Where & When

Location: Virtual

Date: Thursday 25th March - 9:30-16:30

Delivered by: Advance HE

Book here (this is a paid event): https://www.advance-he.ac.uk/programmes-events/calendar/sustainability-symposium-facing-forward-sustainability-principles

Details

The event provides the opportunity for colleagues to share and discuss innovations in and research about progressing sustainability in the sector. We invite colleagues to consider how higher education now needs to move forward with sustainability initiatives and education, in pandemic and post-pandemic higher education. There are two principles underlying the symposium:

First, sustainability refers to a wide range of society-wide issues and threats. We are assuming a broad-based view of sustainability, one which incorporates issues including, but not limited to, environmental management, energy use, travel, recycling, university estates, carbon reductions, food sourcing, and sustainability in the curriculum. It is also used widely to cover social justice and inequality issues. Our starting point is the commonly used account by the UN Brundtland Commission*: ‘Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs’. We are also guided by the definition of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) proposed by UNESCO (2019)**: ‘ESD empowers learners to take informed decisions and responsible actions for environmental integrity, economic viability and a just society, for present and future generations, while respecting cultural diversity. It is about lifelong learning, and is an integral part of quality education’. However, we recognise that some participants may wish to ascribe other or more specific lenses on the topic.

Second, for this symposium, we would like to propose a view of sustainability being ‘for everyone’. The theme will address sustainability as ‘something for everyone’ in higher education, emphasising an inclusive approach. Sustainability and its constituent parts represent urgent issues and, in the higher education sector, we all have responsibilities in progressing sustainable development.

The symposium will take place following the publication of the new QAA / Advance HE Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) Guidelines (expected publication date, March 2021) which will form the focus of a special, additional workshop. More generally, by way of a keynote session, participant-led workshops and presentations, and a closing plenary, the event will offer insights about a range of pertinent sustainability issues, as well as examples and ideas for university staff and students. It will appeal to academic leaders, academic and professional staff, as well as to students.

*United Nations/World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED) (1987). Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development: Our Common Future (The Brundtland Report).

**United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) (2017). Education for Sustainable Development Goals: Learning Objectives. Paris, France. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000247444

Key themes addressed by the symposium

Staff and student innovations in and research about sustainability in higher education.
Staff and student innovations in sustainability teaching, learning and assessment.
Partnerships in sustainability: examples and discussions of staff and students (or other groups) working together.
Promoting sustainability for everyone: working together to make sustainability something for everyone in the sector.
Academic leadership and sustainability.