The integration of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into secondary education systems has been recognized as a critical strategy for promoting global sustainability. In the Greek context, a mixed-methods investigation was conducted to identify and evaluate effective practices for embedding the SDGs in secondary school settings by 2026. Drawing upon the theoretical frameworks of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and Experiential Learning Theory (ELT), the study sought to examine the extent to which institutional leadership, teacher preparedness, curriculum design, and stakeholder collaboration contribute to the establishment of sustainability-oriented education. Quantitative data were collected through surveys administered to 286 secondary school teachers, while qualitative insights were derived from semi-structured interviews involving educators, school administrators, and external stakeholders such as NGOs and local community representatives. The findings indicate that leadership support constitutes the most influential predictor of successful SDG implementation, particularly when accompanied by strategic planning and the provision of targeted resources. Teacher training initiatives were found to significantly enhance the instructional capacity for sustainability-focused pedagogies, especially in the context of project-based and participatory learning models. Furthermore, partnerships with non-formal educational actors were shown to facilitate access to additional expertise and learning materials, thereby enriching both curricular and extracurricular initiatives. Programs such as sustainability clubs and interdisciplinary projects were identified as effective mechanisms for fostering critical thinking and applied problem-solving among students. Nonetheless, several systemic constraints—most notably institutional rigidity and limited resource allocation—were observed to impede widespread adoption. It is therefore proposed that by addressing these structural challenges and drawing upon international best practices, Greek secondary schools may achieve more robust alignment with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The rural Andean community of Yacubiana, Ecuador, currently lacks an adequate sanitation infrastructure, with domestic wastewater managed through individual septic tanks. These decentralized systems have exhibited significant infiltration issues, resulting in groundwater contamination, degradation of sensitive páramo ecosystems, and adverse public health outcomes. Furthermore, this environmental degradation has impeded the community’s potential for ecotourism-based development. To address these challenges, an integrated wastewater management strategy was developed, grounded in sanitary engineering principles and aligned with conservation priorities. The proposed framework encompassed four sequential phases: (i) a comprehensive analysis of existing data on water and wastewater practices within the community; (ii) a systematic evaluation of sanitation alternatives tailored to the community’s socio-environmental context and the ecological fragility of Andean paramos; (iii) the design of a selected sanitation solution in accordance with national and international technical standards; and (iv) a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis conducted with both technical experts in water resource management and local community representatives. This participatory evaluation aimed to identify strategic pathways for enhancing environmental stewardship, promoting circular water economies, and enabling sustainable tourism. The recommended intervention consists of a simplified, decentralized sewage collection system linked to a trickling filter-based treatment plant, designed for a hydraulic load of 2.79 L/s. The SWOT analysis revealed substantial institutional and infrastructural constraints, primarily due to limited governmental support; however, it also identified considerable ecotourism potential grounded in the area’s geological, ecological, and cultural assets. When implemented within a conservation-based framework, the proposed system is expected to support compliance with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3 (Good Health and Well-being), 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), and 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). The methodological approach developed herein offers a replicable model for integrated wastewater management in rural, environmentally sensitive regions, providing a viable foundation for community-led, sustainable socio-economic development.
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