Abstract:

This paper aims to discuss how the essential concepts and methods of the SYSTEMA Project on adult education helped to generate positive results in terms of skills and competencies acquisition in practitioners, professionals, academics, and managers. SYSTEMA project deals with multiple aspects of systems thinking (ST), Sustainable Development (SD), and Digital transformation (DX), whereas not only highlighting the missing linkages among such concepts and the existence of potential barriers to them but also providing training to trainees for the development of these skills. In this context, the SYSTEMA project aims to train the next generation of students in the fields of ST, SD and DX. A recent study published by the JRC in Seville named "Green Comp" shows that ST is one of the critical competencies for SD. SD is a critical issue that can define the guidelines for policymaking in the 21st century. This unavoidable fact was ratified in 2015 when the United Nations Agenda 2030 for SD was adopted by 193 countries. Designing and implementing successful sustainable policies is a highly complex process due to their intrinsic nature; such problems have long-term horizons and are characterized by deep levels of uncertainty, interwoven feedback loops, and lengthy time lags between actions and their consequences. Also, the challenge of undertaking DX and realizing its benefits needs to be conceived, planned, managed, and followed by leaders who can anticipate and understand the expected and unexpected consequences that await the organization on the way to such a profound change. As a fundamental part of the proposed educational approach, the SYSTEMA project evaluated learning activities and trainees’ skills. Notably, it was acknowledged that ST supports trainees to better understand not only SD but also DX and its interplays with SD. To correctly and extensively understand the effects and impacts generated by our decisions, the ST approach allows experimentation with mock-up situations where one takes the role of the decision-maker, makes choices, and sees the behavior that emerges from these actions. Such exercises offer insights into the trainee’s frame of mind and whether trainees understand the systemic nature of certain situations. The results achieved so far, especially the results related to the evaluation process such as trainees' feedback on SYSTEMA courses involved: 43 respondents’ responses to the questionaries of system thinking, digital transformation, and sustainable development course. Overall, in the e-learning platform of SYSTEMA Course, a total of 452 users were registered, 62 completed the Systems Thinking Module, 37 completed the Systems Thinking and Digital Transformation Module, 41 completed the Systems Thinking and Sustainable Development Module and also allow for gathering relevant insights and high-level recommendations regarding the educational process and, more generally, the adult education process. Furthermore, based on the knowledge and experience gained, the SYSTEMA project provides a set of practical guidelines related to the embedment of the newly generated knowledge, and skills into future job scenarios and for the overall adult education field. Specifically, the impact and transferability of the ST, SD, and DX knowledge are incredibly high and could entirely re-orient adult education programs and various organizations' approaches.

Keywords:

Systems Thinking, Sustainable Development, Digital Transformation, Agenda 2030, EU Digital Compass, Green Comp.