the places within the system to find agency and power to affect change for sustainability are explored.
International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 2021
Purpose Transformative learning (TL) and leadership are key leverage points for supporting societ... more Purpose Transformative learning (TL) and leadership are key leverage points for supporting society’s transition toward sustainability. The purpose of this study is to identify essential components of TL within an international sustainability leadership master’s program in Sweden that has been described by many students as life-changing, empowering and transformational. Design/methodology/approach Alumni spanning 15 cohorts provided answers to a survey and the responses were used to map components of TL as experienced by the students. Findings The survey confirms the anecdotal assertions that the program is transformational. The findings suggest that community, place, pedagogy, concepts and content, disorientation and hope and agency are essential components, combined with the synergy of those into an integrated whole that support transformational change according to many respondents. Originality/value This study provides program designers and educators with suggested components and ...
This paper presents a case study of a transdisciplinary scenario planning workshop that was desig... more This paper presents a case study of a transdisciplinary scenario planning workshop that was designed to link global challenges to local governance. The workshop was held to improve stakeholder integration and explore scenarios for a regional planning project (to 2050) in Blekinge, Sweden. Scenario planning and transdisciplinary practices are often disregarded by practitioners due to the perception of onerous resource requirements, however, this paper describes a ‘rapid scenario planning’ process that was designed to be agile and time-efficient, requiring the 43 participants from 13 stakeholder organizations to gather only for one day. The process was designed to create an environment whereby stakeholders could learn from, and with, each other and use their expert knowledge to inform the scenario process. The Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development (FSSD) was used to structure and focus the scenario planning exercise and its subsequent recommendations. The process was evaluat...
This paper presents a case study about embedding sustainability into a local government in Perth,... more This paper presents a case study about embedding sustainability into a local government in Perth, Western Australia, through the introduction of a sustainability policy and the accompanying education and culture change program. This longitudinal case study describes the approach and impact of the program initiated and delivered by internal officers between 2011 and 2016. The use of personal experience, document review and staff interviews present an ethnography of a bureaucracy that casts some light upon the seldom seen inner workings of a local government organisation as it introduced a sustainability program over a period of more than 5 years. The case study provides evidence of the potential power of learning as a key leverage point for transformational sustainability change.
This study aims to examine the use of reflective pedagogies in sustainability leadership educatio... more This study aims to examine the use of reflective pedagogies in sustainability leadership education by investigating two specific pedagogical tools—the Portfolio and Pod—employed by the Master’s in Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability (MSLS) program at Blekinge Institute of Technology in Karlskrona, Sweden. The study analyzed data gathered from student surveys, teacher interviews, and staff reflections to determine the benefits and challenges faced by students and staff in implementing and engaging with these pedagogical tools. Benefits include the provision of distinct structures to guide student reflection towards individual skill development and the use of collective reflection to encourage generative dialogue between students and staff. This holds benefits for collaboration, self-awareness, understanding of multiple perspectives, and creating self-directed graduates. Staff and students also, however, suggest a number of challenges. These include the ‘constrictive’ nature o...
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Papers by Jayne Bryant