Approaches to Environmental Education in Brazilian Higher Education Institutions: A review of the literature

Abstract

This research aimed to investigate the way in which Environmental Education is being approached in Brazilian Higher Education Institutions, by identifying the methodologies adopted by these institutions. The method used consisted of a Systematic Literature Review carried out between 2012 and 2021. 44 articles selected from an initial sample of 4,358 were analyzed. The results of the analysis revealed an increase in the number of works on Environmental Education published over the years, with the Revista Brasileira de Educação Ambiental being the journal that stood out most in this aspect compared to others. Much of this work was carried out in collaboration, with the majority of researchers linked to institutions in the southern and northeastern regions of Brazil. With regard to the approaches identified in each article, they were classified into six distinct categories. Specific subjects and specific activities were the most common, being present in 31% of the works each. Projects occupied second place, being identified in 20% of the articles. The events were mentioned in 9% of the studies. On the other hand, practices and programs had a lower frequency of occurrence, appearing in only 6% and 3% of articles, respectively.