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Case Study: University Partnership for Sustainability Linking University of Vermont Course in Environmental Interpretation with Intervale Center

University Partnerships for Sustainable Development

ISBN: 978-1-78973-644-1, eISBN: 978-1-78973-643-4

Publication date: 19 June 2020

Abstract

This chapter points out that many higher education institutions (HEIs) have responded to daunting sustainability challenges by (1) infusing sustainability into the curriculum; (2) becoming engaged with the United Nations (UN) sustainable development goals (SDGs); and (3) building on Boyer’s scholarship of engagement, developing partnerships for sustainability with various sectors of society through service–learning (SL). Perhaps our most daunting sustainability challenge is climate change, with its accompanying catastrophic biodiversity loss and widespread human misery from rising oceans, flooding, drought, wildfires, and extreme weather events. It has been shown that the food sector, or agriculture, has a great impact on climate change. For that reason the non-governmental organization (NGO) Intervale Center (IC), a recognized leader in sustainable agriculture, was selected as a partner for a University of Vermont (UVM) SL course in environmental interpretation (EI). IC and its programs are presented, followed by an explanation of EI. A case study of a university partnership for sustainability – a linkage between IC and the EI course – is then shared. The mechanics of that partnership are offered, and the resulting student creations. Finally, conclusions are drawn, especially the importance of HEIs networking with other sectors to work toward sustainable futures.

Keywords

Citation

Hudspeth, T.R. (2020), "Case Study: University Partnership for Sustainability Linking University of Vermont Course in Environmental Interpretation with Intervale Center", Sengupta, E., Blessinger, P. and Yamin, T.S. (Ed.) University Partnerships for Sustainable Development (Innovations in Higher Education Teaching and Learning, Vol. 20), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 157-171. https://doi.org/10.1108/S2055-364120200000020017

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

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