University of Gloucestershire

An anti-greenwash framework to embed quality sustainability learning

This project drives quality in sustainability learning and skills - not just in single courses, but across an entire course portfolio.

Based in years of R&D and implementation at University of Gloucestershire, we developed a framework of quality principles and rating criteria to assess strong, authentic Education for Sustainability (EfS) in course design. We then used this to rate all 147 undergraduate and postgraduate taught courses - in partnership with senior academics and course leaders.

Through a UK Quality Assurance Agency funded project partnering with 2 other universities, we then used co-creation with students to test and refine the framework, rate courses from a student experience viewpoint, creating tools that students anywhere can use to drive change in courses.

This project goes beyond measuring the bare minimum - and demonstrates true mainstreaming of sustainability learning into courses, with real potential to ensure all students get quality EfS and an ‘anti-greenwash’ education.

Annual carbon savings achieved with the initiative:

• CO2t savings 2022/2023: 13,500T (Actual – 10.5% reduction on 18/19 net zero baseline).
• CO2t savings 2023/2024: 13,550T (Estimated).    

What the Judges Thought

Your involvement of senior staff, sharing results with Advance HE and the partnership with QAA is exciting. You have established a firm framework. which will help greatly with dissemination. Progress to date is excellent, and this project will grow and grow. A strongly written application.

What it Means to Win

“As a pioneer of sustainability in universities, our aim is to push for the highest quality and real impact for our students. Recognition for our move to mainstream authentic and high quality sustainability learning is a real reward to our student leaders and collaboration partners in this innovative education work.”

Clare Marchant, Vice Chancellor

Top 3 Learnings

1. Listening to students brings insights to create sustainability learning with real impact.
2. Securing adoption of EfS needs quantitative and qualitative indicators that work for academic leaders.
3. Whatever their strategy, all universities need quality principles to strengthen their EfS offer.