Embedding sustainable development in the curriculum Is it just a ‘nice’ to do? Jimmy Brannigan, Director, ESD Consulting Ltd

Embedding sustainable development in the curriculum Embedding sustainable development into the curriculum – what we found Why is embedding sustainable development in the curriculum is important? Is it just a a ‘nice’ to do?

Embedding sustainable development into the curriculum – what we found Project funded by the LSC Develop guides on embedding sustainable development into the curriculum  Research  Interviews  Write guidance document  Run workshops to promote the guidance

Embedding sustainable development into the curriculum – what we found Practice was very mixed, hard to find in places! If people were doing it they might not recognise it as embedding SD in the curriculum Fundamental misunderstanding of what SD is or simply a lack of confidence in what they already knew Yes, some good practice but not enough

Embedding sustainable development into the curriculum – what we found Where FE and ACL providers were making progress it was because there was a commitment to SD from the leaders of the organisation And at an organisation level they were making some progress

Embedding sustainable development into the curriculum – what we found Developed two guides  Creating the conditions for embedding sustainable development in the curriculum  Embedding sustainable development in the curriculum

Why is embedding sustainable development in the curriculum important? "Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is about the core behaviour of companies and the responsibility for their total impact on the societies in which they operate. CSR is not an optional add on nor is it an act of philanthropy. A socially responsible corporation is one that runs a profitable business that takes account of all the positive and negative environmental, social and economic effects it has on society” Chris Marsden, Chair Amnesty International Business Group

Why is embedding sustainable development in the curriculum important? What is the core business of a college or university? What does your total impact look like, both positive and negative? Do you systematically take account of all the positive and negative impacts you have on the environment, society and economy? Do you try to reduce the negative impacts and enhance the positive?

Why do this? Reduce the negative and enhance the positive

Positive Human Social Economic

Positive Human Social Economic Negative Natural Manufactured

Why is embedding sustainable development in the curriculum important? Where is most of the focus now?  Reducing the negative  Minimising  Not wasting  Stopping Why do we focus on the negative? It is no way to encourage behaviour change in an institution or society

Why is embedding sustainable development in the curriculum important? Where should we also focus?  Increasing the positive - human, social and economic  The student experience  The students we are helping shape in terms of experience and future behaviour  Embedding SD in the curriculum  This is the true contribution, this is the positive!

Embedding sustainable development in the curriculum Is it just a ‘nice’ to do?

No, it is essential..

No, it is essential.. You cannot say you are sustainable institution or planning to be one without tackling SD in the curriculum..

Jimmy Brannigan Director ESD Consulting Ltd Tel: