New to ESD?: integrating education for sustainable development in teaching and the student experienc

22nd Jan 2014 10:00 – 16:00

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

Information about the event

There is a growing appreciation of the important role of higher education institutions in shaping sustainable future orientated graduates who will become our future leaders. There is also a growing evidence base for student demand around sustainability in their higher education experiences and demand from employers for sustainability literate graduates and from government for graduates appropriately skilled for the requirements of the growing green economy. However, in order to fulfil this demand, there is a need for further training opportunities for staff around the area of Education for Sustainable Development, in particular, through the opportunity to learn from other people’s experience and sharing of ideas. This workshop therefore seeks to address this demand for training for those who are ‘new to ESD’.

This workshop is aimed at academics and educational developers who are relative newcomers to the field of Education for Sustainable Development. Drawing on expertise at Keele University and other external contributors, the workshop aims to inspire a new wave of educators to embed sustainability in their teaching and sphere of influence.

Aims/outcomes

This workshop aims to:

• Highlight the background context and drivers for ESD, including student and employer perspectives

• Explore examples from different disciplines and institutions highlighting different approaches to embedding ESD

• Investigate the opportunities and challenges presented by ESD, and the tools and strategies for promoting the former and tackling the latter

• Provide new ESD practitioners with the confidence, knowledge and language to develop ESD initiatives within their own teams and institutions

• Encourage development of a network of practitioners both experienced and new to the field of ESD providing peer support for follow-on initiatives

Information about sessions and speakers

The workshop will cover the following themes:

Background and context

A brief introduction to the history of ESD development, different viewpoints, and in particular student and employer perspectives will be explored, providing participants with an understanding of the wider context of ESD, and the knowledge and language to engage in ESD debates and their colleagues in discussions as they take forward their own ESD initiatives.

Discipline and institution examples: Opportunities and challenges

Using a series of examples, the workshop will explore examples of innovative ESD. Crucially this will involve a selection of disciplines, where ESD connections might not be immediately obvious and different pedagogical approaches to embedding ESD. Throughout these case studies a range of opportunities and challenges posed by embedding ESD will be explored.

Strategies and tools

This part of the workshop seeks to share examples of resources that are useful for those new to ESD, aiming to increase awareness of the work of organisations such as the EAUC and HEA, the existence of support networks such as SHED-SHARE, and toolkits such as the ‘Future Fit Framework’ that are of practical use to participants.

Action planning

Participants will be encouraged to consider the changes they would like to make to embed ESD in their own sphere of influence, and will formulate concrete actions that they can undertake when they return to their teams/institutions. Participants will also identify the challenges that they think they will face, and ways to address these.

The speakers on the day will include a range of experienced ESD practitioners from a number of different disciplines and instituions.

Bookings

There is no charge to attend the seminar, but a place must be reserved. 40 places available on first-come, first-served basis.

Book on this event

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