SORTED Guide to Sustainability in Further Education – Part 3 - Teaching, learning and curriculum – 3.2 Organisational value of embedding sustainability in this area

• Student demand - the Future Leaders Survey (2006) provides a good insight into learner attitudes to sustainability. The survey found that many young people find it important to acquire the knowledge and skills for sustainable development, for them it is an important factor for considering a choice of college or university.
• FE is influenced by the requirements of business and industry. This is very evident in construction for example, where sustainability has developed extensively in recent years, and so industry is requiring students to have knowledge and understanding of these issues when they leave their training.
• Businesses and industry are placing greater emphasis on hopeful employees demonstrating competences such as team working, problem solving and self-management.
• Teaching staff are keen for opportunities to incorporate these competences and skills that they see will benefit their students. Encouragement and support to do so gives greater job satisfaction.

Wider benefits of embedding sustainability in this area

• Contribution towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
• Contribution in the local community of a wider awareness of local and global issues, and the knowledge, skills and competences for individuals to contribute in their businesses and communities.