Sustainability in the Curriculum
Education for Sustainable Development
Being an educational institution, we guide our students, and communities through teaching academically and professionally accredited courses at a higher education level. This provides the opportunity to integrate ideas, concepts and behaviours into the curriculum providing learning opportunities for students to become aware of and understand the development that needs to occur to be a sustainable member of society and the skills needed in the workplace and as a global citizen.
Our Graduate Attributes are a set of qualities and skills all students of the university can expect to gain during their time studying at the university. These span across all disciplines to enable students to not only learn about their subject area but having the knowledge and aptitude to apply learning.
Integrity is one of the 5 core attributes, reflecting the need to be responsible for your actions and behaviour and to also have the self-awareness to recognise the impact it has on others and the environment.
ESD is a key area of our Group Sustainability Strategy whereby we aim for our education and student experience, research, enterprise and innovation to support the drive towards sustainable and ‘clean’ socio-economic growth. Specifically, to –
“Evolve our teaching and learning approaches and curriculum to reflect societal and economic needs and expectations to deliver an inclusive and engaging learning experience that reflects cultural and global perspectives, and to ensure all our students gain the attributes and skills needed to support the development of a sustainable low carbon future”.
Being able to deliver upon this statement is the purpose of the ESD steering group which consists of the Deputy Vice Chancellor Curriculum, the CEO of the Students Union the Head of Sustainability, student representation as available, Academic Development Specialists and Acedemic staff, and people working on extra-curricular activities. Our active ESD Network is made up of teaching staff from around the group. The multi-functional groups are able to share case studies, wider learning on ESD and opportunities for training and events are shared.
Responsible Futures
Coventry University has retained the Responsible Futures Kitemark since 2015 and was one of the pilot institutions trialling the kitemark. Responsible Futures recognises UK Universities who are working to embed issues around sustainability and social responsibility within curricula across all colleges.
We also collect data on student views of sustainability through the NUS (SOS) annual Sustainability Skills survey. NUS surveys which consistently show more than 60% of UK students want issues around sustainability to be included within their courses - in recognition of the importance of this in future career paths.
Read the 2023 NUS Survey results.
Education for Sustainability often requires inter-disciplinary, cross-cultural, futures-focussed learning experiences which we know students gain from and enjoy.
News and Case studies
- Coventry University wins Times Higher Education Award for game-changing electronic waste project
- School of Humanities hosting an interactive online learning experience which explores how the shared global challenge of climate change is experienced by different communities around the world
- Learning in the community - Fablab
- Coventry University-led project developing learning resources and spaces across the globe recognised at QS Reimagine Education Awards
- Coventry University Vice-Chancellor speaks at global climate summit COP28 in Dubai
- Coventry University students win Design Concrete 2023 competition with nature reserve creation that absorbs carbon dioxide
Read our latest Sustainable Development Report for more information on sustainability within the curriculum.
