SUSTAINABILITYConnecting the campus and

the curriculum

Brian ChalkleyDirector of Higher Education Academy Subject Centre for Geography, Earth and Environmental

Sciences (GEES)University of Plymouth

University of Ulster10th May 2007

MAKING CONNECTIONS

SUSTAINABILITY:KEY QUESTIONS

• Why engage with education for sustainable development (ESD)?

• What forms might this engagement take?

• How can the campus be used for student learning about sustainability?

• What are the benefits and barriers?

• Where can you obtain further advice?

WHY ENGAGE MORE DEEPLY WITH ESD?

• Involvement with major global issue

• Education of tomorrow’s leaders, citizens and employer(ee)s

• Marketing and recruitment (student interest)

• Funding Council expectations

• Capitalising on existing expertise at Ulster

WHAT FORMS MIGHT THISENGAGEMENT TAKE?

• Institutional policies

• Teaching: programmes, modules “podules”

• Research and consultancy

• “Green”professional and personal lifestyles!

THE FOUR Cs MODEL

• Curriculum: Knowledge and skills

• Campus: Buildings, energy etc

• Culture: Values, priorities

• Community: Sources of expertise

for the region

THE FOUR Cs DIAGRAM

Curriculum

CommunityCampus

Culture

WHAT OPPORTUNITIES DOES THE CAMPUS OFFER

FOR ESD?

BuildingsEnergyWaterWasteLandscape Travel/transportProcurementCateringStudents and Staff

CURRICULUM/CAMPUS LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

Surveys/audits Case studies

Lectures Projects/theses

Special events Exhibitions

Volunteering Design Groups

Competitions Campaigns

ESD FOR ALL (!?)

Sociology eg consumerism

Architecture eg low energy design

Business eg CSR and Stern Report

English eg Ecoliteracy

Computing eg IT and energy

CONNECTING CAMPUS AND CURRICULUM : THE BENEFITS

• Student motivation and interest

• Real, ‘live’ topics

• Experiential learning

• Empowering students to make a difference

• Capturing expertise of ‘support’ staff

• Joining things up within the University

CONNECTING CAMPUS AND CURRICULUM: THE BARRIERS

• Lack of communication links• Lack of time and staff resources• Student numbers• Time-scales and logistics• Confidentiality• Quality Control

WHERE CAN YOU OBTAIN ADVICE?• Environmental Association of Universities

and Colleges (www.eauc.org.uk)• People and Planet (peopleandplanet.org)• HEEPI and The Ecoversity (Bradford) (www.heepi.org.uk) (www.bradford.ac.uk/admin/ecoversity)

• Harvard Campus Project (www.greencampus.harvard.edu)

• Two ESD CETLS : Kingston and Plymouth (www.kingston.ac.uk/sustainability) (csf.plymouth.ac.uk)

• Higher Education Academy (www.heacademy.ac.uk)

Learning to think globally and act locally