Learning in sustainability

Staff and students have access to a range of personal development courses designed to increase their learning in sustainability.

Learning opportunities for staff

Environment Culture

This two-hour-long workshop provides staff with some ideas on how to start an environment culture in our workplace. Learn about the University’s net-zero ambitions and the use of behaviour-changing tools so you can do your bit to help the University become a more sustainable workplace.

The workshop includes break-out rooms to allow you to meet staff from other departments and discuss the boundaries and opportunities for change. Sign up for the workshop through PDMS.

Learning opportunities for students

Vertically Integrated Projects

Vertically Integrated Projects (VIPs) give students from any discipline and level of study the opportunity to join a research team as part of their degree studies.

There are currently four VIPs focusing on environmental sustainability: Biodiversity Literacy; Biodiversity Change in the Anthropocene; Looking after Eden; and the St Andrews Forest.

Training in Environmental Sustainability Action

Training in Environmental Sustainability Action (TESA) is an online course for all students at the University designed to support students to action for a sustainable St Andrews. By making TESA accessible for the whole student population as a part of matriculation, the University has created a springboard for local action with global reach and a sustainable legacy.

TESA covers climate justice, how to get involved in the town’s community gardens, where to get hold of a bike, and ways to be a part of St Andrews circular economy.

Access the course on 'my courses' in Moodle. If you have any feedback on the course, please email environment@st-andrews.ac.uk.

Learning opportunities for staff and students

Sustainability in the curriculum

The University is committed to teaching sustainability in its broadest terms across the whole curriculum, supported by the Sustainability in the Curriculum committee, which gives students and staff the opportunity to engage with learning and teaching in sustainability.

Visit the Sustainabiliy in the Curriculum web page to find out about the Committee's work, which includes an annual prize for modules that support learning in sustainability and School maps identifying sustainability in the curriculum.

The Committee also confers the Golden Dandelion Award to modules that excel in teaching environmental sustainability.

Carbon Management and Sustainability Curriculum Design

As a part of the St Andrews Forest proposal, students from the Environmental Sustainability Board worked with CEED to launch a certificate course in Carbon Management and Sustainable Curriculum Design in spring 2021.

Students and staff across all Schools - 170 in total - participated in the course. It encouraged students to work together with other disciplines and generations to design 25 new module proposals addressing environmental sustainability. Many of these proposals link to the plans for a new Vertically Integrated Project on the St Andrews Forest.

For more information on the Carbon Management and Sustainability Curriculum Design certificate, please contact ceed@st-andrews.ac.uk.