Thursday 14-05-2015 - 16:29

The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education and the Higher Education Academy published a framework for getting sustainability into the curriculum last summer. One year on, its suggestions are championed by Responsible Futures.

Last summer, QAA and HEA provided a framework for academics, advising how sustainability can be most effectively be embedded into learning.

For anyone interested in ensuring that students leave their time in education as part of the solution to our social, economic and environmental challenges, this is essential reading.

"It wasn't just the two agencies, who led this", explains chair of the advisory group Jim Longhurst. "It was academic institutions, and the student voice saying that this is what we need".

"Whether it’s at the module level, the programme level, or the institution level - there's something every institution can work with, embedded in this guidance".

Of course, there are many obstacles to overcome in delivering education for sustainable development. Many students might not know what it means, for instance, or think it relates only to environmental issues.

Perhaps most challengingly, sustainability is the perfect example of a wicked problem – massive, interconnected systemic issues, with no clear or simple solutions.

This requires a form of teaching which focuses on complex problem solving, consideration of long term consequences, and global citizenship – attributes which our education system often currently neglects.

QAA’s framework helps academics to address these challenges of education for sustainable development, and has made a huge impact in the year since its publication. For Jim, Responsible Futures can do a lot to support this work.

“Responsible Futures approach is trying to help institutions staff and students find where these things are helping, where more is needed, and to develop more coherent approaches”, Jim explains.

“The guidance is outcome led”, he continues. “What Responsible Futures is going to do is provide a more structured approach, from how you get to where you start, to getting more of the graduate outcomes that the guidance sets out”

Being a rounded graduate in the 21^st century isn’t just about what you know. It’s about being a problem solver, an environmental steward, and a global citizen. And students need to be active participants in their learning to achieve this.

The QAA framework is a great introduction to thinking about these issues. Read it today, and take part in Responsible Futures to reshape education at your institution.