Innovative solutions to sustainability in higher education: an exploratory case study of virtual labs in Aotearoa New Zealand Available to Purchase

Maryam Sharifkhani is a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Canterbury. Her research focuses on sustainable practices in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), integrating Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into curricula and teaching strategies. In addition, she collaborates with the ALSDO lab to investigate the potential of virtual labs as a new technology that enhances active learning experiences. Sharifkhani is particularly interested in understanding how virtual labs can promote sustainability within educational contexts. By examining the intersection of technology, active learning and sustainability, she aims to contribute to the advancement of innovative and environmentally conscious educational practices. She also teaches various topics in education, including the politics of education and intersectionality.

Jonathan Davidson is currently a technician at the School of Earth and Environment at the University of Canterbury. His innovative work focuses on the development and implementation of virtual labs and field trips, enhancing the educational experience for students worldwide. Davidson’s research has significantly contributed to sustainable practices in education, with notable publications in ASCILITE and the Journal of Geoscience Education. He has worked on the development of a virtual microscope for blended geology labs and the implementation of a virtual field trips for an undergraduate courses. Davidson continues to explore the potential of virtual resources in education.

Professor Jan Evans-Freeman is the Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Sustainability at the University of Canterbury. She leads initiatives and strategies aimed at promoting sustainability education, research and the built environment within the university community and beyond. This includes overseeing reductions of the university’s environmental impact, promoting sustainable practices in research and teaching and engaging with stakeholders on sustainability issues. She is involved in developing policies, programs and partnerships to advance sustainability goals both on campus and in broader society. She works closely with students, faculty, staff and external organizations to foster a culture of sustainability and encourage innovative approaches to environmental stewardship.

Christian Walsh (PhD, University of Canterbury) is a senior lecturer in the Center for Entrepreneurship at University of Canterbury Business School. He teaches entrepreneurship, innovation management and design thinking at MBA and undergraduate levels. His research examines the range of cognitive-affective and temporal practices undertaken by entrepreneurs and strategists in a variety of settings, particularly as it relates to creativity in business and fit with innovation. He also has an ongoing interest in the pedagogy of experiential learning particularly as relates to entrepreneurship and innovation education.

Professor Cheryl Brown is Head of Social and Cultural Studies in Education and co-Director of Te Puna Rangahau i-Ako, the Digital Education Futures Lab at the University of Canterbury. Cheryl’s research is centered around access to information and communication technologies and how they facilitate or inhibit participation in learning. She has led multiple funded research projects on digital education leadership, and personal mobile devices in learning and teaching. Currently she is exploring digital (in)equality in the Pacific.

Bahareh Shahri is a senior lecturer at the School of Product Design, Faculty of Engineering, University of Canterbury, New Zealand. She is a PhD graduate from the University of Edinburgh, UK and received her bachelor's and master’s degrees in Industrial Product Design from the University of Tehran, Iran. In Canterbury, Bahareh teaches a range of topics in general Design, Industrial Product Design and material culture. Her areas of research and publications include human-centered design, codesign, emotional and behavioral design and sustainability.

Kathryn MacCallum is an Associate Professor of Digital Education Futures and Head of School of Leadership and Professional Practice at the University of Canterbury. She has led and been involved in a number of research projects exploring the role of technology (and more recently AR and VR) to support learners. She has been involved in a number of research projects, both in New Zealand and internationally, developing innovative approaches to the integration of technology within all sectors of education. Alongside extensive publications, Kathryn has also edited two books with another one on the way around the use of emerging practices in education. Kathryn also serves as an Editor in Chief for the International Journal of Mobile and Blended Learning (IJMBL), the Journal of Information Technology Education: Research (JITE: Research) and the Journal of Information Technology Education: Innovations in Practice (JITE:IIP).

Christofer Bullsmith is a member of the University of Canterbury Sustainability Hub. Formerly Associate Professor of Education at Atomi University, he is currently an EdTech company director and interdisciplinary researcher.

Brodwyne Richards is a Sustainability Hub member at the University of Canterbury. She has an interest in exploring the social, cultural and environmental aspects surrounding sustainability and has recently completed a master’s in the Sustainable Development Goals, specializing in business and sustainability.