Leadership for Sustainability in Schools and Higher Education

InstitutionsLt General Arjun Ray, PVSM, VSM (Retd)

04 October 2012

Introduction

Future competition between nations will not be between competing ideologies

and competing economic systems; rather, it will be between competing education

systems. The side

- individual, family or nation that invests in knowledge and

sustainability is the side that will survive and prosper. Traditionally, we invest in stocks

and shares, in gold, in real-estate, and fixed deposits. For sustainable development of

an individual and nation, we must now invest in knowledge and action.

The sustainability bomb is ticking away. The wolf is already at our doorsteps;

yet most of us seem unconcerned. The only powerful weapon to defuse this grave

threat is education. Education for sustainability is more about vision and leadership

than pedagogy. This is the primary reason why most countries are well short of the UN

sustainability deadline of 2014.

We have the technology, the brains, and all the resources at our command;

yet we are unable to make this world sustainable. It is because we do not have the

leadership, and sustainability is all about transformational leadership. The failure of

leadership has been in the classrooms of our schools and universities. We talk a lot; we

do very little.

My presentation will address the leadership challenges in sustainable

development in schools and higher education institutions. Our failures are more

because of lack of leadership rather than developing content in classrooms.

What is Sustainability?

Sustainability means different things to different people. Most have a narrow

understanding as they link it with climate change and environment. This is why schools

and even higher educational institutions focus mainly on environment science. The truth

is that environment is just one-third of sustainability. The other two-thirds are made

up by social equity and economic progress. Sustainability is relevant to all areas of

society, and not just environment.

Of the many definitions of sustainability that I have come across, the one given

by Ms Brundtland, former Prime Minister of Norway and head of an international

commission on environmental and developmental problems, is simple and all-

embracing. Sustainability is defined as, "...development that meets the needs of the

present without compromising the ability of future generations."

Increasing Threats to a Sustainable Society

Tomorrow is unknown; and uncertainty, chaos and high speed change are its

key features.

Social and economic inequalities arising from globalization and market

economy

Complexity because of growing inter-dependence and multi-disciplinary nature

of life

Climate change. There are nine essential life-support systems for human

survival. We have already crossed the danger levels of three of these systems - bio-

diversity, nitrogen, and climate change systems.

Poverty and malnutrition. In India 456 million people live below the poverty line,

i.e., those who earn less than $1.25 a day. As a result, India has the second highest

number of children who die from malnutrition before the age of 5. It is a staggering 2.1

million. India is also home to one-third of the worlds hungry. 10 million starve to death

every year and 200 million sleep hungry every night.

Conflict arises out religion, climate change, rising intolerance, and migration. At

11 million, India has the 11th largest population of Internally Displaced People because

of terrorism and alienation on grounds of alienation.

Sharing of scarce resources of the planet in a scenario wherein 7 billion

people are consuming five planets worth of resources already. North America alone,

which constitutes just 5 percent of the world's population, consumes 40 percent of the

planet's resources. It is, therefore, unthinkable what will happen by 2050 when the

world's population will be above 9.2 billion?

Spiritual emptiness, as poverty of the mind is more disconcerting than the

poverty of the body.

Sustainable Leadership

A new kind of leadership is needed to address the challenges of sustainability

that is different to traditional leadership. Traditional leadership has been greatly

influenced by Newtonian thinking that is deterministic and mechanistic. Newton believed

that human beings are like machines; they can be broken down into parts, and re-

assembled. He failed to realise the randomness and non-linearity of life, and that the

sum total of the parts can be larger than the whole. The dynamics of the 21^st century

demands a new form of leadership for sustainability. Theories of quantum physics,

chaos theory, and complexity, are challenging traditional models of leadership.

First; I call this paradoxical leadership.

Life in its most natural state is chaotic and unpredictable, and continuously

evolving. Relationships keep on evolving to higher and different states; they are never

the same. Likewise, two loves are never the same either. For every heroic act there is

also tragic fallout. A leader should be capable of holding two opposite ideas in his mind

at any one time; and be able to synthesise them, if required. At times, one’s actions may

be rational and logical; but if it brings unhappiness in an organization, a leader must re-

think it over. F Scott Fitzgerald, the great American novelist, describes this idea very

succinctly:

“The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposing ideas in

mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function.”

Sustainable leaders should, therefore, be able to think in opposites, or

dialectic thinking. This involves formulating a thesis and an anti-thesis, and

following it up with a synthesis. There are no right answers or wrong answers. There

are only good questions and bad questions. Leaders should train themselves to ask

good questions; that is the hallmark of a sustainable leader.

