Monitoring and evaluating education for sustainable development: co-creating quality learning experiences and outcomes

Education for sustainable development (ESD) in a higher education institution is a journey for individuals, departments and the whole institution. Monitoring and evaluation are important to help map and navigate this journey. The first step is to discuss the destination. Once the goals are agreed, there can be a mutual exploration of the meaning and purpose of ESD in a particular context. Indicators are important to allow measurement of baseline and progress. However, it is important that the travellers are kept nourished through knowledge exchange, sharing of good practice and inspiring resources. At regular milestones, it is important to pause and reflect on the journey so far. Perhaps the direction of travel needs to be adjusted, additional team members added to the expedition, or different resources found. Celebration of success is valuable. The journey is as important as the destination, and there are always new paths to travel. Monitoring and evaluation should thus not be seen merely as a closed, constrained process, but rather as a means of navigation that enables dialogue, partnership and exploration of new knowledge and practice horizons through ESD.