Learning, Teaching and Research

‘Tips and Tools for Creating a Better Future’ – a warts and all analysis of the process of change

Sustainable Development in Wales

Learning, Teaching and

Research

Think Global, act local

Learning, Teaching and

Research

Sustainable Development in Wales

“Within the lifetime of a generation we want to see Wales using only its fair share of the earth’s

resources” One Wales One Planet, 2009

Learning, Teaching and

Research

Davies, P. 2013. Future Generations Bill.

Learning, Teaching and

Research

2015

Future Generations Bill

expected to become law

2014

Future Generations Bill

will be introduced in Assembly

Future Generations Bill

Legislate to make sustainable development the central organising principle of the Welsh Government and public bodies in Wales.

Learning, Teaching and

Research

- Welsh Government

- Natural Resources Wales

- National Library of Wales

- National Museum Wales

- Sport Wales

- Arts Council of Wales

- Local Authorities

- Fire and rescue authorities

- National Park Authorities

- NHS Trusts

- Local Health Boards

- Higher Education Funding Council for Wales

- Higher Education Institutions

- Further education corporations

- Registered Social Landlords

- Town and Community Councils

Future Generations Bill

Learning, Teaching and

Research

Welsh Government. 2014. The Wales We Want; Future Generations Bill. http://thewaleswewant.co.uk/content/future-generations-bill

Future Generations Bill

Longer term thinking: a greater emphasis on LT outcomes and cost effectiveness over the LT. Integration – decision making is supported by evidence of the wider and longer-term economic, social and environmental impacts. Working across organisational boundaries. Focusing on prevention; identifying critical early interventions, which generate long term cost savings and efficiencies in the future. Engagement and involvement: involving stakeholders who will be affected by decisions.

Learning, Teaching and

Research

Sustainable Development in Wales

Wales is in a unique position.

There is an opportunity to be ahead of legislative requirements and be a model of good practice.

Learning, Teaching and

Research

Learning, Teaching and

Research

INSPIRE – the opportunity…..

To influence the development of a university during the process of major change.

For sustainable development to be a core value with which to frame the development of the institution.

To be an exemplar of sustainability in practice. To benefit the local region through partnerships focused on

sustainable outcomes. To create commercial opportunities through expertise

Learning, Teaching and

Research

INSPIRE – the drivers…..

Learning, Teaching and

Research

Government policy

Demand for sustainability

skillsRequirements of professional & accrediting

bodies

Student expectations

Research funding

Resource efficiency

Staff expectations

INSPIRE – the challenges….

Staff buy-in Management buy-in Governors buy-in Student buy-in The campus……

Learning, Teaching and

Research

INSPIRE – Strategic commitments….

Sustainable development is a: core value, defining characteristic and strategic priority!

Learning, Teaching and

Research

INSPIRE – Governance….

Learning, Teaching and

Research

University Council Annual SD statement goes to Council

Senate Sustainability Committee reports to Senate

Faculties All Faculties are required to write SD plans

ProceduresSD is embedded into validation and staff development processes.

Learning, Teaching and

Research

SD as a competitive advantage

Distinctiveness of offer

Government and funding council

mandateEmployability

Rising public interest and

global concern

CSR Financial savings

INSPIRE – Top tips….

Identify opportunities to take a space others aren’t in. Get institutional buy-in. Integrate into institutional procedures.

Learning, Teaching and

Research

Strategic Development

Learning, Teaching and

Research

UWTSD Group

3 universities 2 further education colleges Taking a systemic approach to embed sustainability.

Learning, Teaching and

Research

Sustainability

Campus Culture

Community Curriculum

Campus Introduction of carbon management system Environmental Action plan to achieve Green Dragon Level 5 and improved rating in People and Planet Green League in 2013 Cycle to Work Scheme introduced Fairtrade status gained Students’ Charter commits to achieve NUS Green Impact award 9 new student sustainability internships 2013

- Sustainability Exchange- Fairtrade- Green Impact

Allotments created Food for Life standard gained

Learning, Teaching and

Research

Culture We are a University that: adds value to the learning experience through a distinctive ‘systems-based’ approach that combines traditional higher education with vocational, professional and academic research activities, delivered with academic rigour;  offers a well-defined undergraduate curriculum, which delivers distinctive graduate attributes in the areas of employability, enterprise, sustainable education and global citizenship;  is dedicated to realising the potential of each individual student and to supporting students at all stages of their education; is pioneering new approaches to work-based learning and professional practice that enhance workforce and enterprise capabilities; and is committed to all aspects of sustainable development

Learning, Teaching and

Research

Community

Strategic partnerships with local authorities through pledges containing article: eg

Sustainable DevelopmentThe partners will commit to providing strong community leadership for sustainable development in Swansea and the broader City Region

Develop skills, knowledge and expertise to further sustainability in the region.

