Learning and teaching, and the student experience
Against a challenging backdrop of a full academic year of lockdown or partial lockdown, the University faced an unprecedented set of challenges.
The greatest challenge was how we might maintain a sense of attachment and community within our student body and between our students, staff and the overall learning experience.
The University continued to provide opportunities for staff and students to learn about the climate emergency, empowering them with the knowledge, skills and leadership to take action. These learning opportunities are being embedded across the formal academic curriculum, professional development for staff and wider student experience.
The Curriculum Transformation Programme Board has endorsed recommendations from a short life working group on climate and sustainability in the curriculum, including identifying quick wins to progress the University’s commitment to embed climate and sustainability into learning and teaching for all students.
Curriculum Transformation Programme
Online courses
The University has launched a number of relevant short online courses, which are open to all. This includes Massive Open Online Courses on Climate Solutions, Carbon Capture and Storage, Sustainable Global Food Systems, Nitrogen (available in several languages) and Critical Thinking in Global Challenges.
The Learning for a Sustainable Future short online course was delivered in parallel with the COP26 Conference in November 2021, offering learners an opportunity to examine what COP26 was, why it was important and reflect on how they could add their voice to the call for collective action for a sustainable future.
The online Sustainability and Social Responsibility, hosted by Moray House School of Education and Sport, is open to all students and introduces students to multidisciplinary approaches to sustainability issues, such as the climate emergency.
The Global Challenges for Business course, led by Lecturer Dr Sarah Ivory, has secured one of the ten 'Ideas Worth Teaching' awards announced by the Aspen Institute and allows students to critically engage with issues such as the climate emergency.
Currents: Understanding and Addressing Global Challenges was Edinburgh Futures Institute’s first undergraduate course launched in 2020. The multi-disciplinary elective gives students the opportunity to explore a current challenge facing the world from the perspective of different disciplines, including climate change. The University has long standing, award winning postgraduate programmes on Carbon Finance and Management.
Short Online Courses filtered by environment and sustainability
COP 26 and the University of Edinburgh
Students as Change Agents
The Students as Change Agents programme provides an opportunity for students to work with community partners. A ‘living lab’ approach for students, staff, and external partners to tackle real-life challenges and generate fresh thinking.
This co-curricular programme, involves students from multiple disciplines who want to make a social impact during their time at University. This has included students working with local and national organisations to develop climate strategies, including the Scottish Football Association.
Carbon Literacy Training
Accredited Carbon Literacy Training is being offered to all staff and students.
RISE Showcase
Three student-led social enterprises and start-ups were chosen as part of the Universitas 21 RISE Showcase. The RISE Showcase is a global exposure initiative, which highlights student-led projects across the globe in the areas of sustainable development, social enterprise and non-profit innovation.
One of those selected, was the Linda Initiative, student-led social enterprise which aims to protect young people in Kenya from early teenage pregnancies and other related sexual and reproductive health issues due to lack of information.