Our second Critical Sustainability Conversation: ‘Education, Sustainability and decolonialism: thinking and moving beyond the greenwash’
The pursuit of sustainable futures is complex, requiring deliberation of contested concepts, navigation of moral and practical challenges, and consideration of unpredictability. Learning for sustainability should thus support and enable dialogue; as well as the acquisition of specific skills, knowledge and competencies.
We were delighted to recently host the second of our new series of ‘Critical Sustainability Conversations’, which seek to provide spaces for the ambitions outlined above.
This Conversation focused on ‘Education, Sustainability and decolonialism: thinking and moving beyond the greenwash’ and was held in collaboration with colleagues from Queen Margaret University and Canterbury Christ Church University.
What was this Conversation about?
The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have now been in place for a decade, with only five years left to go until we reach their target date of 2030. In this second webinar in the series, we explored decolonial perspectives of the UN SDGs and sustainable development.
We heard from Mostafa Gamal, a Co-Programme Leader and Lecturer in the Psychology, Sociology and Education division, Queen Margaret University; and Zulfi Ali, Senior Lecturer, School of Humanities & Educational Studies, Canterbury Christ Church University – as well as Rehema White, Lecturer at the University of St Andrews and Chair of LfSS.

View the recordings and materials from this event
Click on these hyperlinks to access all of the recordings and materials from the event:
Recordings:
- Introduction to and overview of the Critical Sustainability Conversations, overview of the theme of this webinar, and Learning for Sustainability Scotland: Dr Rehema White, University of St Andrews
- ‘Decolonial ecology: (dis)organising the concept of sustainability‘: Dr Mostafa Gamal, Queen Margaret University
- ‘The Frameworks Underpinning Education for Sustainability: From Dead Ends to New Possibilities’: Mr Zulfi Ali, Canterbury Christ Church University
- Discussion, Conclusion and Final reflections: All of our contributors
Resources:
Join the next Critical Sustainability Conversation on 10th June
Our second Critical Sustainability Conversation will be on 10th June and will have a focus on ‘Peace Education: Fighting for the Future’.
We will be joined by guest speakers from the University of the West of Scotland, and we look forward to welcoming you.