The Development of Basic Competencies for Sustainability in Higher Education: An Educational Model

Existing paradigms, which are deeply rooted in our educational systems, are fomenting unsustainable development. For this reason, it is necessary to opt for a style of education that allows university students to be aware of the need to live in a different way and be aware of our absolute dependency on our natural environment. This goal requires fundamental changes in the curriculum, as well as a broader vision of the role that educational institutions must play. One of the objectives of education in this new century must be to help achieve sustainable social and environmental human development. In this sense, higher education plays a very important role in the field of education for sustainability and the university must take on this challenge with great determination. This work presents a model for formation that furthers the development of basic competencies for sustainability, which must be incorporated into the curriculum of all higher educational studies.