The document discusses education, student engagement, and mindset change for sustainable development. It notes that abrupt changes can occur in interconnected natural systems when buffer mechanisms are worn down. It outlines various spheres like the economy, environment, and society that shape sustainable development. The document advocates for balancing risks of action vs. inaction on climate change. It argues that costs of inaction may explode but costs of action depend on collaboration and innovation. The document concludes that student organizations can be part of the solution by inspiring learning through role models and engagement to show a way towards mindset change for sustainable development.

1. Education, Student Engagement, and
Mindset Change
for Sustainable Development
Thomas Andersson
Senior Advisor
WSC-SD
At the Climate Change Conference in
Copenhagen, December 18, 2009

2. BUSINESS AS USUAL
The response of the
Earth’s Living Systems
to climate change may
appear smooth over
extended periods of
time

3. Radical worsening as interrelated impacts break through
… but abrupt changes
occur, when buffert
mechanisms have been
worn down, different
trajectories collide, and the
resilience of interrelated
natural systems is giving in

4. Interactive spheres shaping (un)sustainable development
Financial markets
Energy
Transport systems Economic
Manufacturing
Construction
Agriculture & Food
Environment
Social Living ecosystems
Human wellness Urban Development,
Health Recycling, Waste
Management, Construction
Cohesion and conflict
Water
Education, Mindset
Community building Biodiversity
Natural resources
management

5. The Economic Evolution towards the
Networked Society
Data Information Knowledge Ubiquitous
Product Solution Innovation Ecosystems
Competition Cooperation Collaboration Coopetition
50’s – 70’s 70’s – 90’s 90’s – 2000’s Today?

6. A digital environment is under way
around us: cars, toys, home
automation …
on us: watches, clothing …
between us, who is who, can know
and rely on what was done
in us: RFID tags for health care
and automatic payment …
Internet
.
… not using technology for
technology’s sake!

8. Abandoning the linear model
Source: IKED

9. Open Innovation Model
External Ideas
New
Internal Ideas Products
& Markets
Spin Offs
Open Innovation: The New Imperative for Creating and Profiting from Technology, H. Chesbrough, 2003

10. Male and female entrepreneurial
activity
Source: Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, 2000.

11. KNOWLEDGE-ECONOMY AND SUSTAINABLE DEEVELOPMENT
Education &
Learning
Information and
Innovation Knowledge-Based Entrepreneurship
Society
CONTENT
People &
Communities
Natural Interrelated Ecosystems Intangible
resources The Global Commons Assets
ENABLERS

12. Education and Student Engagement
for maturity and mindset change…
• Knowledge and action for value creation
• Entrepreneurial training, experimentation
• Mobility, brain circulation
Transpassing borders: building
• Student Engagement:
alliances between disciplines, age
groups, nation states
From push to pull, from turf to
inclusion
Role models: authority and
mentoring, not authoritarian rule…
Learning in action
Entrepreneurship and innovation,
engagement, learning in action

13. Student engagement – for mindset change…
Different disciplines
Inventors Firms and market
Innovators forces Vested interests
Varying Different
interests, Bargaining
incentives Student initiatives – positions
for chain reaction: International
Science Communities Growing generations negotiations
calling for constructive
solutions
Professors, teachers Young,
schools aspiring entrepreneurs
“

14. Summing up:
• Balancing uncertain costs and benefits of action and non-action
• Managing risks – which ones can we live with?
• Costs of in-action may explode with system and threashold effects
• Costs of action will depend on collaboration, creativity, innovation
and entrepreneurship – mindset
• Pull – not push, authority – not aurhoritarioan attitudes, learn not
from but in action
• Inspiration and learning with role models, mentors, coaching
Student organisations and engagement are part of the
solution – for showing the way

15. THANK YOU!