University of Cumbria

Law for Living - curriculum through partnership

Asking law students to work in partnership with academic staff to create a new curriculum to reflect their views of what a legal curriculum for sustainable development might look like seemed like a potentially risky initiative to some in our Law School. Furthermore, legal education is not the first discipline that comes to mind when considering sustainable development.

However, in Cumbria there are many legal issues associated with creating a sustainable economy, communities, farming, and energy production. For example the sometimes competing interests resulting from tourism, transport, environmental protection and local communities in the Lake District National Park and the proximity of Sellafield and a proposed new coal mine on the west coast.

Students and staff found they were able to work successfully in partnership to review the undergraduate law curriculum at the University of Cumbria with the aim of incorporating education for sustainable development skills and knowledge. Importantly, by including students in the whole process, from initial scoping to the final formal review, they were able to create a curriculum that recognises the centrality of law and legal frameworks in ensuring sustainable development. Most surprising was that this process achieved outcomes which also reflect key student priorities previously unappreciated by staff regarding both curricular content and students’ own wellbeing.

Top 3 Learnings

1. Our sustainable development mindset helps everyone develop care for themselves, others, and the world.
2. Our partnership and co-creation meant our focus on Education for Sustainable Development incorporated student wellbeing.
3. Together, we have created a better programme for local action in a complex, changing world.