In search of a sustainable future: an international overview of the contribution from design and technology education

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to describe the extent to which design and technology education curricula in eight countries are teaching students to take into account, when designing and making products and services, the needs of the present generation without compromising a sustainable future. Do curricula emphasize sustainability? How effectively is sustainability addressed in schools within design and technology education? The main body of the paper consists of contributions from eight authors, who describe design and technology in their own country (or region) in terms of: (1) its organization; (2) its core aims; (3) the extent to which it encourages students to think about meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising a sustainable future; (4) an example of good practice that relates design and technology education and sustainability and that could be adapted for use in other countries