Practicing the integration of education for sustainable development (ESD) into the school curriculum The Hong Kong experience

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to examine efforts made by the UNESCO Hong Kong Association (UNESCOHK) in integrating education for sustainable development (ESD) into school subjects and into the curriculum in 2009-2016. It investigates: the distribution and development of the three key components of environment, society and economy in student work, and in school assessment reports; the relevancy level of ESD learning to school subjects; the condition in Hong Kong in practicing the integration of ESD learning into the school curriculum; and the practices of integration of ESD learning into the school curriculum in Hong Kong and other countries. Design/methodology/approach - Grounded theory is deployed to analyze the distribution and development of ESD as understood by students and schools, and the application of knowledge acquired through school subjects to ESD learning activities undertaken by students and schools. Findings - The study succeeds in identifying the precise distribution and development of the three key components of environment, society and economy in ESD, and in establishing the level of relevancy of ESD learning activities to school subjects and to the school curriculum. UNESCOHK's initiative is in line with the general trend adopted by countries to integrate ESD into the school curriculum. Research limitations/implications - The scope of investigation is limited to ESD learning activities in eight schools and to one single economy. Social implications - The study facilitates attempts to reorientate the lifestyles of students and their parents. Originality/value - The study is a pioneering work in Hong Kong to integrate ESD learning into school subjects, which is in alignment with the trend to integrate ESD into the school curriculum.