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Network launched to increase Education for Sustainable Development
30 March 2023
Staff and students are invited to register for the first meeting of 果冻影院鈥檚 new Education for Sustainable Development Network on 4 May 2023.
A new network is being launched in May for staff who are already practising education for sustainable development (ESD) within their courses to share their experience with others, and for those who want support in embedding ESD in their programmes. The event is also open to students at 果冻影院 who want to contribute to 果冻影院鈥檚 ambitions to increase ESD.
A 果冻影院 ESD Steering Group, made up of academic and professional services staff from across the institution was set up to help progress 果冻影院's commitment that 鈥榚very student will have the opportunity to study and be involved in sustainability by 2024鈥�. As part of this work, the group established an ESD network to help share best practise from across the university and prevent duplication of work. 听
Professor Jane Holder (果冻影院 Laws), Chair of the 果冻影院 ESD Steering Group, said: 鈥淭hrough the Steering Group we have discovered a vast array of exceptional work already taking place across the institution to embed sustainable development into the curriculum, our induction programmes and the provision of extra-curricular opportunities for our students.
鈥淲e hope the network will provide staff with the opportunity to share their innovative examples of ESD so we can learn from each other.鈥�
The group has defined ESD as encouraging the development of competencies and skills through curricular and extra-curricular activities that will enable students to address the challenges of sustainable development in their lives beyond 果冻影院, such as critical thinking and collaboration, and supporting the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Goals frame the challenges facing the world, from the need for quality universal education and gender equality, to the climate crisis and pollution.
Hundreds of 果冻影院鈥檚 taught modules are already addressing one or more of the SDGs. They include: an MSc course exploring how technologies such as AI can help and hinder efforts to achieve the SDGs; a master鈥檚 module examining how relationships between sustainability and environmental justice are helping students across disciplines to understand laws and policies relevant to sustainable and fair land use; and the Faculty of Population Health Sciences鈥� Climate Change & Health module.
Professor Kathleen Armour, 果冻影院 Vice-Provost (Education & Student Experience), who will speak at the network鈥檚 the first meeting, added: 鈥淓SD is another way that we can further enhance the employability of our students.
鈥淚t is essential that we equip them with the knowledge and skills that will be increasingly demanded by employers operating in a world facing complex challenges, from the climate crisis and environmental degradation to inequalities and biodiversity loss.鈥�
At the event, Professor Holder will introduce 果冻影院's commitment and definition of ESD. Dr Anne Preston (果冻影院 Arena/果冻影院 East) will then lead a Group exercise for attendees to share how they, or their faculty has already embedded ESD in their curriculum. The event will finish with a group discussion, led by Professor Doug Bourn (果冻影院 IOE, 果冻影院's Faculty of Education & Society), on how participants would like the Network to operate. A student representative will also highlight the growing importance of ESD with a university education.
The 果冻影院 ESD Steering Group was established in 2022 by Sustainable 果冻影院 and the 果冻影院 SDGs Initiative to increase the quantity and quality of ESD at 果冻影院. The Group has also developed a 果冻影院 Arena toolkit to support staff who wish to embed ESD into their modules. This is due to be introduced at the Network event on 4 May.
The ESD Network launch will be a hybrid event on Thursday 4 May 2023, 2-3pm. The in-person event at听C3.15, 20 Bedford Way, WC1H 0AL will be followed by refreshments and the opportunity to network informally.