The Higher Education Academy’s Education for Sustainable Development Project Una Bartley Project Coordinator Higher Education Academy Scotland EAUC-Scotland Campus Sustainability Conference Queen Margaret University 6 May 2008

The Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) Project Began early 2005 with support of Forum for the Future First stage: audit of subject communities carried out by 18 of the 24 Subject Centres Culminated in the “Dawe Report”, available from our website:

ESD Project’s Strategy Purpose: ‘to help institutions and subject communities develop curricula and pedagogy that will give students the skills and knowledge to live and work sustainably.’

Programme Areas 1 Research and development 2 Capacity building 3 Coordination and dissemination

Aims 1 ‘To research and support the development of ESD in the HE sector, particularly within subject communities’. 2 ‘To build capacity amongst individuals, subject communities and institutions to embed ESD in curricula and pedagogy’. 3 ‘To assist the coordination and dissemination of policy, research and practice relating to ESD in institutions, the HEA and the wider field’.

‘ The future isn’t what it used to be’ stresses unsustainability uncertainty dense interdependence globalisation complexity ecosystem degradation inequity insecurities global warming peak oil overconsumption population pressures

Research and support Research into the UK Policy Context –undertaken by Forum for the Future –on England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales Research on Labour Market Evidence for Sustainable Careers Advice –undertaken by StudentForce for Sustainability –surveyed students, employers, careers advisors

Research and support Research on Labour Market Evidence for Sustainable Careers Advice: The Evidence  The trend to more responsible employers is affecting the graduate job market and the demand for more particular competencies from recent graduate recruits.  The graduate employability agenda is now closely linked to the employer sustainability agenda.  There is mounting evidence that, and media coverage about how, students want to work for ethical employers who are environmentally and socially responsible.  Many HEIs are responding to the challenges of ESD through institutional changes in terms of ‘Campus, Curriculum and Community’, but not so much in terms of competencies or careers.

Research and support Research on Labour Market Evidence for Sustainable Careers Advice: The Advice  Raising academic staff awareness about SD and CSR  Relating student and staff volunteering to academic learning  Linking universities and employers  Linking SD and CSR on campus with teaching and learning  Building on student behaviour

Research and support Small Grant Funding –12 projects from 8 HEIs and/or Subject Centres –13 disciplines –3 projects funded in Scotland at 3 different HEIs, due to deliver this summer – 8 new mini-projects being funded now

Capacity building and networking Solo HEI Events –University of East Anglia –University of Gloucestershire and Harper Adams College –1 planned for Scotland soon A Three-Day Interdisciplinary Seminar Series –3 universities, 15 disciplines represented

Capacity building and networking Regional ESD Networking Events –East Midlands, November 2006 –South West, Bristol, March 2007 –Scotland, Dundee, June 2007 Community Projects –Thornbury: involving University of Cardiff, University of the West of England, University of Gloucestershire, Leeds University –University of Gloucestershire projects Conference –10-11 July 2007 ‘Sustainability and the Curriculum’ –Presentations available on our website

Coordination and dissemination Joined Up Thinking –Informal meetings of key actors/HEI in the field Resource Development –Our website –Subject Centres

Coordination and dissemination Subject Centre Activity –Projects –Workshops –Joint events –Publications Generic Module, and Learning and Teaching Framework* Sustainability Policy* * (joint post with Centre for Sustainable Futures - Plymouth)

Where next? The emphasis in was on on coordination and dissemination. Your views and involvement are invited….

Our website: Our Project Co-ordinator: Heather Witham