Learning, Research & Students

Long-term institutional success begins with sustainability

Socially responsible and sustainable institutions take a long-term view of their relationships with students before, during and after their time at university or college. This improves student access, retention, performance and employability.

Institutions that embrace strategic sustainability create more socially aware and sustainability-driven graduates that can demonstrate the practical, intellectual, innovation and resiliency skills which the modern workforce urgently needs. This is because knowing - and practicing - sustainability can improves employability and employment outcomes. Simply, it broadens a student's perspectives, encourages a long-term view, and teaching them creative and collaborative solutions to complex problems.

Approaches such as cross-disciplinary teaching and research are positively associated with good sustainability outcomes. EAUC's Living Labs is proof of this.


What might you gain from prioritising sustainability?

• Embracing the connections between sustainability and your institution's public profile, research outcomes and overall income.
• Becoming better placed to build research partnerships, respond to funding priorities* and deliver research with impact.
• Being ahead of the curve where sustainability, and its relationship with research and teaching, is of growing importance to stakeholders – including to government, business and the third sector bodies.

*Funders increasingly look to understand and address global societal challenges by using research and innovation in the knowledge economy. The Research Excellence Framework (REF) incentivises institutions to demonstrate impact on sustainable development, by explicitly assessing impact on society, economy, culture, environment, health and quality of life.

The UN Sustainable Development Goals provide a globally acknowledged framework for institutions to realise that impact and are of increasing interest to UK Research Councils, industry and philanthropy efforts.

 

For Academics & Researchers
 

• Visit the Education for Sustainable Development main page for latest resource links.
• Join our Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) Topic Support Networks for FE and HE, to be added to mailing lists where you can ask questions and receive regular updates, and join regular networking and knowledge sharing events.
• Join our SHED (Sustainability in Higher Education Developers) mailing list. 
• Enter the Green Gown Awards to showcase your sustainability initiatives and outcomes. We expand the range of categories annually, to increase the Award's representation and diversity of knowledge.
• Access our Learning & Teaching, Research and Student Engagement tools on the Sustainability Exchange.
• Engage more colleagues by attending the Emerging Leaders Programme to develop your communication strategy and skills base.
• Sign the SDG Accord to enhance the sector's collective response to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 
• Discover Student Outcomes and Research & Innovation resources.
• Take part in the Sulitest - a sustainability literacy test for students.
• Consult the Better Student Outcomes through Sustainability - Living Lab Guide.

 

For Sustainability Specialists
 

• Come to our Annual Conference to network, learn and experience the best within our sector. 
• Use the Sustainability Leadership Scorecard (SLS) tool to map your institution's SDG-based activities.
• Join a Community of Practice Group (CoP) or the Topic Support Network- Scotland only (TSNs) to access specialist learning, insights and to share knowledge. 
• Join a Regional Networking Group to collaborate and share in a cross-sector space.

 

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The EAUC Scotland Office are funded by the Scottish Funding Council to deliver additional support to Universities and Colleges in Scotland, and many of the events and resources produced by the them are open to all EAUC Members.