Sustainability-Oriented Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Teacher Education in Transnational Contexts: Design and Evaluation of an Energy Sustainability Module in Estonia, Finland, and Croatia

Abstract

This article reports the design and post-only transnational evaluation of the role of energy in sustainability, a module developed in the acaSTEMy teacher academy project for pre-service and in-service Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) teachers. Grounded in education for sustainable development, sustainability competence, energy literacy, systems thinking, circular economy, regenerative agriculture, transformative learning, and teacher professional development, the module aimed to make sustainability an integrative framework for STEM teaching. The study does not test pedagogical effectiveness or learning gains; it examines teachers’ perceived acceptability, usefulness, satisfaction, and applicability after implementation. Quantitative ratings and open-ended responses from heterogeneous participant profiles in Estonia, Finland, and Croatia show broadly positive perceptions, with differences concentrated especially in organization and applicability. Estonia’s in-service science teachers emphasize practical classroom transfer, Finland’s preservice education students emphasize dialogic learning and atmosphere while requesting clearer structure, and Croatia’s in-service STEM teachers emphasize systems-oriented reflection together with the need for local examples and conceptual scaffolding. The findings are interpreted as implementation evidence for sustainability-oriented STEM teacher education guidelines: retaining a common theoretical core while adapting examples, terminology, pacing, coordination, and classroom applications to participant profiles and local contexts.