New guidance on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)

1st April 2021

The launch of new guidance on Education for Sustainable Development in higher education, jointly published by QAA and Advance HE is intended to help UK higher education institutions to incorporate Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) within their curricula.

The guidance comes at a time of increased urgency to tackle the climate crisis and its interconnected development needs. As the UK prepares to host the COP26 UN Climate Conference later this year in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the higher education sector has a key role in helping address sustainable development issues.

QAA and Advance HE brought together a group of experts representing academic, business and student communities, with the aim of supporting all students to acquire the skills necessary to develop values and take actions to transition society towards a sustainable future. EAUC's very own Board Members, Jim Longhurst, EAUC Board Chair, University of the West of England and Professor Simon Kemp, EAUC Trustee, University of Southampton have contributed to the development of this guidance. The guidance gives advice and support on curriculum design, as well as teaching, learning and assessment approaches.

The full guidance is available for any staff member or student at a QAA or Advance HE Member institution, with an executive summary publicly available here.