EAUC Green Gown awards: case studies
The Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges presents several Green Gown awards each year. The following courses won awards for course content in 2006/07:
University of Bristol – new interdisciplinary module in Sustainable Development
Following an introductory scene-setting session, the course had six blocks of sessions from different disciplinary perspectives (history, economics, engineering, law, environmental science and education). Inter-disciplinary tutorials (on energy generation) and seminars (on congestion charging) ran in parallel. The University's Energy and Environmental Management Unit (EEMU) also provided practical inputs.
The course recruited over 100 students from 14 departments, well above the University's Open Units average. Confidential student feedback at the end of the session was very favourable and resulted in some minor amendments for 2006-7, including a second interdisciplinary seminar on Estuary Management and the recording of lectures for podcasting.
The course convenor, Dr. Tony Hoare, summarises the course's benefits as "widening the personal contacts and intellectual horizons of students, enabling them to visit new physical and virtual spaces within the University, and providing access to some exceptionally lively and committed teachers. Lecturers also gain a better understanding of - and personal connections with - other disciplines, enjoy the excitement of innovating with sympathetic colleagues, and are inspired by the realisation that others share their commitment. ...
Other unexpected benefits include an interest in developing additional modules as a result of the high numbers, and general learning about the issues of developing inter-disciplinary courses which can be applied to other topic areas.
University of Plymouth – sustainability in construction and surveying degrees
The University set out to green all the degrees they offered on construction and surveying, by: (i) identifying specific knowledge/skill/value sets (some about generic sustainability and others more discipline-specific) that a sustainability literate construction professional would ideally possess; (ii) reviewing programmes, syllabi and assessment against these requirements; (iii) developing workshops to cover the missing areas, and updating course curricula; (iv) integrating the workshops within the formal curriculum, as a project-based second year module; (v) modifying many other courses to achieve more SD content.
Queen's University Belfast – Masters programme in leadership for sustainable development
The action-focused projects and placements which form a large part of the course have included:
- Organising the first all-party debate - attended by 150 stakeholders - on the state's new Sustainable Development Strategy;
- Working with NGOs to organize a Northern Ireland Green Living Fair, with a University summer school;
- Identifying £10,000 of potential environmental savings within one host business.
The Masters programme - which is based on a Forum for the Future template - is run by the Gibson Institute, but taught by staff from across Queens. It has nine modules which include case study sessions led by practitioners, and panel sessions partially organized by students. There are also separate four week placements in each of five sectors (Business, Governance, NGO, Media, and Rural). Students take responsibility for prior briefing and post debriefing sessions. These are attended by experts and stakeholders from the sector, who contribute to assessments of student presentations. The course also emphasises reflective learning through Personal Position Statements, field trips, e-diaries, and student-led briefing and debriefing sessions.
University of Gloucestershire – Language and Ecology first year module
The belief that "language is crucial in achieving sustainable development" underpins this module taught in the University of Gloucestershire's Humanities Department.... The 31 students in the 2006 intake were mainly taking English Language degrees, but others came from Biology and Geography.
The module was developed over two years, with internal staff inputs supplemented with external ones from members of the Language & Ecology Research Forum, and staff at the Centre for Human Ecology, Edinburgh. It examines how issues related to sustainable development are represented in the mass media, and in specialised areas such as agriculture and economics.
Student feedback indicates enhanced critical awareness, a more holistic view of the topic and its relationship to others, and a greater interest in changing personal lifestyle. Other benefits include "the development of communication and team-working skills amongst students, and valuable experience in developing interdisciplinary links".
Sheffield Hallam University – Landlords for Excellence programme
The Landlords for Excellence Programme is a 25 hour course aimed at improving the business effectiveness, safety, and sustainability of people renting property in Sheffield. It also helps provide better conditions for the many Sheffield Hallam students who are private tenants. The course is targeted to private landlords, especially those from BME (black and minority ethnic) backgrounds, and those with properties in areas of regeneration. Topics include waste management, energy and water efficiency, fire safety planning, marketing, dealing with anti-social behaviour, property law and taxation, safety and substance abuse awareness, as well as supply and demand issues to try to avoid future dilapidation in some areas of the city.
Swansea Institute & Swansea University – Living Sustainably module
The two institutions offered this course jointly, making it open to all students, staff and the general public. It covers a comprehensive range of sustainability topics and includes field trips with an emphasis on real-life applications, and an assignment tailored to the student's personal circumstances and interests.
In the three years since it was developed the module has raised awareness of sustainability issues in both institutions, led to the `greening' of additional courses and achieved considerable local publicity. An abbreviated version Lecturing Sustainably has also been developed for use in `training the trainers'. ...
Course students have included fine art undergraduates, PhD researchers, Swansea University's head of catering, and the general public. For many, it has been a springboard to further study and action, ranging from enrolment on more specialised sustainability courses, dissertations on the topic, and joining or initiating campaigning groups. Ken Harding, Facilities Manager of Neath Port Talbot Council, says that "the course has changed the way in which we now think, and this is also coming out in our every day working life."
Dr. Michael J. Isaac, Dean of Health and Human Sciences at Swansea University, also believes that "by creating a network of ex and current students, the course has increased the critical mass of environment champions in both institutions, resulting in greater pressure for improvement."
These case studies can be downloaded from the EAUC site.