Kingston University

Fostering sustainable leaders and change-makers through student-staff partnerships

In January 2023, we started changing learning and teaching practices as part of our Sustainability Plan and our Town House Strategy mission, which underpins our commitment to enabling a socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable future.

We support staff and students to see themselves as sustainability leaders, proactively developing equitable and sustainable solutions for Kingston University and their communities. We used a transformative learning approach – encompassing ways of thinking, being and doing – in staff CPD. We integrated education for sustainable development into the institutional Academic Framework. Staff gained awareness of the importance of culture change and preparing students for present and future social-environmental challenges, such as climate change.

In this bottom-up and middle-up approach, we have worked to empower students to inspire change in the curriculum. Students co-created resources for staff and actively participated in sustainability events and workshops, enabling students and staff to see themselves as sustainable change-makers and advocates.

What the Judges Thought

Fostering leaders and changemakers through student-staff partnerships
The judges welcomed the ‘transformative learning’ approach to CPD which has engaged both students and a wide range of professional and academic staff at the University. Engaging toolkits have increased the potential for long term integration of sustainability in course design infrastructure. Collaborations between students and staff have increased student agency, and the comprehensive range of initiatives offered support the overall achievement of the University ‘s sustainability goals.

What it Means to Win

"Sustainability and our Future Skills strategy are cornerstones of our university, with students and staff playing a pivotal role in fostering a new generation of sustainable leaders and change-makers. I am delighted that our commitment to placing students at the heart of our strategy and encouraging others has been recognised."

Professor Steven Spier, Vice-Chancellor

Top 3 Learnings

1. Showcasing students’ work inspired staff to commit to sustainability and understanding what it means.
2. Students felt empowered when activities were related to their reality, courses and involved external partners.
3. Our staff appreciated examples and support to identify sustainability in their disciplinary context and roles.