Rethinking education for sustainable development: the role of blended learning within skill-based higher education

A recent study from five universities in the UAE explores blended learning's strategic role in fostering sustainable development within skill-based higher education. Drawing on Social Cognitive Career Theory, the research positions blended learning as a pedagogical mechanism to cultivate employability skills, thereby supporting sustainable educational practices.

Why it matters

This research highlights the strategic potential of blended learning to not only enhance educational delivery but also to align with broader sustainable development goals. It suggests that integrating specific pedagogical approaches can directly contribute to developing a skilled workforce capable of addressing future sustainability challenges.

Key insights

• Blended learning is presented as a strategic pedagogical mechanism for operationalizing sustainable development within higher education.
• The approach leverages Social Cognitive Career Theory to frame blended learning's impact beyond mere technological enhancement.
• It examines how blended learning in interdisciplinary and skill-based higher education environments contributes to cultivating employability skills.
• The study surveyed 782 undergraduate students across five UAE universities, comparing blended, interdisciplinary, skill-based courses with traditional face-to-face formats.
• Data analysis utilized structural equation modeling (SEM) with bootstrapping.

Source

Frontiers in Education — https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feduc.2026.1884153