Daniella Tilbury, University of Gloucestershire Alex Ryan, University of Gloucestershire John Blewitt, Aston University Society for Research into HE Conference, 15 th December 2010 The Sustainability Challenge: Wisdom and Learning for the Future of HE Curricula

Future Shock, Innovation and Sustainability Business interests: Specific technical skills in the ‘green jobs’ arena (ARUP, IPPR) Leadership and management capabilities (IPPR, BITC/EDF Energy) Student interests: Sustainability blending with employability agendas and career aspirations Growth of attention to sustainability among professional bodies Public interests: Economic recovery and entrepreneurship aligned with sustainability HE tackling civic issues – justice, equity, wellbeing linked to sustainability

Creative Tensions for Sustainability in HE shifting conceptual ground around sustainability disciplinary self-perceptions around sustainability multiple delivery pathways – formal and hidden centrality yet diversity of disciplinary expertise structural challenges for inter-disciplinary T&L R-T interplay yet prioritisation of research agendas thematic overlaps between ESD and other priorities integration of learning – personal and professional

ESD Futures - A national and global commitment to ESD - ESD is rising in the HE policy arena as the focus on SD and carbon targets grows, across professions and agencies. - Economic landscape shows that new skills will underpin low carbon economies and green industries and enterprises; these areas are growing in tandem with technological shifts in the knowledge economy. - Research among students, career advisors and employers indicates growth in market interest in sustainability skills and competencies.

What are the tactics to address ESD in the core functions of HEIs? - Regardless of profile or mission, common mechanisms are used to maintain quality of provision. These processes are a consistent point of focus for encouraging ESD curriculum development sector-wide; - The project views quality assurance and enhancement as critically important in exploring ESD and organisational leadership - Project intersects institutional and sector level changes: i) Seeking systemic change, initiating dialogue and eliciting contributions from national agencies as well as professional stakeholders. ii) Seeking to connect institutional setting with national context for academic infrastructure in terms of QAA procedures and practices.

Beyond Truths and Certainties ESD HEI Project Partners are representative of the UK HE sector as a whole Partner projects reflect a specific area of HE activity: Aston: new media, lifelong learning & CPD provision Gloucestershire: review and validation guidance & graduate attributes Creative leadership and collegiality Holistic curriculum, depth and breadth

Re-imagining Higher Education sustainability literacy as a meta-capability sustainability education and learning proposes far more than simply sectoral, institutional or individual changes realising human capabilities through transdisciplinary study revitalising educational principles creative and pragmatic disruption