Abstract:

In addition to COVID-19, we are facing huge challenges such as climate change, loss of biodiversity, and scarcity of natural resources and food supply. The pandemic has accomplished a lot of discussion, research and practical solutions and actions in education. However, sustainability crisis and ecological challenges do not seem to have a similar impact on education development, although the consequences of these issues can overwhelming in relation to the current pandemic. Sustainable development is mentioned in the objectives of educational policies in Europe generally, but it is not detectable in higher education and its everyday actions. The research shows that sustainable development is not visible in higher education or it is mentioned in general objectives but not in the practices or contents of the studies (Carvalho et al. 2019; Friman 2019; Konst & Kairisto-Mertanen 2020, Alaniska 2017).

Posthumanism means seeing human beings as a part of nature and nature must be considered in all actions; human beings have no right to destroy nature or set themselves above it in ethical considerations. (Wolfe 2009; Evans 2015.) The posthumanistic approach can easily be justified from ethical, environmental, economic, health and well-being, and equality viewpoints, and thus it shouol not be neglected in educational discussion and education development. Curricula in higher education have a significant role both conceptually and politically to forward values, attitudes and ways of thinking. However, the approaches in education are traditionally very human-centric, ignoring posthumanistic viewpoints. The attitudes and ways of living, which are harmful for the climate and nature, are transferred from not only families to children but also from education. Schools and educational institutions educate children and young people according to working life needs and expectations, which are usually based on market economy requirements (Sahlberg 2006; Tervasmäki & Tomperi 2018). This is why the educational system needs reforming and a paradigm shift.

In this article, we discuss why posthumanistic viewpoint is needed in higher education and what does it mean it practice. The planet can survive without us but we can not survive without the planet.

Keywords:

Posthumanism, higher education, education development, sustainable development, curriculum.