Whole School Approaches to Sustainability: Exemplary Practices from around the world
A Whole School Approach (WSA) provides a framework to redesign education for global sustainability challenges. It invites a holistic, co-creative effort from all stakeholders to meaningfully engage students in these complex issues.
This report provides an analysis of practical examples of using a WSA to help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Quality Education for all. It served as a key input for the WSA International hybrid Conference (March 2022, organised by SME Advies). With the help of multiple practitioners connected to the featured school case studies, this report was prepared by researchers Rosalie Mathie of The Norwegian University of Life Sciences and Arjen Wals of Wageningen University.
You can download the report down below
Download individual chapters and case studies from the report
Section II Case studies from around the world
- Asia and Africa:
- China - Hong Kong - A Whole School Sustainability Audit spearheading
- India - Quality Education’ as an enabler for the SDG’s
- Japan - A ‘Whole Community Service’ Learning Approach to ESD
- Kazakhstan - A Whole School commitment to sustainability - embracing the SDG’s through stories
- Mongolia - A Nation’s response to mainstreaming ESD practices utilising a WSA
- Nepal - Rupantaran whole school community research and development partnership
- South Africa - Longstanding Eco-School members
- Türkiye - A Green Flag Eco-School’s Journey towards ESD Practices
Europa and North America:- Canada - Belfountain ‘Learning for a Sustainable Future School’
- Cyprus - A cross curricular holistic approach involving school, family and wider community
- England, UK - Ruskin Mill - A Whole School, for the Whole Child, in a Whole Community
- Finland - Terälahti a Nature-school holistic integrated approach
- Norway - A university-school partnership on ESD in practice
- Norway - Montessori Students as changemakers
- Northern Ireland, UK - School - Community Partnerships in action
- The Netherlands - Green Vocational Schools committed to a WSA
- USA - Chicago based Global Citizenship Experience (GCE) Lab School
Download section III and IV
- Section III - Synthesis & Closing remarks
- Section IV Appendix - Endnotes & Report contributors portraits
Graphic design, cover and illustrations: Nicolette Tauecchio (Nicniq)
Copy editor: Siri Elise Dybdal
This Whole School Approaches to Sustainability report was made possible by the program DuurzaamDoor and the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality in The Netherlands.
Free Open Access Book: Whole School Approaches to Sustainability - Education Renewal in Times of Distress
Looking for even more information? The 2024 book Whole School Approaches to Sustainability: Education Renewal in Times of Distress provides a comprehensive look at sustainability challenges in education. This open access publication brings together inspiring contributions from various geographical and socio-cultural contexts, offering a systemic approach to educational innovation.
Got any questions?
Questions about the Whole School Approach? Please send us a message
Follow Pre-University on social media
Stay up-to-date and follow all activities and stories of our students.