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Educating the Sustainability Leaders of the Future pp 75–93Cite as

Be(coming) an Ambassador of Transformative Change from the Inside Out

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Part of the book series: World Sustainability Series ((WSUSE))

Abstract

Intrapersonal competency was recently added to the key competencies in sustainability framework (Brundiers et al., Sustain Sci (Online), 2020; Wiek et al., Sustain Sci 6:203–218, 2011). How it can be developed within sustainability education is yet to be explored. However, theoretically-supported and evidence-based insights from interpersonal competency development can give initial guidance. Three social theories and practices are presented as inspiration for intrapersonal competency development on the course level. These are Theory U, permaculture, and non-violent communication. A newly designed course in the field of social and sustainable entrepreneurship education serves as an example of how the often neglected inner dimension of sustainability can be actively accounted for in and even before the classroom. The potential to facilitate transformative change on both the personal and societal level is discussed. This paper can be useful for course designers and facilitators who strive for holistic change from the inside out.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    ‘Learning facilitator’ is used interchangeably with ‘instructor’. However, the former term is closer to the author’s understanding of her own role in the classroom.

  2. 2.

    https://www.presencing.org/ [30.01.22].

  3. 3.

    Theory U is not about competency development or planning per se but about the ‘emergence of future possibilites’ by integrating all our ways of knowing (Pomeroy and Oliver (2021)). However, moments during the 3D mapping process where key competencies in sustainability (Brundiers et al. (2020); Wiek et al. (2011)) might show themselves in practice and might be further developed are indicated with the respective key competency in parentheses.

  4. 4.

    This last principle is reminiscent of Brundiers and Wiek’s (2017) Professional Skill of responsive project management.

  5. 5.

    Looby Macnamara (2012, p. 47) offers a collection of guiding questions for each principle to help prepare for system intervention. These could be used in sustainability education to interview one’s self.

  6. 6.

    For a needs inventory see https://www.cnvc.org/sites/default/files/needs_inventory_0.pdf [26.01.22].

  7. 7.

    https://www.leuphana.de/en/institutes/centre-for-sustainability-management-csm/social-entrepreneurship/leuphana-sustainable-entrepreneurship-certificate-L-sec.html [30.01.22].

  8. 8.

    https://gemeinschaftsgetragen.de/en/ [30.01.22].

  9. 9.

    See Konrad and Freeth (in review) and the author’s blog post #3: “To dance beautifully, each one must stand in their own axis”; https://blog.thereskonrad.org/?p=262 [30.01.22].

  10. 10.

    A metaphoric way of self-discovery allows the author’s project Verbal Pollination – stories to empower; https://verbalpollination.thereskonrad.org/?page_id=9 [30.01.22].

  11. 11.

    https://www.ted.com/talks/george_monbiot_the_new_political_story_that_could_change_everything [30.01.22].

  12. 12.

    https://www.robhopkins.net/ [30.01.22].

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Acknowledgements

Thanks go to Aaron Redman, Marie Weiß, Kübra Köprülüoğlu Aşanlı, Marius Rommel, Björn Schmidt, and particularly to Senan Gardiner and Laura Carlson for valuable feedback and support.

For further self-study:

Theory U: https://www.presencing.org/

Center for NVC: https://www.cnvc.org/

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Learning Process Designer and Facilitator, Leuphana Universität Lüneburg, Lüneburg, Germany

    Theres Konrad

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  1. Theres Konrad
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Correspondence to Theres Konrad .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. FTZ-ALS, HAW Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany

    Walter Leal Filho

  2. Green Office UPF, Universidade de Passo Fundo, Passo Fundo, Brazil

    Amanda Lange Salvia

  3. Allegheny College, Meadville, PA, USA

    Eric Pallant

  4. Allegheny College, Meadville, PA, USA

    Beth Choate

  5. Allegheny College, Meadville, PA, USA

    Kelly Pearce

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Konrad, T. (2023). Be(coming) an Ambassador of Transformative Change from the Inside Out. In: Leal Filho, W., Lange Salvia, A., Pallant, E., Choate, B., Pearce, K. (eds) Educating the Sustainability Leaders of the Future. World Sustainability Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-22856-8_5

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