Inner Development in Sustainability Transitions

How do sustainability transitions shape students' inner development? This multi-year research with ICM students and The Hague explores emotions, introspection, and growth using creative, reflective methods.

Centre of Expertise Mission Zero

duurzaamheidstransities

This project is a multi-year research project in which second year International Communication Management (ICM) students co-create with the municipality of The Hague (Communication and City Branding department). The research aims to understand the inner development and emotional implications of participating in (sustainability) transitions for students. Rooted in the IDGs and the IMAGINE framework, this research uses autoethnographic and creative methods to encourage introspective reflections in students. The data generated was then analyzed to better understand the inner transitions that took place within students as they underwent external transitions. 

 

Among other questions, this research aims to better understand: 

- The inner development of students while undergoing a (sustainability) transition 

- The role of emotions in development and education 

- The impact of external factors on inner sustainability 

- The possible uses of autoethnographic methods and social fiction in this field.

Target group

By better understanding the inner processes that students undergo during a transition, this research aims to develop trainings and tools that encourage students in their development while also possibly supporting teachers as they guide students through this process.

Approach

An inductive approach is being used to analyze the data so as to extract its insights without previous expectations. Additionally, social fiction and autoethnographic methods were used during the data collection phase and possibly when creating the products.

Duration 

The project started in the beginning of 2024 and is intended to continue throughout 2025 and 2026.

Funding

PGO and Comenius (expected 2025).

Results

  • A proposal to conduct a workshop as part of the EMESER Symposium has been submitted, but an answer is pending.
  • A series of papers (2) on inner sustainability and student experience of sustainability challenges. 
  • A series of workshops integrated into the ICM course (3 per year). 
  • A collection of short stories of major challenges and learnings for future students (also available as mini audiobook).

Collaborations

Faculty year International Communication Management  and Centre of Expertise Mission Zero.

Team

Regenerative Leadership research group:

  • Ju Laclau Massaglia 
  • Barry Verbeek
  • Aniek Draaisma 
  • Bas van den Berg

Contact

Junior researcher
Ju Laclau Massaglia
E-mail   : [email protected]
Phone  : 0618229669

Senior researcher
Barry Verbeek
E-mail   :[email protected]
Phone  :0626780020