The Postgraduate Programme “MSc in Education for Sustainable Development and Social Change” focuses on theories and practices of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) as a means of transforming thinking, influencing behaviour patterns and developing competences in order to empower individuals of various professions and backgrounds to enable through their professional positions and roles, the social change needed for achieving Sustainable Development.

The Program embraces a holistic, interdisciplinary approach that promotes the infusion of ESD through different disciplines being, therefore, appealing to a broad spectrum of different professions and social groups. It aims to help students of various backgrounds to become reflective practitioners and agents of change, locally as well as globally through their own professional practice. More specific objectives focus on developing students’ critical understanding of Sustainable Development (SD) issues, developing competences and pedagogical skills required for critical reflection, action-oriented transformative pedagogy and helping learners promote active and responsible citizenship for addressing sustainability. Objectives also seek to promote critical pedagogies for addressing SD issues through innovative approaches that encourage life-long authentic learning and social participation: values education for SD; the use of new technologies as sources and transformative tools; and alternative means of learning through the arts.

The Program’s structure ensures a balance between the academic dimension, research and practice based on pedagogical activities that can be applied in various educational contexts. Research in ESD is promoted through a research methods course, research-oriented assessment methods in the program courses, the compulsory Masters’ Thesis and through a well-established collaboration network between the university and other academic and social partners with common areas of research interests, on a local, regional (Mediterranean) and international level. Such collaborations build valuable experiences and can promote Education for Sustainable Development and Social Change as an issue of national and regional educational priority.

Key Learning Outcomes

By the end of their studies, students are expected to acquire a comprehensive set of knowledge, important skills and a mindset (values and attitudes) necessary for delivering ESD through formal, informal and non-formal educational settings. In particular, students should:

1.  Recognise sustainable development as a political, ideological, highly complex and contested concept.
2.  Analyse critically contemporary, global, regional and local SD issues, understand their universality and indivisibility and acknowledge that these are major development challenges for humanity.
3.  Explore Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as universal, transformational and inclusive goals that can be achieved through social engagement and responsibility.
4.  Reflect critically on one’s own theories, values, beliefs, learning and practice about SD issues.
5.  Acknowledge and deliver ESD as a transformative, critical pedagogy responsive to the systemic, holistic, and values-oriented nature of SD.
6.  Embrace ESD as a lifelong learning process and realise that beyond formal education it draws experiences, skills and action opportunities from non-formal and informal educational settings.
7.  Develop competences for ESD, be able to transfer these competences to learners in their professional environments and operate as multiplier agents for SD.
8.  Be able to apply basic principles and strategies of ESD and understand how these can foster the values and skills that will lead to sustainable, just and inclusive growth and peaceful living together.
9.  Analyse and critically discuss on the social – transformative impact of arts (visual arts, drama, literature).
10. Be able to use and develop ICT-enabled instructional materials and programs which will foster sustainability justice and the formation of positive values, attitudes and ethical behavior towards sustainable human development.
11. Demonstrate leadership for implementing whole institution approaches to ESD
12. Deconstruct and reconstruct the conventional discourse οn ESD curriculum, teaching, learning and research methodology; embracing principles of empowerment, change agency, active participation and critical reflection.
    

 Delivery and Duration

1. The program is delivered online and is based on the ECTS credit accumulation mode of study. The MSc Degree will be awarded upon successful completion of 60 ECTS in courses and 30 ECTS in writing a thesis.
2. The program has a duration of one and a half academic years (i.e. 3 semesters) for full time attendance or three academic years (i.e. 6 semesters) for part time attendance.
3. The Program is delivered by experienced international and in-house faculty through the University’s e-learning platform.
4. The language of Instruction is Greek and/or English.
   

Career Opportunities

The design of the postgraduate program aims at providing students with the appropriate theoretical background based on the latest research findings, practical knowledge and skills, in order to become efficient scientists able to cope with the increasing education challenges in formal, informal and non-formal settings.

It prepares graduates for employment in NGOs, non-formal education (e.g. environmental education centers), local authorities and agencies of the public or private domain, active in areas of Sustainable Development. Educators already employed at any level and discipline of formal education can find the qualification useful for professional development and progress purposes.

Moreover, they can pursue further postgraduate studies at doctoral level.