ABSTRACT
Chapter 2 defines the concept of human development and examines its relationship to international development. It further describes how cultural and environmental contexts profoundly shape people across the life-span and reviews influential approaches to understanding human development—from Piaget's cognitive stages and Vygotsky's socio-cultural theory to Bronfenbrenner's ecological model. The chapter traces multiple definitions of development, from narrow economic metrics to broader understandings, including Amartya Sen's “capabilities approach” as well as the UN Human Development Index (HDI) that prioritizes human well-being and educational quality. It also details the transition from the United Nations 2015 millennium development goals to the more comprehensive 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), underscoring SDG #4, which promotes inclusive and equitable quality education. Attention to learning in a sustainable world is at the center of the SDGs, and it represents an important global policy shift toward human development. The chapter ultimately calls for an expansive view of development, by promoting policies that support individual growth, contextual sensitivity, and improved well-being as central elements of international development strategies.
