Scientific Support for Redesigning a Higher-Education Curriculum on Sustainability

This paper is devoted to how a team of experts scientifically supported redesigning the curriculum of an elective study program that promotes competences for sustainable development. In contrast to other case studies of higher education for sustainable development (HESD), the paper does not present the outcome of the curricular-redesign process but focuses on its scientific support. It shows how this process was initiated and facilitated. It understands curricular redesign as a social process. The premises are, first, that supporting curricular processes means guiding the decision-making of those in charge but not making decisions in their place, and second, that the redesign of a curriculum has to consider the existing institutional situation as well as empirical and theoretical expectations. The article discusses how scientific support can help a curricular redesign draw on both experience-based knowledge and sound HESD theories and findings. Furthermore, it reflects on the role of those supporting such a process and on how they can help the actors find a realistic compromise between the existing situation and the perceived ideal. This requires competences in mining, aggregating, and reprocessing knowledge in the field of HESD, as well as in designing and supporting an interdisciplinary process.