Developing a Holistic Approach to Implementing Education for Sustainable Development Across a Higher Educational Institute: A Longitudinal Study of the University of the West of England, Bristol

Longhurst, James; Gough, Georgina; Grant, Marcus; Hills, Sarah

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-09474-8_37

Cited by 2 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 17 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…HE institutions have addressed this issue, which is reflected in the growing number of institutions that are integrating sustainability into their institutional strategies, are signing declarations and statements of commitment to ESD, put effort into reducing the negative impacts of the estate and offer sustainability courses and degrees (Wals, 2014; Karatzoglou, 2013; Ramos et al , 2015). Whilst this is welcomed, the number of HEIs integrating ESD in the curricula is, however, limited (Lozano et al , 2013; Yarime and Tanaka, 2012; Tilbury, 2011, Longhurst et al , 2015; Tierney et al , 2015; Wyness and Sterling, 2015). For the vast majority of HEIs, their efforts start and finish with enhancing the sustainability of the estate with little or no attempt to influence the curriculum.…”

Section: Esd Growth and Stagnationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring the current position of ESD in UK higher education institutions

Fiselier

Longhurst

Gough

2018

IJSHE

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to consider the position of education for sustainable development in the UK Higher Education (HE) sector with respect to the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) and Higher Education Academy (HEA) Guidance for education for sustainable development (ESD). Design/methodology/approach By means of a mixed-method approach underpinned by a concurrent triangulation design strategy, this research presents evidence from an online questionnaire survey and in-depth semi-structured interviews. Findings Insights are presented from case studies of a group of UK Higher Education Institute (HEIs) which have made significant progress in embedding ESD in the curricula. Research limitations/implications Central to this study is an exploration of the ESD integration process of this group including a description of the approaches to integration, the challenges faced and overcome and the critical success factors. It examines the role of a guidance instrument in simplifying and accelerating the ESD curricular integration process. The results of the study show that there is a multitude of integration approaches applied varying in their emphasis. Practical implications The main challenge HEIs face is engaging staff that may question the relevance of the ESD concept, and that lack an understanding regarding its implications for their discipline. Critical success factors identified are institution-wide people support, high-level institutional support and funding. The QAA and HEA guidance has successfully supported HEIs in developing their ESD commitments. Originality/value The results of this research can support HEIs in developing their own approach to ESD, as they learn from similar UK HE providers, particularly with respect to overcoming barriers and enhancing critical success factors to ESD curricular integration.

show abstract

Section: Esd Growth and Stagnationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring the current position of ESD in UK higher education institutions

Fiselier

Longhurst

Gough

2018

IJSHE

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Profound sustainability and environmental challenges will confront a graduate both in their work and private life across those 60 years. Graduates need to be prepared through their higher educational experiences for the challenges and opportunities they will encounter in their professional and private lives in the rest of the 21st century [12], [13]. Orr [3] said "Many things on which your future health and prosperity depend are in dire jeopardy: climate stability, the resilience and productivity of natural systems, the beauty of the natural [18] said that "the significant problems we face today cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them" and that doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting different results is insanity.…”

Section: The Challengementioning

confidence: 99%

“…UWE Bristol has steadily increased its engagement with sustainability over many years to the point where it is now an embedded part of our institutional objectives and operations. Each aspect of university business now considers the sustainability implications as part of the business decision making process [12], [13].…”

Section: The Challengementioning

confidence: 99%

“…5 TEACHING AND RESEARCH The teaching and research mission of the university provide substantial opportunities to engage with the ideas of sustainability and to develop knowledge, skills and attributes in the student body. The University seeks to provide all students with the opportunity to explore sustainable development in the context of their discipline of study [12], [13], [23]. UWE's Graduate Attribute Framework [24] defines a UWE graduate as self-reliant and connected, ready and able, enterprising, globally responsible and future-facing and together these describe a sustainability literate graduate.…”

Section: Nus Responsible Futuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Actions commencing with environmental policies initiated in the early 1990s and culminating in 2013/14 academic year in the new Sustainability Plan [12] are discussed. The Sustainability Plan mandates the curricula to provide exposure and opportunity for all students to engage in and understand the meaning of sustainable development within the context of their discipline of study [13]. As part of the comprehensive approach, a range of co-curricular activities providing ESD opportunity are available to all UWE students and particular emphasis is placed upon the sustainable development of the campus locations to provide ESD opportunities.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Towards a Sustainable University: A Case Study of the University of the West of England, Bristol

Longhurst

Gough

2018

WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The paper will explore the progress of the University of the West of England (UWE), Bristol's in embedding sustainable development into the whole institution mission. The university is committed to ensuring that all its students, irrespective of their programme of study, are introduced to the ideas of sustainable development during their undergraduate or postgraduate degree programme. The university recognises that a typical graduate will have some 50-60 years of life post-graduation in which the pro sustainability knowledge, skills and attributes developed at university can play out positively in both their professional and private lives. Hence, UWE considers it a key part of its mission to provide an opportunity for all students to consider sustainability within their degree programme. In the most recent year of analysis the university has confirmed that each UG and PG taught programme within the portfolio provides this opportunity for disciplinary consideration of sustainability. The University's award-winning Sustainability Plan sets out our policy commitments and strategy to support sustainable development and describes their implementation these into the business of the University both in our educational role and in the management of our estate. Progress with the aims of the Plan are reported publicly and enhancement actions are identified and prioritised by the use of an accredited environmental management system, certified to the international standard BS: EN ISO14001, covering the entirety of the institution's endeavours. In 2016 the university became the first in the UK to have its Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) work accredited under the full NUS Responsible Futures certification scheme. This paper provides a range of examples to illustrate the university's commitment to ensuring that current and future student are able to develop the knowledge, skills and attributes that will enable them to be responsible 21st century citizens contributing to the development of a sustainable future.

show abstract

Developing a Holistic Approach to Implementing Education for Sustainable Development Across a Higher Educational Institute: A Longitudinal Study of the University of the West of England, Bristol

Cited by 2 publications

References 17 publications

Exploring the current position of ESD in UK higher education institutions

Exploring the current position of ESD in UK higher education institutions

Towards a Sustainable University: A Case Study of the University of the West of England, Bristol

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About