Second; leaders must develop the ability operate through chaos and

uncertainty, often with little or no information, and relying on one’s intuition. In

such a mental state, confusion and cognitive dissonance are only natural and should

be welcomed. Confusion happens because the human mind is discovering that old

thoughts are simply not working. Confusion, like disruptive creativity, is a good sign and

will inevitably lead to new answers.

Chaos theory is based on the premise that in every order there is disorder, and

in every disorder there is order. It is the function of leadership to try and determine

these two states to enable sound decision-making. Chaos theory also states that small

changes can initiate major upheavals. This is called the Butterfly Effect, and was vividly

played out in the recent Arab Spring revolutions.

At an individual level as well chaos theory has relevance. When you see events

too closely they appear to be a series of chaotic events. But when you lean back, you

are able to see the big picture.

Third; new leadership demands the practise of Complexity Leadership.

Complexity should not be confused with chaos. Today’s world is increasingly

becoming more interconnected with a large number of stakeholders and actors,

requiring specialization. Invariably, there are many variables and no simple answers.

The very nature of complexity sends a strong signal that the day of the heroic leader

is over. Heroic leaders were expected to have all the answers; not anymore because

of complexity. Complexity places greater reliance on collaboration, dialogue,

conversations, and dependence on composite teams with various professional

backgrounds. Individuals have already been replaced by teams.

Fourth; the significant rise in Horizontalism.

This is a new word in the English language and has been derived from political

and social protest movements in post Argentina 2001, the recent Arab Spring, and the

Occupy Movements.

In a flat and inter-connected world, citizens do not trust traditional hierarchies

any longer. Throughout history, hierarchies have constituted 1 % of the population

of a state or organization, with 99 % having little voice in policy that affects them. So

hierarchy implies the rule by 1 % over the 99 %. This is clearly undemocratic.

Horizontalism is mobilization by social media, a leaderless and bloodless

revolution that is asking the government to apply “emergency brakes” on whatever they

are doing, because it is simply not benefitting the people. Horizontalism is, therefore, a

movement that forces the hierarchy to re-think and review.

In the style of the city states of Greece, citizens prefer to talk directly with

their leaders and not their representatives. People in nations and organizations have

lost confidence in representatives; they prefer the use of social media, Internet, and

24x7 TV channels to get their point of view across directly to their leaders, and not

representatives. Horizontalism is a methodology for engaging in conversation and

dialogue.

Fifth, servant leadership.

There are over 200 definitions of leadership. The closest definition to servant

leadership I have across is by Morst Meyerson, CEO of Perot Systems: “The first task of

a leader is to make sure the organization knows itself.” My understanding of leadership

gives an added dimension. I believe that leadership is the ability to lead oneself first;

then others. In order to lead oneself, one must serve others. By serving we give

greater importance to those who are poor, marginalized, alienated, and suffering. You

become self-aware only with the help of others.

Sixth, leadership has to be learnt like any art and science.

Man is born potential; he becomes talent. Leadership including values have

to be learnt like any other subject, like mathematics, engineering, medicine, dance,

or management. Leadership training demands the same discipline and experience in

learning like any skill.

Premises for Sustainability

1. Man is innately good. I agree with Rousseau that man is born good but is

corrupted by society.

2. Reverence for life, an ethical principle based on respect for all forms of life, and

not human beings alone. Those who believe in this principle, are non-violent,

they serve the poor and the suffering, and practise compassion and forgiveness.

Interestingly, one survey says that only 38 percent Westerners believe that man

is good.

3. Human security lies at the core of a nation’s security.

4. Sustainable development cannot be based exclusively on GDP. Robert

Kennedy once said that GNP “measures everything except that which makes life

worthwhile.” Gross National Happiness is as important as the GDP of a nation.

5. Forgiveness (and atonement) is a value that brings durable peace and

conciliation in society. Forgiveness helps us to live with diversity. To forgive is

not to forget; but to resolve not to take revenge. The Truth and Reconciliation

Commission in South Africa after the collapse of apartheid is a living example. As

Mandela walked out a free man from Robben Island, journalists asked him if he

hated his perpetrators for what they had done to him. He replied, “Where was the

time to hate?”

Purpose of Education

The purpose of education cannot be to prepare students to succeed in

examinations and career. Careers will keep on changing throughout one’s life.

