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Sustainable Development Goals How can universities contribute to achieving the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals? From research to mitigate the climate crisis and environmental damage to teaching through an SDG lens and creating more sustainable campuses, academics share strategies to tackle the most pressing global challenges of our time and build a sustainable future.
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In - person events are still necessary
Should academics be travelling to events that could be done virtually ? Drawing on her experiences at COP28 , Denise Baden shares tips on how to make the most of these …
Using partnerships to establish and build on project success
From listening to the student voice to creating joined - up partnerships , success on major capital works depends on teamwork . Here , Dominic Wood outlines key …
Case study : how to do an independent evaluation on homelessness on six continents
From working with resident researchers to navigating local salary schemes , Suzanne Fitzpatrick offers lessons on how to carry out a large - scale international evaluation …
Teaching business students how to prepare sustainability reports for SMEs
In engaging with small and medium - sized enterprises , universities can raise SMEs ’ awareness of their own climate impacts . Here , Ven Tauringana shares a model for …
How storytelling boosts environmental impact and engagement
Presenting sustainability research in a story – with a protagonist , goal and resolution – can bridge the gap between complex theory and real - world results for wider audiences …
Bring the SDGs into the classroom through role play and gamification
A case study showing how simulations , role playing and gamification can develop students ’ global citizenship and help grand challenges feel more surmountable
Driving change : creating student - NGO partnerships for climate solutions
Luis Ricardo Fern á ndez Carril and Luis Gerardo Rojas Solorio reveal how to energise and empower students to take part in the fight against climate change
Moving beyond climate change to teach the climate crisis
Ways to scale up education relating to the climate crisis and the questions it must guide students to answer
How to select and monitor climate adaptations for universities
In the fourth and final part of their series , Rob Wilby and Shona Smith explain how universities can implement adaptation measures and monitor their progress …
Circular impact : a call to action for research on grand societal challenges
How to enact a ‘ circular ’ approach to research and impact so outcomes feed back into the work to inform ongoing planning and improvement
A guide to evaluating and managing climate risks to universities
In the third part of their series , Rob Wilby and Shona Smith explain how universities can determine their climate risk exposure , then identify actions to reduce associated …
A practical approach to tackling eco - anxiety
We induce eco - anxiety by teaching students about climate change , so training them in practical and achievable solutions to it are needed , too , write Helen Hicks and Dawn …
Making sustainability part of university DNA
Meaningful change comes from embedding green practices into every aspect , and every member , of the institution , starting from induction training
THE podcast : universities aren ’ t too small to lead the climate crisis fight
It ’ s easy to feel hopeless in the face of climate change , but , in this episode , two experts offer ways universities – and individuals – can make a difference to …
Accounting for sustainability : we need to change how we teach
Accountants of the future will need to respond to as yet unknown sustainability reporting standards . Freirean dialogic teaching where lecturers learn alongside …
A whole - university road map to sustainability impact
Top - ranked Western Sydney University combines immediate action with long - term planning to drive progress in achieving impact aligned with the SDGs . Here , …
Setting scenarios for a university adapted to climate change
In the second part of their series , Rob Wilby and Shona Smith explain how running institutional plans through different scenarios can help improve a university ’ s …
Decolonisation as a driver for the Sustainable Development Goals
How decolonial approaches can underpin and drive work to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals across higher education
Ease students ’ climate anxiety by encouraging climate action
Climate anxiety is a mental health issue and universities can help students overcome it through climate action , multiplying their own impact along the way , writes Cecil Scheib
Charting a shared path to net zero universities
What ’ s been lacking in the decarbonisation journey is the ability to bring universities together to share best practices , resources and tools , so that pioneers in the area can …
Creating a reusable takeout dish programme on campus
Want to reduce single - use waste at your university ? In this guide for students and administrators , Rojine McVea offers tips for how to set up a reusable dish service …
Start your university on a path to resilient net zero
Practical tips on how institutions can improve their resilience to climate threats while on a path towards net zero emissions , by Rob Wilby and Shona Smith
A ‘ grocery store ’ model can help your campus food bank reduce waste
A move from pre - packed hampers can make university food banks more efficient and the space more welcoming – and build a stronger community . Erin O ’ Neil offers tips …
Building blocks of university - industry partnerships for positive change
How universities can develop strategic cross - sector partnerships and trans - disciplinary research in order to boost progress towards the SDGs
A holistic blueprint for sustainability
Instead of compartmentalising decisions about infrastructure or resource allocation , universities need a whole - system approach to sustainability that shifts attitudes and …
We ’ ve engaged 250 student volunteers to hold climate emitters to account
The Net Zero Tracker taps into students ’ passion for climate action , teaches them net - zero literacy and builds their employability . Here ’ s how we work with them
Transformative change is needed to deliver Earth - centred education
The time for incrementalism is over . As responsible humans and academic professionals we must radically rethink the purposes and processes of education and …
Seven strategies to turn academic libraries into social organisations
For libraries to secure their future on higher education campuses , they must embrace a model that prioritises partnerships and collaboration , says Sheila Corrall
THE podcast : how to navigate HE as a woman of colour
To mark International Women ’ s Day , we spoke with two female academics about their journey through higher education and the biases and assumptions they have …
THE podcast : academia and activism
Three academics share their experiences of using their research and teaching for social justice aims
How to run an effective student well - being campaign
From reaching out to the local community to making it interactive , Christina Chant offers seven tips for effectively promoting your university ’ s well - being services
From personal to professional : incorporating sustainability into your university work
Practical advice for embedding sustainability issues into broader professional practice , taking lessons from teaching English language that are applicable across other …
Offering students a green gap year has multiple rewards
James Derounian makes the case for a gap year in which school - leavers can engage with university while tackling climate change and helping with community development
To save higher education , we must look beyond traditional university models
If we are to radically transform universities , we must seek solutions from diverse learning projects that have historically been excluded from , or remained separate to , …
A collective action framework to help Ukraine ’ s universities survive and rebuild
There is great potential for like - for - like aid among institutions during times of crises . Here are five lessons from a project that pairs institutions in Ukraine with partners …
Food for thought : advice for building a university - community collaboration
Planning and communication can turn good intentions into lasting benefits for students , faculty and the community . Joshua Gruver shares his advice for successful outreach , …
Transformative not transmissive education for sustainability
The teaching of sustainability and the SDGs needs to equip graduates with the skills to bring about transformative change for a better future . Jen Dollin , Brittany Hardiman …
Flip the script : why listening is the best form of outreach
In aiming to widen participation , it ’ s easy to get lost in your own passion . Instead focus on understanding others ’ needs – and keep it simple
To offset or not to offset – that is the question
Carbon offsetting is a hotly debated issue , with critics positing that it distracts from real efforts to reduce emissions . David Duncan explains why a compromise position in …
