Leadership & Management

Introduction
Links and resources
Case studies

Introduction

Leadership is a key element of implementing sustainable development in all organisations, large and small. Leadership on sustainable development from the senior management of the organisation is necessary if there is to be a whole-institution approach. Senior managers need to create an environment in which staff and students feel empowered to take actions that support sustainable development. Being seen to put sustainable development into practice themselves is a powerful way for senior managers to do this.

While leadership from senior managers is essential, the drive for change towards sustainable development often comes from a lower level. Leadership for sustainable development can happen at all levels within an organisation, with individuals, groups or departments taking responsibility to make their own practice more sustainable.

The process of sustainable development requires management within an organisation, but sustainable development itself can also provide a management framework for the organisation. The values that motivate people working and learning in the Learning and Skills Sector, such as equality, fairness, caring for people and caring for the environment, overlap with the values that underpin sustainable development. Sustainable development can be used to re-invigorate the aims and purpose of the organisation.

Links and resources

The leadership college for the Learning and Skills sector is the Centre for Excellence in Leadership – CEL (This is now part of the Learning and Skills Improvement Service).

In September 2007 CEL commissioned research and produced a report into leadership for sustainability in the Sector. The report identifies the catalysts and blocks to implementing sustainable development from a leadership and management perspective.

According to the report successful leadership for sustainability demonstrated the following:

  • Distributed leadership.
  • Taking account of the organisational climate and culture.
  • Employing a wide range of influencing strategies.
  • Building organisational capability.
  • Cultural sensitivity.
  • Commitment to equality and fairness.

Leaders will be concerned with policy at Sector and organisational level. ‘From Here to Sustainability’ is the Learning and Skills Council strategy which sets an overarching framework and is a useful starting point for developing an organisational policy. More information is available at the LSC.

Sustainable development is featuring more in management at operational level. For example:

Helpful information about leadership relating to the curriculum can be found in the LSC guide ‘Creating the conditions for embedding sustainable development in the curriculum’.

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Case Studies

Pershore Group of Colleges
Winning entry in the 06/07 Green Gown Awards.

Securing Sustainability at Worcester College of Technology
An example of how a college can integrate sustainability into its curriculum and engage its students to make them more environmentally aware.

Sustainability: From Strategy to Practice - A Whole School Approach
Lancaster and Morecambe College: an excellent example of how a college can introduce sustainability into college life through the use of existing initiatives, and the engagement of both staff and students.

The Genesis Project
The Genesis Project at Somerset College is a good example of an integrated approach to sustainable development.

Leadership for sustainability
Appendix CEL report: good practice from the following providers’ work to embed sustainable development:

  • Bishop Burton College, North Yorkshire
  • Brighton and Hove City Council, Community Skills and Learning Unit
  • Leicester College
  • North Nottinghamshire College
  • Southwark College, London
  •  

Developing a Sustainability Policy at Sparsholt College
Sparsholt College provides an excellent example of how implementing an Environmental Sustainability programme can engage staff and students whilst still saving the college money.

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