Sustainable Education Handbook: Fair, Inclusive, Hopeful

Current and future teachers are entering the classroom at a challenging time. We live in a world facing major ecological and societal challenges, resulting in transitions and large scale changes. Examples include the transition from fossil fuels to sustainable energy systems and from a throwaway society to a circular society, in which materials are kept in use for as long as possible. These transitions are driven by the limits of what the planet and humanity can sustain.

Teachers who know and understand themselves, can recognise and understand the perspectives of others, and feel engaged in working together towards a hopeful future can help students find their own place and contribution to that future. This handbook supports teachers in developing the skills needed to work with students on sustainability in meaningful ways.

Target Group

The book is written for current and future teachers who are finding their place in education, gaining experience with teaching and student guidance, and seeking to broaden their perspective on the education system and their own role within it.

The book is also intended for teacher educators, teachers and other education professionals who want to contribute to world centred education.

Indirectly, the book is also for the students these teachers will teach. They will experience the lessons of new teachers and learn about different ways of relating to the world. Everything described in this book is therefore just as relevant to teacher educators as it is to their students.

Method

The handbook is an initiative of researchers and educators Aniek Draaisma from Mission Zero and Rosa Groen from the Centre of Expertise Global and Inclusive Learning. Together, they served as chief editors, co-authors, supervisors and facilitators within the project.

The book was written by a large and diverse team of 25 teachers, researchers and other education professionals, supported by students and united by a shared passion for education that contributes to a just society within planetary boundaries.

The strength of the book lies in its combination of theory, practical examples and reflection. It is structured around the Inner Development Goals (IDGs), which provide direction for the personal development needed to take responsibility for the planet. Each chapter begins with a coffee conversation from the staff room, followed by in depth theory, reflection questions and practical classroom activities.

The project also brought together a broad consortium of partners. Noordhoff Publishers was actively involved in the production and publication of the book, contributing its expertise on the target audience, structure and content. A network of teacher education programmes served as an advisory group. The project has also led to guest lectures, professional development activities and research projects that contribute to THUAS's educational vision group on Learning Outcomes for Sustainability.

Duration

2024 – 2026

• 2024: Co-creation sessions, a writing week, guest lectures and interviews conducted by Pedagogy students from The Hague University of Applied Sciences.
• 2025: A second writing week, coordination of the author team, editing and completion of the writing process.
• 2026: Launch during a book presentation at The Hague University of Applied Sciences on 19 March and implementation of the textbook.

Results

The handbook Sustainable Education: Fair, Inclusive, Hopeful was published by Noordhoff Publishers in spring 2026 and presented during a book launch at The Hague University of Applied Sciences on 19 March 2026.

The book highlights current insights, essential skills and changes in attitudes that help current and future teachers and their students engage with the major ecological and societal challenges of our time. The book is accompanied by a digital learning environment containing additional activities, in depth handouts and lesson plan templates.

The book is not an endpoint, but an invitation to continue thinking together and take education to the level of regeneration.

Collaboration

• Noordhoff Publishers
• Author team
• Programmes at The Hague University of Applied Sciences
• THUAS educational vision group
• Network of teacher education programmes in the Netherlands

Funding

This project was partially funded through PGO funding.

Team

• dr. Aniek Draaisma, Centre of Expertise Mission Zero
• dr. Rosa Groen, Centre of Expertise Global and Inclusive Learning

Contact

dr. Aniek Draaisma
[email protected]
06 43 29 98 53

More Information

The handbook Sustainable Education: Fair, Inclusive, Hopeful is available from Noordhoff Publishers.
View and order the book from Noordhoff Publishers