CIT Teaching & Learning Unit

Project TITLE

Croí - Clarifying and Using Core Values and Goals - The Development of a Cross-Department and Cross-Institution Foundational Resource for Education for Sustainable Development and Professional Development

Project Lead

Dr Gwen Lettis (gwen.lettis@mtu.ie) 

Project Status

• In Progress

Project Lead Home Department

• MTU Cork - CCAD - Media Communications 

Alignment to HEA and NFETLHE SATLE 2023-24 Themes

• Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) 

Alignment to MTU Strategy Themes

• Learner Education & Experience
• People & Community
• Research, Innovation & Entrepreneurship Ecosystem 
• Leading Regional Development 
• Global Outlook 

Project Description

Research shows that addressing personal values is crucial for effective Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). While ESD guidance is prevalent, finding methods that balance personal and societal values can be challenging. Croí, a new core value thinking and doing process, serves as a precursor to ESD by promoting sustainability transitions through intrinsic motivation linked to behavioral change. Developed by Dr. Gwen Lettis during her PhD, Croí enhances responsible thinking and increases the likelihood of sustainability transitions. In 2023, Dr. Lettis introduced Croí to colleagues, who used it with students to help cultivate their professional identities, receiving positive feedback regarding student motivation. 

With funding from SATLE 2022-23, Croí was transformed into Reusable Learning Resource (RLR) and made available as Open Educational Resource (OER) which can be accessed via the following links:

• YouTube
• The National Resource Hub

The project's goals include further developing Croí and creating additional RLRs while expanding its reach within MTU through collaboration with AnSEO - The Student Engagement Office and other ESD advocates. Students will play a vital role as feedback providers to ensure the resources' effectiveness. 

Over the next three years, the team will refine a Croí prototype within the Media Communications and Accounting & Information Systems departments, evaluating it alongside students and AnSEO. Additionally, AnSEO sees Croí as a potential component of a student self-assessment tool being developed through the Technological Sector Advancement Fund (TSAF) project, and it may be integrated into MTU’s Engage Design Generate Explore (EDGE) graduate development framework. 

What is the anticipated impact of this project?

The project aims to impact all MTU students through a partnership with AnSEO - The Student Engagement Office, facilitating the integration of the Croí process into diverse student support initiatives for greater accessibility.  

Externally, it connects with a global network of educators and researchers dedicated to values-based Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). These international partnerships enrich the Croí process, enabling cross-institutional knowledge sharing, collaborative research, and the dissemination of best practices. By engaging with global ESD advocates, the project seeks to position Croí as a key resource for enhancing professional development and sustainable opportunities beyond MTU.  

While quantifying the broader impact is challenging, the aim is for Croí's adoption in various educational settings to advance values-based ESD and develop sustainable competencies among students and practitioners. This collaborative effort not only benefits students but also fosters community spirit among educators and ESD advocates, creating a supportive ecosystem for promoting sustainable development principles and practices. 

HOW Will the outputs of this project be DISSEMINATED?

The project will employ a multi-pronged approach to effectively disseminate the outputs and findings generated through the Croí initiative. 

The first set of Reflective Learning Resources (RLRs) have been constructed and will be released as an Open Educational Resource (OER) on the widely accessible platform of YouTube, as well as on The National Resource Hub. This will ensure broad visibility and accessibility of these resources for students, educators, and interested stakeholders. 

Going forward, the team plans to integrate Croí as a Canvas module, which can then be seamlessly embedded into various academic modules, programs, or even utilized in an extra-curricular manner. This integration will facilitate the adoption and implementation of the Croí process across different educational settings and levels. 

In addition to the OER and Canvas module dissemination, the project team will deliver hands-on workshops based on the Croí framework. These workshops will target both undergraduate and postgraduate students, as well as external stakeholders, such as industry partners and community organisations. This interactive approach to dissemination is anticipated to be an effective means of directly engaging with the target audience and fostering deeper understanding and application of the Croí principles. 

The Croí initiative has already been implemented and tested in several institutions, including MTU, TUD, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and the University of Indiana Purdue. This provides a foundation for further dissemination and collaboration, as the project team can leverage these existing connections and case studies to showcase the impact and transferability of the Croí approach. 

The project team has also been actively disseminating their previous work through various academic and professional events. During the academic year 2023/24, the team spoke at several events, including a presentation at the OER2024 conference and the TLU Works event held at MTU. Additionally, Dr. Gwen Lettis has presented Croí and associated research findings at the Cumulus Conference Detroit 2022 and has had publications related to the subject of core thinking and Croí's impact in recent years, including in the journals "Iterations," "Message," and an upcoming publication in "Base." 

Looking ahead, the project team anticipates increasing the level of dissemination output in the 2024/25 academic year, further expanding the reach and impact of the Croí initiative through a diverse range of channels and platforms. 

Team Members