EAUC-Scotland collected case studies from across Scottish universities and colleges that align with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The case studies provide a snapshot of the some of the ways that Scotland's Further and Higher Education sector are contributing towards the Global Goals.
Our hope is that you will be inspired by these examples to identify opportunities where you can help make strides to achieve the SDGs by embarking or partnering with universities and colleges on social, economic and environmental initiatives.
You can also further your SDG journey by joining the SDG Accord.
Explore the case studies individually by resource below or view them as a collective in the Case Studies document.
See the full collection of Scotland Colleges and Universities SDG Case Studies
SDG Accord Report 2022: Progress towards the Global Goals in the University and College sector
What do the SDGs look like in HE and FE?
EAUC-Scotland collected case studies from across Scottish universities and colleges that align with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The case studies...
The Open University, the leading university for flexible in-work learning, is travelling across Scotland as part of their roadshow series Upskilling your Workforce: Preparing...
West Highland College UHI sent their students out into the community to develop their skills whilst benefitting their local area. Construction Skills students did a makeover of...
The inaugural biennial conference is a collaboration between the Scottish Rural Health Partnership, University of the Highlands and Islands, and Texas A&M...
Orkney College UHI have been working on an innovative project involving hydrogen power. The project aims to stores excess renewable energy as hydrogen gas, effectively a storage...
SRUC have conducted a research project into reducing emissions from farming in order to make food production more sustainable. Researchers at SRUC form part of a new...
Aberaty University's Student Association gave away free food growing boxes and small houseplants at the beginning of the academic year. The food growing boxes were...
The University of Stirling Students Association formed an environmental hub called Green and Blue Space. This hub allows students to come in and ask questions about subjects...
Perth College UHI has been running an innovative programme which allows their staff and students to work in care homes. The aim is to provide physical activity programmes for...
North Highland College UHI Gamekeeping students and Inverness College UHI Forestry and Arboriculture students visited the Strathvaich Estate to better understand the two land...
Cross-sector initiative that aims at understanding and addressing the risks posed by climate change to the Glasgow City Region by developing a Climate Change Adaptation Strategy...
The University of Aberdeen is part of the Aurora Universities Network, a network comprising of ten European Institutions. The network's main aim is to harness the collective...
The Third Generation Project is a think-tank involving researchers, students, professors, consultants and other stakeholders based at the University of St. Andrews and dedicated...
The Global Refugee Health Research Network (GRHRN) is a new international project to tackle the threat of serious healthcare problems among refugee populations. It brings...
Between 2018 and 2019, Fife College planted trees in partnership with the Woodland Trust. The trees were donated and contributed to support the Woodland Trust's...
Research project funded by the EU Horizon 2020 Programme to assess the health of the Atlantic Ocean. The University of Edinburgh is leading and coordinating the project which...
Sets targets to become net carbon neutral by 2040 in the University's 2016-2026 Climate Strategy which also identifies key issues, the actions planned to address them and...
City of Glasgow College’s Jewellery Design Programme (part of the Faculty of Creative Industries' Craft & Design Department) signed the Incorporation of...
In 2016, the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland established a rooftop garden with the aim to gain some greenspace in a city centre where greenspace is limited. The garden, managed...
The University has partnered with BRITA to introduce a glass bottling scheme on campus. The filtered water dispenser will provide both still and sparkling water at catering...
In response to the Waste regulations (Scotland) entering into effect in January 2014 that requires food waste to be separated, the College developed its own composting...
Following a plastic awareness campaign and a student survey on the possibility of removing single use plastic items from the college's facilities, the college officially...
A team of travel advisers deliver advice to commuters on how to make their commute more sustainable. The advisers are trained during the summer, and deliver most of their travel...
The 'TRNSPRT at the College’ event for staff and students aimed to encourage people to think seriously about how they travel to and from the college and how they can...
A QMU researcher in refugee integration worked with other researchers at institutions across the UK and the UK Government to develop an Indicators of Integration...
Glasgow Medical School Access Programme (GAP) is a pre-medical programme lasting one year, that allows learners from non-conventional backgrounds to acquire the fundamental...
With £6.6 million funding from SoSEP, Dumfries & Galloway College and Borders College are developing a network of STEM Hubs across different locations including...
The Startup Accelerator helps students, staff and alumni to develop their ideas and launch their businesses by providing each team with £10,000 and 6 months of training...
Project SEARCH is a one-year programme, supporting young people with additional needs to gain skills and experience aimed at helping them move into sustainable employment. The...
North East Scotland College has developed a mentoring programme through which staff help students be confident in their essential skills and identify the essential skills they...
West College Scotland partnered with AC Whyte to create a Skills Academy that upskills students to apply thermal insulation. This was a response to a company-identified skills...
North Highland College Business Students, led by a member of staff and in partnership with DYW Highland, the local Chamber of Commerce and local primary staff, facilitated and...
'Future focus' is a course aimed at 19-24 year old students from previous non-engagement backgrounds. The course aims at developing and enhancing a range vocational,...
CodeCraft is a coding club where pupils learn coding skills through creating their world and characters on the game 'MineCraft'. Started as a summer club, CodeCraft has...
The Market Day initiative is an entrepreneurial project that allows students with entrepreneurial inclinations to use on-campus stalls to sell their products or services....
Heriot-Watt university is the only academic partner in Virtual Energy System (VES) Project led by the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) aimed at creating a 'smart energy...
The college is participating in the research stage of 'Taigh Zero', an initiative that involves renovating empty houses in the Scottish Islands, and substituting the...
The campus includes several features that make it low-carbon and low-energy including: a ground source heat pump, solar PVs, solar chimneys, recycled paper insulations, re-used...
Supports the Government of Malawi in the provision of safe drinking water for all its citizens. Part of the Climate Justice Water Futures Programme, the project includes both...
A collective of students and staff at Edinburgh Napier which works to reduce period poverty and address period stigma. While staff members came up with the project idea, the...
Glasgow Kelvin College has become an active supporting member of the national 'White Ribbon Campaign', a campaign aimed at including men in tackling gender-based...
The Cross-School Course is a two-week course delivered to all first year students at GSA, during which the students have a chance to explore the city, its history, and the...
Following responses from students who said they wanted more from their feedback, the college decided to explore the use of screen-capture videos to provide feedback. This...
The Forest College is for learners and leaders of all ages who want to develop their knowledge, skills and leadership in the forest and outdoors. It aims to deliver many...
Vertically Integrated Projects for Sustainable Development (VIP4SD) is a research-based teaching model that allows students across all undergraduate courses and years to be...
Ayrshire College established the 'Promoting Wellbeing Group' in 2017. The group's aim is to prepare, implement and review a Promoting Wellbeing Action Plan to...
The College worked in partnership with the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice to convert one of the Hospice's charity shops into a charity beauty salon. The salon opened...
With the first communal garden established by students in 2012, the college now has 2 thriving multi-purpose community gardens used by students, staff and members of the local...
West Lothian College is implementing a series of initiatives to improve access to healthy and nutritious food for students, addressing food poverty. Initiatives include the...
After implementing the Scottish Government Sanitary Support Scheme within the University's campuses, the University of Dundee decided to take things further and plan to...