SPECIFICATIONS OF E-MENTORING IN EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: ACTION RESEARCH

Autores/as

  • Eleni Niarchou PhD Candidate, School of Humanities, Hellenic Open University Patras, Greece
  • Evangelia Manousou Assistant Professor, School of Humanities, Hellenic Open University Patras, Greece

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46827/ejoe.v10i3.6273

Palabras clave:

e-mentoring, Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), professional development, sustainability education

Resumen

Technological advancements have enabled mentoring relationships to transcend temporal and geographical boundaries through digital platforms. E-mentoring—defined as mentoring facilitated by technology rather than face-to-face interaction—offers asynchronous, flexible, and accessible support, distinguishing it from traditional mentoring formats. This study investigates the characteristics of e-mentoring within the context of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), employing a meta-analysis of scholarly literature published over the past seven years. Through systematic searches across academic databases (ERIC, Google Scholar, Springer Link, and Taylor & Francis), 18 evidence-based studies on e-mentoring were identified, including 5 directly related to ESD and 3 concerning distance education and sustainability. The methodology followed a structured process of search, screening, and synthesis, aiming to explore how e-mentoring aligns with the principles of sustainability. The findings contribute to a consolidated understanding of e-mentoring as a tool for professional development in ESD, while also revealing existing knowledge gaps and suggesting directions for future research.

Biografía del autor/a

  • Eleni Niarchou, PhD Candidate, School of Humanities, Hellenic Open University Patras, Greece

    Eleni Niarchou has been a primary school music teacher in Greece since 1999 and has served as the Environmental Education Coordinator for the 3rd Directorate of Primary Education in Athens since 2008. Her work focuses on sustainability, pedagogy, and empowering educational communities, and she has extensive experience organizing and participating in seminars, experiential workshops, and conferences. She is the author of six books on Environmental Education and numerous articles highlighting environmental initiatives. Eleni actively contributes to university-led research groups dedicated to sustainability and environmental impact. She holds a BA in European Culture and an M.Ed. in Education with a specialization in Distance Education from the Hellenic Open University, where she has been pursuing her PhD in Distance Education since October 2023. Internationally, she serves on the steering committee of the International Network on Forests (EEAF) and works as a trainer in national programs such as the “Skills Workshops” and the “New Curriculum” of the Institute of Educational Policy (IEP). She authored the official IEP training program titled “Caring for the Climate” and is a certified Climate Fresk facilitator. In 2021, she founded and coordinates the local educational network “Schools for Climate: An Island of Resilience and Change,” which supports schools in climate action and fosters community resilience.

  • Evangelia Manousou, Assistant Professor, School of Humanities, Hellenic Open University Patras, Greece

    Evangelia Manousou is an Assistant Professor of Open and Distance Education at the Hellenic Open University. She holds a PhD in the development of educational materials for distance learning, two Master’s degrees—one in Environmental Education and another in ICT in Education—and a Bachelor’s degree in Pedagogy. Her academic journey includes postdoctoral research completed in 2017, focusing on postgraduate student competencies. For over a decade, she has served as an academic advisor at the Hellenic Open University, contributing to postgraduate programs in education and educational technology. Evangelia has a rich background in primary education, having worked as a teacher, school principal, and education coordinator across various regions of Greece. She has authored pedagogical books and presented her work at more than 80 international conferences. As a founding and board member of the Hellenic Network for Open and Distance Education, she plays an active role in shaping national discourse on educational innovation. Her research interests include open and distance learning, instructional design, communication in remote learning environments, and collaborative evaluation practices.

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Publicado

2025-09-12

Número

Vol. 10 Núm. 3 (2025)

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