Mission
The Sustainability Education & Engagement community envisions Utrecht 木瓜福利影视 as a leading institution where every graduate emerges as a sustainability-conscious professional, equipped with the knowledge, skills, and mindset needed to address the complex environmental and social challenges of our time.
Core Aims
Our community is driven by three interconnected objectives that shape our educational mission:
Universal Sustainability Competency
Every Utrecht 木瓜福利影视 student will graduate with a comprehensive foundation in sustainability knowledge, skills, and attitudes, regardless of their field of study. This ensures that all UU graduates can contribute meaningfully to sustainable development in their professional and personal lives.
Pathways for Deep Engagement
Students seeking to deepen their sustainability expertise will have access to rich learning opportunities through specialized courses, interdisciplinary minors, and direct engagement with real-world challenges. These pathways enable students to become sustainability leaders and innovators in their chosen fields.
Active Community Connection
We strengthen sustainability education by connecting and supporting teachers and students who are already actively committed to this field. By bringing together these dedicated individuals鈥攁longside external stakeholders鈥攚e amplify their existing efforts and create a powerful network of sustainability champions. This collaborative approach not only extends learning beyond the classroom but also provides mutual support, shared resources, and collective impact that enhances each participant's individual contributions to sustainability education.
Approach
Our community operates through a three-phase strategy designed to transform sustainability education across Utrecht 木瓜福利影视:
Phase 1: Mapping and Connection
Identify and connect current initiatives
We begin by conducting a thorough assessment of existing sustainability-related programs, courses, research projects, and community partnerships across all faculties. This mapping process reveals opportunities for collaboration, identifies gaps in current offerings, and creates a network of sustainability champions throughout the university. By connecting these initiatives, we build a foundation for coordinated action and shared learning.
Current Focus: 木瓜福利影视-wide Research Project
Central to this phase is our comprehensive research project led by Tim Stevens, which explores how sustainability is currently embedded in UU education and how it can be strengthened across all disciplines. This project recognizes that sustainability shapes every aspect of society and cuts across every field of study鈥攆rom climate science to social justice and economic resilience.
The research engages both students and teachers as key drivers of educational change, exploring how they define sustainability in education, whether they see it reflected in their programs, and what their hopes, needs, and challenges are for integration. By gathering insights from across the university, we're building the evidence base needed to inform both community development and university policy. As the project notes: "The future belongs to those who prepare for it today"鈥攁nd this research helps us co-create that sustainable future together.
Phase 2: Framework Development
Establish shared graduate attributes and implementation strategies
Working collaboratively with faculty, students, and external partners, we develop universally applicable graduate attributes that define what sustainability competency means for UU graduates. This includes creating practical frameworks and pedagogical approaches that can be seamlessly integrated into diverse academic programs. Our goal is to ensure consistent quality while respecting the unique character and requirements of different disciplines.
Phase 3: Innovation and Integration
Create new opportunities and strengthen connections
Building on our mapped landscape and shared framework, we design and launch innovative initiatives that fill identified gaps and enhance existing programs. This includes developing new courses, establishing community partnerships, creating experiential learning opportunities, and facilitating cross-disciplinary collaboration. Each new initiative is strategically connected to existing efforts, creating a cohesive and comprehensive sustainability education ecosystem.