Core Elements and Practical Strategies for Building Teacher Capacity in Sustainable Education System
Authors: Yu Lanting1; Amy Liew Xiu Jie1
Affiliations:
- 1Faculty of Education and Humanities, UNITAR International University, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
Abstract
As a key driver of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), teacher capacity building has attracted increasing attention. UNESCO emphasizes that teachers must be able to integrate ESD concepts into their teaching practice, yet there is limited research on leveraging UNESCO sites to promote such capacity building. This study examined the core elements and strategies for enhancing teacher capacity by observing teaching activities at 10 universities in China and conducting interviews with 30 lecturers and experts. The findings indicate that the core elements include a deep understanding of ESD concepts, the ability to connect with lifelong learning, and the ability to integrate these concepts into teaching practice. UNESCO sites can enhance teachers’ sustainability awareness and practical skills, and promote knowledge sharing through environmental training, field visits, and interactive teaching. The study calls on policymakers and educational institutions to provide policy and resource support, encourage teacher participation in UNESCO heritage activities, and strengthen collaboration between UNESCO heritage sites and educational institutions.
Keywords: Sustainable Education; Teacher Capacity; Core Elements; Practical Strategies
Suggested citation
Yu, L., & Liew, A. X. J. (2025). Core Elements and Practical Strategies for Building Teacher Capacity in Sustainable Education System. In TheSustainImpact International Forum 2025 Book of Abstracts (Vol. 1, Issue 1). TheSustainImpact. ISSN 3051-7362.