External engagement priorities related to strategic priorities.

Learning, Teaching and

Research

Curriculum

UWTSD is embedding sustainability into 15% of all students’ experiences creating a distinctive Trinity Saint David curriculum.

The University has developed the TSD+ Award; a new ‘skills passport’ including a mandatory sustainability component.

The University has included ‘creative problem solving’ and ‘active citizenship’ in its new graduate attributes.

Intra-faculty approach in Humanities.

Learning, Teaching and

Research

Learning, Teaching and

Research

TSD+ Employabilit

y Award

Active Citizenship

Teamwork

Learning and Personal

Development

Creative Problem Solving

Communication

Staff sustainability skills survey

Learning, Teaching and

Research

Staff sustainability skills survey

Learning, Teaching and

Research

Evidence

Enhancement Engagement

Staff sustainability skills survey

Identify staff expertise and where sustainability is already embedded within curricula and research. Identify new opportunities.

Learning, Teaching and

Research

Evidence

Staff sustainability skills survey

Learning, Teaching and

Research

Learning, Teaching and

Research

Sustainable Rural Communities

Cluster

Archaeology, History and Anthropology

Archaeology, History and

Anthropology

SMU: Built and Natural Environment

School of Business

Social Justice and Inclusion

Theology, Religious Studies and Islamic

Studies

Research, knowledge and innovation into sustainable

rural communities

Benefit the communities within the region

Outputs

Sport, Health and Outdoor Education

Staff sustainability skills survey

Learning, Teaching and

Research

Staff sustainability skills survey

Learning, Teaching and

Research

Engagement

Sustainability can be one of a range of perspectives that is

considered

Some subjects will not lend themselves easily to this topic and should not be

discriminated against for this

Staff sustainability skills survey

New courses identified and being developed Research and partnerships being set up

Learning, Teaching and

Research

Enhancement

Advice to staff on sustainability

Provision of clear guidelines – Future Fit Framework It’s not just what we teach but how we teach. Subject benchmark statements. Requirements of professional and accrediting bodies.

Learning, Teaching and

Research

Enhancement

Staff sustainability skills survey

New courses identified and being developed 150 new programmes!

Learning, Teaching and

Research

Enhancement

Learning, Teaching and

Research

• Strategic Commitment

• Engage with staff.• Understand skills, expertise and commitment in the organisation.

• Let faculties determine how SD is relevant to them

• Faculties develop sustainability plans

• Embed into academic quality procedures

• Audit the curriculum and ……………….6

1

2

3

4

5

Be vigilant!!!

Learning, Teaching and

Research

What’s next?

Measuring success – how do we measure the impact of embedding sustainability in the curriculum?

Sharing of good practice in teaching, learning and research.

Sustainability and staff development.

Learning, Teaching and

Research

Top Tips

Must be strategic priority if there is any hope of embedding it. Needs prominent position on University homepage Talk to everyone at every level to gain support Evidence base: staff skills/commitment audit and curriculum

audit

Learning, Teaching and

Research

Top Tips

Introduce structures to make it work while the support is rock solid - most important being faculty/school plans/ validation/ student engagement/estates and facilities/HR/university governors/communications.

Use as key external message. Be vigilant! Use sustainability as a tool for enhancement.

Learning, Teaching and

Research

‘Aha’ moments

“The strategic commitment to sustainability has been a constant thread running through the development of the new University that has involved a complicated merger process.

The consolidation of the strategic agenda is directly attributed to the opportunity provided by the Green Academy and this has helped to maintain the strategic commitment during several changes of the governing body”.

McCoshan, A. & Martin, S. 2013. From strategy to implementation: the second evaluation of the Green Academy programme. HEA

Learning, Teaching and

Research

Learning, Teaching and

Research

If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've

always had” Mark Twain

“It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent,

but the one most responsive to change” Charles Darwin