Integrating ‘sustainability’ within degree programmes: towards a student handbook

28th Feb 2014 10:00 – 16:30

This event is being hosted as part of the Higher Education Academy's Workshop and Seminar Series 2013/2014.

Information about the event

This thematic workshop will bring together students and staff from a range of HEIs in order to consolidate understanding of ‘sustainability’ and how it can be successfully embedded not only in the education, learning experience and practice of students and staff alike within the sector, but also within the ‘DNA’ of HE institutions themselves. One of the goals of the Workshop is to develop the basic framework of an ESD Student Handbook for HEIs.

The focus of this workshop is to articulate student and staff perspectives on ESD as a driver for holistic institutional change. We are particularly interested in developing guidance for disciplines not traditionally associated with ESD, and for ESD pedagogical approaches. The workshop will encourage the development of alternative world views, challenge accepted assumptions and recognise the interconnectivity between economics, society and the environment - the three branches of sustainability - together with their governance.

The emergent Handbook will consider, for each discipline: new curriculum design to include ESD pedagogy and employability skills; examples of good practice, extra-curricular learning and the informal curriculum, sharing open educational resources which are deemed relevant to students.

The workshop and the Handbook which stems from it, will also address employability and enterprise by enhancing students’ academic, personal and professional development, and their awareness of the ethical dimensions of ESD which will help them to meet the changing needs of employers, the economy and our wider society.

Aims/outcomes

The aim of this workshop is quite simple: to create an opportunity for staff and students in the sector to share their own experiences, their successes (and occasional failures) and their views on how ESD can be effectively embedded within the culture and practice of higher education institutions. In addition, our aims are to:

• develop a ‘collaborative model’ of academic practice that brings together education for sustainability, employability skills and the enhancement of learning and teaching in higher education via dynamic partnership between students and staff;

• disseminate this ‘collaborative model’ within the higher education sector via the development of a draft student-staff authored ‘Handbook for Sustainability in Higher Education’;

• build on expertise and interest within the sector by promoting knowledge exchange and the developing of communities of practice focused on ESD;

• provide opportunities for participants to reflect on their own practice, and to contribute to the development of a ‘Handbook for Sustainability in Higher Education’.

Information about sessions and speakers

Speakers and session leaders will include:

Louise Withers-Green (Student Union Academic Officer, UEA)

Stefi Barna (School of Medicine, UEA)

Teresa Belton (School of Education & Lifelong Learning, UEA)

Annie Grant (Dean of Students, UEA)

Professor Tim O’Riordan (UEA)

Bookings

There is no charge to attend the seminar, but a place must be reserved. 50 places available on first-come, first-served basis.

Book on this event

Contact email
[email protected] View this event on the EAUC website →