Centre for Sustainable Futures at the University of Plymouth ESD CETL Dr Stephen Sterling Schumacher Reader in Education for Sustainability

Quote 1: ‘Reinventing the university’ ‘…it is pre-eminently in the universities that we should be thinking hardest about the implications of this whole world-system for our common life and its future, and bringing the best of our available intelligence to bear on the necessary changes. If not there, where? If that’s not the business of universities in the early twenty-first century, what on earth are they for?’ -John Foster, 2007 From review of Michael M’Gonigle’s Planet U: Reinventing the University

‘My perception that universities have pretty well isolated themselves from society, through their academic detachment, and that’s the way they’ve made themselves rather irrelevant to current issues of sustainability, which are absolutely critical. …. And…so I’ve felt that university education has to go radically localised, in the sense of integrating student learning with the local community. Universities have to become dedicated in service to their community….. …that’s something that I see emerging quite strongly now…this is going to radicalise University education, and make it relevant.’ - Academic, University of Plymouth, 2005 Quote 2: ‘Make it relevant’

Centre for Sustainable Futures  Has a mandate for transforming the University of Plymouth into an institution modelling university- wide excellence in SD/ESD  Aims to have all students engage critically with sustainability agendas and their personal, ethical, professional and personal implications  Seeks to embed ESD into curriculum, learning and teaching across all schools  Undertakes pedagogical and institutional change research so development is research-informed  Aims to play a key role nationally by engaging with HEIs, Higher Education Academy and Subject Centres, HEFCE, EAUC etc

20 Centre Fellows across Schools and Faculties Campus Community Curriculum Key structures Fora Centre Fellows Core team Director Asst Director Reader Research Fellow Centre Manager Three Research Assistants Support staff Student placements Steering Group Reps across UP and external partners IWG Interdisciplinary curriculum working group Environment Committee

Wave model of change

Culture Whole systems approach

To enhance student and staff experience through embedding sustainability across the curriculum To embed sustainability practice across the UoP campus To contribute to the regional sustainability agenda through university / community partnerships To engage with a cultural backcloth and attendant practices that feed unsustainability The four C model

What are your ‘unique selling points’? Only CETL set up specifically to engage in whole system change Working to crack the ‘curriculum nut’ Research emphasis – research ‘about’ and ‘as’ change- nine strands, evaluation and meta research Four ‘C’ model Centre Fellow model Implementing systemic change approach Student support Chancellery support Links with other CETLS – proposed ‘Plymouth Academy’ Partnership with Schumacher College

What research, tools and other resources have been created through the Plymouth CSF CETL and how can the sector access these? Sustainability policy Generic module L&T framework Staff Wiki resource Research tools: student/staff perceptions; curriculum audit Website

How is your CETL engaging with the wider HEI community? Links with: Regional networking – Partner colleges; SW ESD Coalition; HE SW Academy network HE Academy ESD Project and Joint Link Group Papers and articles, book forthcoming, CPD workshops, conference presentations Links to HEFCE, EAUC, Forum etc International links – IMESD, UNESCO, GHESP, OECD, Tbilisi plus 30 conference etc

How will the wider HE sector become more sustainable as a result of the Plymouth CSF CETL? Dissemination – website, papers, seminars, conferences etc HE Academy ESD Project staff link: module, framework, strategy, conference inputs etc Staff Wiki resource Joint projects/initiatives – Bradford, Manchester, Concordia etc CPD Feeding into HEFCE Strategic Review and follow-up

Centre for Sustainable Futures Kirkby Lodge University of Plymouth Drake Circus Devon PL4 8AA ESD CETL Building the future…!