SUSTAINABILITY Connecting the campus and the curriculum

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SUSTAINABILITYConnecting the campus andthe
curriculum

• Prof Brian Chalkley
• Director of Higher Education Academy Subject
  Centre for Geography, Earth and Environmental
  Sciences (GEES) University of Plymouth
• National Conference of University Professors
• RIBA, London, 21st November 2007

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SUSTAINABILITYKEY QUESTIONS

• Why the new interest in education for sustainable
  development (ESD)?
• What forms might ESD take?
• How can the campus be used for student learning
  about sustainability?
• What are the benefits and barriers?
• Where can you obtain further advice?

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BUT FIRST THE QUESTION OF DEFINITION

• Sustainable Development means
• Meeting the needs of the present generation
  without compromising the ability of future
  generations to meet their own needs (WCED, 1987)
• Or, if you prefer
• Not cheating on the kids!

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SOME OTHER INTERPRETATIONS

• Education for building a better quality of life
  for everyone both now and for generations to come
• A process of learning that considers the
  long-term future of the economy, ecology and
  equity of all communities
• Learning to live lightly on the planet

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WHY ENGAGE MORE DEEPLY WITH ESD?

• Involvement with major global issue
• Education of tomorrows leaders, citizens and
  employer(ee)s
• Growing employer interest in CSR and SD
• Marketing and recruitment (student interest)
• Funding Council expectations

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WHAT FORMS MIGHT THISENGAGEMENT TAKE?

• Institutional policies
• Teaching programmes, modules and podules
• Research and consultancy
• Green professional and personal lifestyles!

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THE FOUR Cs MODEL

• Curriculum Knowledge and skills
• Campus Buildings, energy etc
• Culture Values, priorities
• Community Sources of expertise
• for the region

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THE FOUR Cs DIAGRAM
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WHAT OPPORTUNITIES DOES THE CAMPUS OFFER FOR ESD?

• Buildings
• Energy
• Water
• Waste
• Landscape
• Travel/transport
• Procurement
• Catering
• Students and Staff

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LEARNING AND THE CAMPUS
Learning can be ABOUT, FOR OR THROUGH the campus

• Social surveys
• Env. audits
• Lectures
• Group projects
• Dissertations
• Assessed exercises

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LEARNING OUTSIDE THE CURRICULUM

• Student newspapers
• Displays and posters
• Special events
• Exhibitions
• Competitions
• Campaigns
• Volunteering
• Signs and landscapes

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ESD FOR EVERYONE

• Because all people occupy eco-systems, consume
  resources and produce pollution, all students
  must understand the importance of sustainability
  (Cortese, 1987)
• Sustainability can have wide appeal because it
  has social, economic, scientific and
  technological dimensions

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ESD IN THE DISCIPLINES

• Sociology eg consumerism
• Architecture eg low energy design
• Engineering eg sea defences
• Economics eg Stern Report
• Philosophy eg ethics and nature

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ESD IN MORE DISCIPLINES

• Business eg corporate social responsibility
• Languages eg SD in France, China, etc.
• Tourism eg green travel
• Computing eg IT and energy saving
• English eg ecoliteracy

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ESD IN STILL MORE DISCIPLINES

• Media studies eg SD in the news
• Town planning eg green cities
• Biology eg ecology and conservation
• Law eg human rights and Env. Law
• Agriculture eg organic food

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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

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CONNECTING CAMPUS AND CURRICULUM THE BARRIERS

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

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HOW TO ADVANCE THE CAUSE

• SD/Env and L T policies
• Lobby L T leaders
• Liaise with students
• Annual L T conference
• Articles in staff magazine
• Champions and trail-blazers
• Work with Educational Development
• Look for opportunities

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Making connections Learning to think globally
and act locally
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UNIVERSITIES AS ROLE MODELS FOR STUDENTS?

• Be the change you want to see in the world
  (Mahatma Gandhi)

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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/ecove
  rsity)
• Harvard Campus Project (www.greencampus.harvard.ed
  u)
• Two ESD CETLS Kingston and Plymouth
  (www.kingston.ac.uk/sustainability)
  (csf.plymouth.ac.uk)
• Higher Education Academy (www.heacademy.ac.uk)

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QUESTIONS FOR YOU

• What is already being done in your own
  institution?
• Can you identify new opportunities for making the
  link to learning?
• Does the campus have to look green to be
  sustainable and to support ESD?