Sociologists say it can be up to nine career changes by the time one reaches the age of

38. To add to these changes, the future is completely unpredictable. Scoring high marks

in examinations does not prepare anyone to deal with the unknowable future ahead

I believe that the purpose of education is two-fold: to prepare students to face

the challenges of life, and be engaged citizens - individuals who are citizens first,

and whatever else later; citizens who think global but act local. Such a purpose will see

the birth of leadership for sustainability.

Redefine Academic Rigour

Academic excellence, as commonly understand, is about scoring high marks in

examination. To be able to succeed in a unknown future students will need to be

equipped with survival skills that go beyond the 3 Rs. These competencies will enable

students to understand complexity, think in an interdisciplinary way, collaborate with

others, and participate in decision-making. They may be taught either as stand-alone

subjects or be integrated with other subjects:

Character and values, because character will always beat brains

Persuasive communication

Collaboration and the ability to listen

Critical thinking and problem-solving

Creativity and innovation

Lifelong learning

Higher Education Institutions (HEI) for Sustainability - The “Triple Bottom Line”

Approach

HEIs play a critical role in creating world citizens who are motivated to make the

planet sustainable. Regrettably, sustainability has not received its due attention in

colleges and universities. HEIs and even schools need to reflect o whether they are

making a difference to the world’s sustainability? I suspect the reason is because

universities over-focus on academics and preparing students for careers. Instead, HEIs

need a lot more sensitization in education for sustainable development in three specific

areas: economic progress, social equity, and environmental sustainability. These three

areas could form part of an overall study package regardless of the student’s area of

specialized focus.

HEIs need to go beyond providing degrees and careers by addressing global

challenges and making meaningful contribution towards sustainable development in

their respective regions. Apart from making their campuses green and sustainable, and

imparting education in sustainability, HEIs could consider the following novel initiatives:

1. Provision of think-tank and consultancy services, and funding for research in

social, environmental and human developmental aspects of sustainability. Key

areas that merit attention are renewable energies, consumption patterns, and

sustainable urbanization.

2. Setting-up incubators for entrepreneurs.

3. Human capital development through:

• Vocational skills development in local communities, and up gradation of

local labour skills.

• Provision of scholarships to individuals from disadvantaged background, or

from communities with low tradition of higher education.

4. Provide solutions to social and ecological problems in their respective

regions, e.g., wetlands, land reclamation, drought, waste disposal and re-cycling,

etc.

5. Encouraging setting up of advocacy groups on human rights, health care like

AIDS and HIV, and poverty eradication.

6. Compulsory community service or internships with NGOs and industry by

students for a period of three to six months should be made a graduation

requirement.

Adaptation and Mitigation Strategies

Of the nine life-support cycles for sustainability of human beings and the planet,

we have already crossed the danger levels of three - environment, nitrogen, and bio-

diversity. While we should continue to work earnestly towards bringing down the threat

levels, we should intellectually accept that, possibly the damage is irreversible. As such,

we should adapt to change and prepare elaborate strategies, technologies, and plans

for adaption and mitigation. Some of the areas could be:

Development of alternative non-fossil fuels

Integration strategies to de-alienate migrants

Coping strategies, technologies, and plans to deal with damages due to greenhouse

emissions, rise in temperatures, melting of glaciers and rise in sea levels. The rise in

sea level in the San Diego region has been as high as 1.5 metres.

Conclusion

Competitive individualism and material success are dominant values of Western

societies. Even the educated class in India and other Asian and African countries

are following suit. Individualism is praiseworthy except that only a strong sense of

community can give man his identity. The Africans call it “ubuntu” or humanity. Ubuntu

implies that you are what you are because of other people. It is only when we interact

intimately with the communities that are diverse that we get our identity.

Localism is a pre-condition for globalism. You cannot become a world citizen at

the cost of losing your cultural identity. Our mind is shaped by culture, and culture gives

us a reference point to understand others. Knowledge of one's religion and language

constitutes nearly 75 percent of what is culture. In my experience, with the ferocious

onslaught of consumerism, most children are fast forgetting their rich cultural heritage.

Heritage is not mere sentiment. It is what forms a strong sense of identity and frame of

reference.

Education is the only powerful tool for transformation. Transformation will

happen only when schools and HEIs set an example in sustainability through syllabus,

sustainable campuses, enhanced academic rigour, and an action plan to remedy or

remedy the challenges on sustainability in their respective regions.