Sustainability

Special Issue

Social Network Analysis and Social Networks in Education for Sustainable Development

2019

Dear Colleagues,

In the last few years, a growing endorsement of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), in both research and praxis, has been observed worldwide. Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has described ESD as the biggest challenge in the current century. Since then several states, NGOs, and educational organizations such as schools or universities have undertaken intensive efforts to anchor the concept into educational settings, systems and organizations at the global, national, regional, and organizational levels. At the same time, the definitions and operationalizations of ESD vary considerably. ESD in so-called developing countries, for instance, may be understood completely different than in the so-called industrialized world.

Since social innovations such as ESD are implemented and realized through social relations, applications of quantitative and qualitative techniques of Social Network Analysis (SNA) or network and governance approaches as such to study the increasing relevance of ESD seem apparent. Despite considerable research on the involvement of ESD, however, its implementation through relations, as well as the interactions between different actors in these processes, have been researched scarcely with social network approaches. This Special Issue addresses the research gap and welcomes articles that are related to aspects of social networks and collaboration with a focus on education and sustainability. It encourages contributions employing different approaches and quantitative and/or qualitative network methods and drawing on different data. Possible topics for article submission include, but are not limited to:

Social networks and collaboration in ESD
Social network analysis in ESD
Cross-sectional partnerships in ESD
Diffusion or transfer of ESD
Implementation of Sustainable Development Goals in education
Student engagement in ESD
Strategic partnerships
Gender, Diversity, Heterogeneity or Inclusion in ESD
Incentives for integrating ESD in networks—including excellence ranking and ratings
Measuring and monitoring ESD

Prof. Dr. Nina Kolleck
Guest Editor

Yin, M.; Jahanshahi, A. Developing Knowledge-Based Resources: The Role of Entrepreneurs′ Social Network Size and Trust. Sustainability 2018, 10(10), 3380; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10103380.
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/10/10/3380

Zhao, J.; Zhu, C.; Peng, Z.; Xu, X.; Liu, Y. User Willingness toward Knowledge Sharing in Social Networks. Sustainability 2018, 10(12), 4680; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10124680.
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/10/12/4680

Macharis, C.; Kerret, D. The 5E Model of Environmental Engagement: Bringing Sustainability Change to Higher Education through Positive Psychology. Sustainability 2019, 11(1), 241; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11010241.
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/1/241

Singer-Brodowski, M.; Etzkorn, N.; Von Seggern, J. One Transformation Path Does Not Fit All—Insights into the Diffusion Processes of Education for Sustainable Development in Different Educational Areas in Germany. Sustainability 2019, 11(1), 269; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11010269.
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/1/269

Schröder, A.; Krüger, D. Social Innovation as a Driver for New Educational Practices: Modernising, Repairing and Transforming the Education System. Sustainability 2019, 11(4), 1070; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11041070.
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/4/1070

Abbas, J.; Aman, J.; Nurunnabi, M.; Bano, S. The Impact of Social Media on Learning Behavior for Sustainable Education: Evidence of Students from Selected Universities in Pakistan. Sustainability 2019, 11(6), 1683; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11061683.
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/6/1683

Goritz, A.; Kolleck, N.; Jörgens, H. Education for Sustainable Development and Climate Change Education: The Potential of Social Network Analysis Based on Twitter Data. Sustainability 2019, 11(19), 5499; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11195499.
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/19/5499

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↑ https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability/special_issues/social_networks

12.05.2020