College Learning for Sustainability Champions Programme Case Study Presentation Ms. Rebecca Louise Petford, RCE Scotland Europe Regional Meeting 2019 13-14 September, 2019, Heraklion, Greece

1. College Learning for Sustainability
Champions Programme
Rebecca Petford
Learning for Sustainability Scotland (RCE Scotland)

2. Scottish Context for Sustainability

3. Scottish Context for LfS
Embedded in schools’
Curriculum for Excellence (2010)
2013 LfS recommendations
report brought together:
• Education for Sustainable
Development
• Outdoor Learning
• Global Citizenship
Vision 2030+ and LfS Action Plan

4. Scottish Context for LfS
‘Learning for sustainability (LfS) is an approach to life and
learning which enables learners, educators, schools and
their wider communities to build a socially-just,
sustainable and equitable society. An effective whole
school and community approach to LfS weaves together
global citizenship, sustainable development education and
outdoor learning to create coherent, rewarding and
transformative learning experiences.’
Education Scotland 2019

5. Scottish Context for LfS
Leadership in Environmental and Social Sustainability
‘…provide a better learner experience for both
students and staff and ensure that students develop
the understanding of environmental and social
sustainability required for the workplaces of
tomorrow’.
Outcome Agreement Guidance
Scottish Funding Council, 2018

6. Scottish Context for LfS
Sustainability in learning and teaching
‘Themes of sustainability and the impacts of
course-relevant decisions on people and the
environment, should permeate teaching practice,
inform it, and be made explicit to learners.’
Professional Standards for Lecturers in Scotland’s Colleges
College Development Network, 2018

7. Sounds great! However…
Most teaching staff don’t understand the requirements
• At best, they see LfS as teaching certain topics
• They don’t see relevance to their courses or students
• They don’t know anything about effective LfS
teaching approaches
• They have too much else going on to seek support
→ LfSS and EAUC Project Idea

8. College LfS Champions Concept
• Train one representative in every department to be
their Learning for Sustainability Champion
– Develop their own understanding and practice
– Develop their skills to support others in their department
• Promote links between the formal curriculum, the
campus environment and local community
• Develop a whole institutional approach to LfS
• Equip students with the values, skills, and
knowledge to take action on sustainability

9. LfS Champions Programme Pilot

10. Course Programme - 10 Weeks
Time Delivery Theme
Week 1 (4 hours) In person Welcome and Introduction
Weeks 1-2 (2 hours) Online Introduction to Learning for Sustainability
Weeks 3-4 (2 hours) Online LfS: exploring values and perspectives
Weeks 5-6 (2 hours) Online LfS: teaching and learning in an
interdependent world
Weeks 7-8 (2 hours) Online LfS: opportunities for student engagement
Weeks 9-10 (2 hours) Online Developing strategies for support and action
Week 10 (3 hours) In person Sharing and Review

11. In Person Sessions

12. Introduction Session Activity
Where are there/could there be links between the
global/local sustainability themes addressed in the
SDGs and D&A College campus developments and
your subject areas?

13. Introduction Session Activity

14. Online Learning Platform

15. Performing Arts – HND Dance: End of year show
(18 students, 180 people attended over 3 nights)
LfS Course Unit Activity Example
• Students developed the themes:
plastics, climate change,
responsibility
• Plastic props collected over 3 weeks
• Costumes all second hand
• Director of Estates brought to tears!

16. • Positive feedback from participants
• Engaged with the topic and understood their role
• Enjoyed the mix of face-to-face and online activities
• Busy time of year prevented full engagement
Results from the Pilot - Individual

17. • All but one department completed the programme
• Champions requested to continue to meet to
develop an LfS Policy at the College
• “The College LfS Champions programme gave us the
opportunity, structure and framework to embed the
importance of environmental and social sustainability
into the Learning & Teaching of all areas of the College
in a fun, practical and engaging way.”
Simon Hewitt, Vice Principal (Curriculum & Attainment)
Results from the Pilot - Institution

18. Results from the Pilot - Institution

19. Next Steps

20. About to Launch…
• Call for two more colleges to develop LfS Champions
• Participants from both colleges will go through the
programme together
• Individual introduction and review sessions on
campus but simultaneously doing online activities
• Link up staff teaching same subject areas in
different colleges
• Ideally one face-to-face event bringing the LfS
Champions from all three colleges together

21. Conclusions
• Having the policy context is great, but skilling up the
teachers is just as important
• Course structure worked well for developing
knowledge and skills in teaching staff
• Champions seem keen and engaged so far
• Whether they can successfully embed it in all
teaching is still to be seen
• Definitely has made an improvement!

22. Any Questions?
Rebecca Petford: rpetford@eauc.org.uk
Betsy King: Betsyking@lfsscotland.org