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Environmental Progressivism: A Framework for a Sustainable Higher Education

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 June 2015

Matthew Thomas
Matthew Thomas*
Affiliation:
The University of Adelaide
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Abstract

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The underlying ideologies which support higher education have received only limited attention in relation to our desired goals of social and ecological sustainability. This paper examines the current ideologies which drive higher education, and proposes a different ideological framework which can be used to support a sustainable higher education. Firstly, a criticism of the current convergence of utilitarian and neo-liberal ideologies is presented from the perspective of sustainability. Secondly, building upon the educational theory of John Dewey, an alternative perspective termed “environmental progressivism” is outlined as a possible ideological framework for a sustainable higher education. The paper concludes with some preliminary remarks as to the practical implications of environmental progressivism.

Type
Research Article
Information
Australian Journal of Environmental Education , Volume 15: Volume 15-16 , 1999 , pp. 103 - 109
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1999

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