El Desarrollo de Competencias para la Sustentabilidad en la Formación del Profesional Licenciado en Ciencias Naturales

Abstract

The objective of this research was to analyze the professional training process of the Bachelor in Natural Sciences (LCN), the implementation of Competences for Sustainability (CS) in Colombian universities and to propose an epistemological route that addresses them in current curricula. It was framed under the qualitative paradigm and the socio-critical approach and, as techniques to collect data, a survey for experts, a documentary analysis and in-depth interviews were used. It was found that teachers are still unaware of CS and that universities address environmental aspects in a very general manner in their strategic guidelines. Likewise, it was found that the environmental emphasis begins in the fourth semester, and the subjects are focused on the disciplinary component. It was also identified that contextual aspects make a difference in the way in which Higher Education Institutions (HEI) approach environmental issues. In terms of CS, normative and strategic thinking predominated among managers, while systemic, critical and complex thinking predominated among teachers and students. Consequently, CS should be explicitly addressed in the training of LCN and other professions as a transversal axis. This makes it possible to train critical citizens who face social and environmental challenges in a reflective manner from an integral vision in which political, social and environmental elements converge.