Learning for sustainability

Staff and students have access to a range of activities and personal development courses designed to deepen their learning for sustainability and to allow them a voice in how we teach and learn at the University of St Andrews.

What students can do

Talk to staff

Discuss contemporary global or local issues in your tutorials or seminars and ask how the theory or issue being explored relates to concepts and practice of sustainable development. If you are a student module representative, you can also raise possibilities to enhance learning for sustainability in Staff Student Consultative Committee meetings and in wider debates.

Become a School Sustainability Representative

Run to be your School’s Sustainability Representative, campaigning for sustainability in the curriculum and improving operational sustainability in your School. Former Representatives have conducted sustainability surveys, hosted speaker events, and worked with professors to adapt the curriculum.

Training in Environmental Sustainability Action

Training in Environmental Sustainability Action (TESA) is an online course for all students at the University designed to support students to action for a sustainable St Andrews. By making TESA accessible for the whole student population as part of matriculation, the University has created a springboard for local action with global reach and a sustainable legacy which students can carry forward in their careers

TESA covers climate justice, how to get involved in the town’s community gardens, where to get hold of a bike, and ways to be a part of St Andrews circular economy.

Access the course on my courses in Moodle. If you have any feedback on the course, please email environment@st-andrews.ac.uk.

Join a Vertically Integrated Project

Vertically Integrated Projects (VIPs) give students from any discipline and level of study the opportunity to join a research team as part of their degree studies. Some of the projects are focused on sustainability.

What we are doing

Sustainability in the Curriculum Committee

The University is committed to teaching sustainability in its broadest terms across the whole curriculum, supported by the Sustainability in the Curriculum Committee, which gives students and staff the opportunity to engage with learning and teaching for sustainability.

Visit the Sustainability in the Curriculum webpage to find out about the committee's work, which includes the annual prize for modules that support learning in sustainability and School maps identifying sustainability in the curriculum.

Sustainability in teaching and learning

Staff are encouraged to consider how to critically engage with education for sustainable development in their teaching and learning, no matter what the discipline, to develop quality education, meet student needs and satisfy Subject Benchmark Statements. Resources are available on the Quality Assurance Agency website and on our internal resource bank linked to Sustainability in the Curriculum Committee.

Professional development opportunities

We have support and critical discussion on learning for sustainability in Sustainability in the Curriculum events, internal webinars and training sessions, part of the PGCAP and external opportunities such as the Topic Support Network on Education for Sustainable Development run by EAUC and Learning for Sustainability Scotland.

Golden Dandelion Awards

The Golden Dandelion Award at the University of St Andrews is an annual opportunity to reflect on education for sustainable development in specific modules and to apply for the Golden Dandelion Award. The best module is awarded the Golden Dandelion Prize.

Staff sustainability leads

If you are a member of staff, consider applying to be a sustainability academic in your School or applying to join the Sustainability in the Curriculum Committee.