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A framework for integrating sustainable development concepts into the chemistry curriculum towards achieving education for sustainable development in Malaysia

Suganty Kanapathy (Pusat Genius@Pintar Negara, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia)
Khai Ern Lee (Institute for Environment and Development (LESTARI), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia)
Mazlin Mokhtar (Institute for Environment and Development (LESTARI), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia)
Sharifah Zarina Syed Zakaria (Institute for Environment and Development (LESTARI), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia)
Subarna Sivapalan (Centre for Social Transformation for Sustainable Lifestyles, Universiti Teknologi Petronas, Tronoh, Malaysia)

International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education

ISSN: 1467-6370

Article publication date: 16 June 2021

Issue publication date: 30 August 2021

507

Abstract

Purpose

In Malaysia, research indicates that there is an interest amongst the stakeholders, namely, administrators and academicians to be engaged in education for sustainable development (SD), but it is rarely implemented as a part of the higher education curriculum due to various barriers. This paper aims to develop a framework for integrating SD concepts into the chemistry curriculum, using a case study approach.

Design/methodology/approach

This study was conducted at a local university located in Selangor, Malaysia, offering a foundation programme to students between 17 to 18 years of age. Data was collected using a qualitative approach that involved 12 experts as informants. The collected data was analysed via three coding stages, namely, open coding, category coding and thematic encoding using Atlas.ti 7.0 software.

Findings

The research revealed that six aspects contribute to the integration of SD concepts into the chemistry curriculum, namely, educational policy, awareness, resources, curriculum, pedagogical approach and stakeholders’ engagement. The proposed framework was formulated by considering these aspects.

Originality/value

The findings of this study can be used as a guide to facilitate the integration of SD concepts into the chemistry curriculum. It is expected to encourage the involvement of more teachers in adopting sustainable chemistry teaching.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the financial support for this study provided by the Ministry of Higher Education through Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS/1/2019/WAB05/UKM/02/2).

Citation

Kanapathy, S., Lee, K.E., Mokhtar, M., Syed Zakaria, S.Z. and Sivapalan, S. (2021), "A framework for integrating sustainable development concepts into the chemistry curriculum towards achieving education for sustainable development in Malaysia", International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, Vol. 22 No. 6, pp. 1421-1449. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-07-2020-0241

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited

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