Invitation to SHED Members - Policy Think Tank 2012

7th February 2012

POLICY THINK TANK 2012: Graduate Attributes for the 21st Century and the Green Economy

The Higher Education Academy is hosting a high profile policy think tank in late February on the Green Economy and Graduate Attributes for the 21st Century. The principal objective of the policy think tank will be to draw out the links between the national policy discourse and the emerging academic consideration of graduate attributes for the 21st century (see attached briefing papers).

The think tank will explore the rationale for universities to play a leading role in moving us towards a more sustainable, low carbon and resource efficient future, and how institutions can meet the sustainability expectations of students entering university (NUS/HEA survey 2011). It will explore how this can be achieved through appropriate reform of the HE curriculum, and institutional teaching and learning strategies, and how the HEA can lead and support such change. It will also consider the potential implications of such changes for graduate employability.

Aims and Objectives

• to explore the implications of the current national policy discourse on greening the economy for graduate expectations attributes, skills and competences;
• to explore the potential impact of the green economy and government’s societal adaptation aspirations on graduate employment and develop a series of recommendations for policymakers to help achieve these aspirations;
• to propose practical steps to support university teachers and senior managers in adopting appropriate reforms to curriculum and to teaching and learning strategies; and,
• to develop recommendations for closer links between universities and businesses to support the development of the Green Academy (note this ties in with the current BIS-commissioned Wilson Review on closer Business-University links).

We would like Sustainability in Higher Education Developers (SHED) members to make an input to this debate. We are open to any contribution but would appreciate specific responses to the following questions:

1. What role do universities have in meeting the demand for graduates with the skills and attributes to support the green economy?

2. Is the green economy enough of a strategic issue in your institution?

3. How far does the current status of the undergraduate curriculum meet the objectives of a green economy?

4. Are graduate attributes an appropriate means of addressing the opportunities of a green economy?

5. Could curriculum reform based on graduate attributes contribute to better university-industry partnerships and to improved graduate employment?

6. How might the HEA contribute to sector-wide curriculum support which addresses the opportunities of a green economy?

Please send your response to Prof Stephen Martin at: heather.a.luna@gmail.com by Tuesday 21 February. Contributions will be collated and shared across SHED, and fed into Think Tank deliberations.