Applying SSM to Reinvent Education for Sustainable Development for Future Managers: A Tale of Two Universities

Abstract This paper explores the potential and impact of applying Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) in higher education to address the complexities of education for sustainable development issues. SSM is a robust approach for deep learning and inquiry into ‘wicked problems.’ By introducing students to this approach and using the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) as points for discussion and inspiration, the paper aims to examine the potential, challenges, and enablers of using SSM in higher education. The goal is to embed sustainability, regeneration, and systems thinking into the tools and learning experiences of future leaders and shapers. We discuss how SSM could be used to transform the education process across formal, informal, and subliminal curricula in higher education. The paper presents inquiries using SSM from two international perspectives: Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Poland, and the University of Surrey in Guildford, UK. Each institution applied SSM in workshops involving multiple stakeholder groups—students, academics, and professional services—to explore education for sustainable development, the UN SDGs, and PRME (Principles for Responsible Management Education). These workshops uncovered worldviews, conceptual models, rich pictures, and impactful actions to create meaningful change. The outputs highlight the challenges of applying SSM, the care and time required to introduce the approach, and the positive outcomes achieved. Comparing the results reveals how culture and discipline influence the work, while the similarities demonstrate the global reach and transformative potential of applying SSM in higher education.