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Application of new methodologies at Spanish universities is essential to improve the teaching–learning process, although their implementation for the initial training of students is not common. The aim of this study was to use the flipped classroom (FC) methodology in the sports management area of the bachelor’s degree in Physical Activity and Sport Sciences (DPASS). Students (n = 370) from private (n = 284) and public (n = 86) universities participated in different activities, ending with the completion of a survey in which the impact of an FC was analysed in three dimensions: (1) interaction, (2) learning, and (3) methodology and resources. The results show significant differences concerning ownership (private universities are more highly rated than public universities). In terms of gender (with no significant differences), the female students had a better perception of the FC. The most highly valued aspects in the dimensions were as follows: (1) they are more likely to collaborate with their classmates (3.95 + 1.05); (2) learning is more active and experiential (3.69 + 0.86); and (3) with an FC, they spent more time than in other subjects. The most used device was laptop (68.4%). This pioneering study is of relevance to faculty members in the field of sports as it enhances students’ engagement with their learning development.

The paradox of Chinese learners refers to a contrast between poor learning approaches and high achievement in China, which reveals a lack of sustainability in Chinese education. In addressing this paradox, Jin Li stood out by studying culture-based learning concepts and providing a comprehensive theoretical framework of the Eastern virtue model versus the Western mind model. However, this framework has not been thoroughly tested in the age of global cultural exchange, and the best learning model for learners has not been determined. This paper used both qualitative (replicating Li’s word association test) and quantitative methods to retest and enrich Li’s theory in present-day China, using four empirical studies. Studies 1 and 2 revealed the influence of global cultural exchange in narrowing the gap between the two models, with appropriate modifications made to Li’s theory. Studies 3 and 4 demonstrated that both of the two models were conducive to students’ academic achievement and creativity, greatly enriching Li’s theory. The implications of achieving a dynamic balance between the virtue model and the mind model to improve the sustainability of Chinese student development are discussed, which contributes to achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

Geoscience is relevant to issues in sustainability in many ways, for example through the aspects of earth sciences connected to the environment, climate, geohazards, energy and natural resources. There is also significant support for the use of active fieldwork experience as an effective way to teach sustainability in earth science. Some of the best sites for exploring sustainability issues in geoscience are those designated for special attention, such as geoparks, geosites, nature reserves and World Heritage Sites. Former mining areas are another type of useful locality to teach about sustainability in geosciences, as these sites usually present ample evidence of severe mining impacts on the environment and people through time. Historical mining activities can present typical examples of non-sustainable ways of working alongside modern remediation projects to manage severe environmental problems. Here, the Great Copper Mountain in Falun, central Sweden, is presented as an example of a “suitable field study site” for teaching sustainability in geoscience. This site is a former mining area, today museum and visiting resort and a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. Mining and human activities have had a severe impact on this landscape for up to 1000 years. As a result, it is an example of a historical non-sustainable activity that is now the site of active and developed remediation work that aims for a sustainable future for both environment and people. The Falun site presents themes useful for teaching both geoscience and sustainability, and it is presented in order to demonstrate the advantages of using a site like this for teaching sustainability in earth science.

This paper focuses on the competencies in environmental health acquired by students during compulsory education. Questionnaires addressing environmental health problems were completed by 923 students of primary and secondary schools from five different Spanish regions. The results for five challenging situations related to hunger, consumerism, climate change, pollution in the cities and allergies are analysed according to the internal coherence of each sub-competency, i.e., addressing knowledge, skills and attitudes towards these topics. Our results show that problems related to air and water pollution were the most commonly described by the students. Focusing on competency achievement, the higher the educational level, the higher the score students obtained, especially regarding pollution and climate change, two problems that appear directly in the school curriculum. The complexity of the concept of environmental health matches with the necessary holistic perspective of the Sustainable Development Goals in a polyhedral approach including as many factors (facets) as necessary to complete the approach to this evolving concept.

The application of Information and Communication Technologies in the classroom encourages student learning by increasing their motivation and promoting collaborative teamwork. The aim of this study was to analyze the differences on intrinsic motivation of university students considering contextual variables when working specific contents through digital tools and virtual gamified strategies. Nine hundred and nineteen university students (18–21 years old) participated in the study. A descriptive cross-sectional study was performed considering four different variables: gender, working language, subject nature and academic degree. The applications used were Kahoot and Vevox and student motivation was assessed through an adapted version to the university context of the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory (IMI) Questionnaire. A higher score for bachelor´s degree compared to vocational training for the dimensions interest-enjoyment and effort-importance, together with a lower level in tension-pressure were revealed. Only the effort dimension was different between genders, being higher for female. Practical subjects showed higher values in bachelor´s degree for interest, competence, effort, and lower scores concerning tension-pressure. Finally, the teaching in Spanish revealed better scores in all dimensions compared to English, especially when the subject nature is practical. In line with previous results, university students showed good levels of intrinsic motivation when virtual gamified tools were used.

Digital education is a recently highlighted challenge for educational innovation. This study aimed to discover the educational conditions in which teachers and students may be involved during the pandemic, and how these may affect teachers’ workload and educational quality. A Mixed Methods Design was used, where quantitative and qualitative data were obtained and analyzed. An ad hoc questionnaire was created and sent to teachers of different levels of education (pre-university) and types of school (public and private). Predictive variables of working hours were analyzed by carrying out a multiple regression. Moreover, changes experienced by teachers were studied by analyzing qualitative data. The variables type of teaching, students’ access to electronic resources, and instant training in online teaching predicted teachers’ working hours. Furthermore, participants cited having changes in workload and being overwhelmed during this period, having less contact with students, and experiencing changes in working environment as the most important variables affecting the new working conditions. In conclusion, teachers’ training in online education and the provision of electronic resources for students should be a priority to make online learning possible, to avoid the problem of teachers needing to perform extra work in similar future conditions, and to foster educational innovation.

Higher education is incorporating Information and Communication Technology (ICT) at a fast rate for different purposes. Scientific papers include within the concept of Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) the myriad applications of information and communication technology, e-resources, and pedagogical approaches to the development of education. TEL’s specific application to higher education is especially relevant for countries under rapid development for providing quick and sustainable access to quality education (UN sustainable development goal 4). This paper presents the research results of an online pedagogical experience in collaborative academic research for analyzing good practice in TEL-supported higher education development. The results are obtained through a pilot implementation providing curated data on TEL competency’s development of faculty skills and analysis of developing sustainable higher education degrees through TEL cooperation, for capacity building. Given the increased volume and complexity of the knowledge to be delivered, and the exponential growth of the need for skilled workers in emerging economies, online training is the most effective way of delivering a sustainable higher education. The results of the PETRA Erasmus+ capacity-building project provides evidence of a successful implementation of a TEL-supported methodology for collaborative faculty development focused on future online degrees built collaboratively and applied locally.