Instructor–Student Mentoring: Strengths of Transformative Sustainability Learning and Its Direct Application to Impact Industry and Curricular Refinement

Abstract

There is a growing need to educate students about the applications of environmental sustainability to current and future jobs. One method that has emerged to teach this application is transformative sustainable learning (TSL). Instructors can use TSL to understand better how to integrate sustainability topics into seemingly unrelated course topics. Thus, the purpose of this study was to explore the effectiveness of a series of TSL courses in a graduate sport management program. To this end, a collaborative reflection guided the data collection from weekly one-on-one conversations between the researchers (i.e., instructor, student). Results aligned with TSL themes (i.e., head, heart, hands) and suggested that the intentional TSL course design and scheduled conversations benefited both the instructor and student. The student experienced an in-depth experience to understand and apply course concepts. The instructor was able to gain better insights to structure the class and create assignments adapted to meet student needs through collaborative reflection during mentoring sessions.

An evaluation of the environmental values, beliefs, norms, and behaviors of sport management students in higher education institutions

“…Orr et al (2022) discussed the benefits of using experiential and transformative sustainable learning to educate students on environmental sustainability. Similarly, McCullough and Pelcher (2021) articulated the strengths of instructor–student mentoring in a transformative sustainability learning (TSL) experience while explaining the potential benefits. For example, TSL can aid instructors in curricula development and enhancement while providing the student with practical experience which encourages professional growth prior to entering the sport industry.…”

Does pro-environmental attitude predicts pro-environmental behavior? Comparing sustainability connection in emotional and cognitive environments among football fans and university students

“…There is a need to educate students on the applicability of environmental sustainability, whether for present or future work [ 70 ]. A method to teach this applicability was specifically studied [ 71 ]. By applying transformative sustainable learning (TSL), the authors aimed to understand the efficiency of TSL courses in the sphere of the sports management program.…”

“…They concluded that for the student, there was a better understanding and application of the concepts studied. The instructor had a better experience with the class structure, creating content that meets the student's needs through collaboration and reflection throughout the sessions between instructor-student [ 71 ].…”