Education of sustainable development competence in higher education institution

Abstract

The present paper aims at exploring the role of higher education institution (HEI) on education of sustainable development competence (SDC). Considering the connection of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), it is important to reflect on the mission of HEIs in promoting sustainable development (SD) ideas. In the present paper an attempt has been made to draw the parallels between HEIs and SDC as well as to answer the questions how the concept of SD is reflected in HEI. It is believed that building the capacity of students on SDC to communicate SD ideas and discuss about a sustaining world view is of great importance. For this reason the literature review and its analysis of various researchers working on SD and SDC have been done. To support theoretical findings, research has been done on students‘ attitude to SDC at Vytautas Magnus University and comparative analysis of 2015 – 2016 years has been done. The paper aims to give HEI staff and students an impulse to understand the significance of SD practices, as well as to make choices, taking actions in educating SDC at universities not only in Lithuania, but also abroad.