• A democratic society and sustainable education are built on sustainable solutions to ecological, social, economic and cultural issues. Education and school play a significant role in this: they are social activities that maintain society on the one hand and change society on the other. Studying ‘sustainable education and society’ involves examining and problematizing changing practices and structures that create the conditions and boundaries for educational and individual action.

The tasks of education and school are constantly defined in relation to prevailing political, ideological and cultural conditions and power structures. Because education and school are also political phenomena, education policy includes power struggles and negotiations of interests. They can be seen at the macro, meso and micro levels, for example, in the preparation of national curricula and in the practices of education. The realisation of a cohesive and sustainable society requires communities that value eco-social education, justice and non-discrimination, as well as active activities. Those working in education and training have the opportunity and obligation to be involved in building such communities.

How can education contribute to a democratic, equal, equitable and sustainable society?

Themes: The social nature of knowledge and knowledge, civic education and social education, inclusion, democracy education, education and administrative guidance

Core competence areas: Ethical competence, community and societal competence, scientific competence

After completing the course, students should be able to:

• perceive how education manifests itself as part of social structures and practices and as a force for change
• examine the phenomena of education and school from a social and cultural perspective, utilising the concepts of the sociology of education.
• analyse connections between educational practices and cultural changes that taken place in childhood, adolescence and adulthood.