Higher education for sustainable development during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ukraine

Abstract

The paper presents the analysis of the higher education modernisation for sustainable development in Ukraine regarding goals adopted on global and national levels, pre-pandemic trends and the challenges of 2020. The global experience integrating sustainable development goals into higher education is also a background analysis. Taking into account the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adopted in 2015 and the national “Concept of environmental education in Ukraine”, adopted in 2001, the article investigates the current trends on macro (the country’s ESD policy), meso (HEIs), and micro (participants of educational process) levels. Particular attention is paid to embedding SDGs in university policy, curriculum, and pedagogy, primarily in training economists. Furthermore, the research focuses on the new challenges of 2020 – the COVID-19 pandemic and digitalization affecting higher education transformation. These drivers cause transformative sustainability teaching-learning practices and social and environmental impacts of digital technologies implementation in Ukraine’s higher teacher and economic education. The research reveals similar trends in higher education modernisation for sustainable development in the world and Ukraine. This theoretical and empirical research is based on the literature review, statistical data and surveys conducted at a national university in 2023. Finally, the research results in suggestions given by Humanities students and faculty members to foster higher education significance in developing environmental knowledge, awareness and culture among professionals and society in the future.