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York Environmental Sustainability Institute
HomeYork Environmental Sustainability InstituteYESI FellowsYESI International Fellows SchemeIntegrating sustainability into university teaching

Integrating sustainability into university teaching

Context

Universities not only have a moral obligation to take an active role in tackling climate change and bringing about environmental justice; they have international obligations under the action plan adopted at COP27 to empower all of society to engage in climate action through education in order to meet Article 12 of the Paris Agreement.  Nevertheless, progress in mainstreaming is slow.  A survey conducted by SOS in 2020 found that whilst 92% of their HE student respondents around the world agree that  all universities and colleges should actively incorporate and promote ‘sustainable development’, 40% report low or no coverage of the concept in their course curriculum (SOS, 2020).  This is reflected in recent research analysing countries’ UNFCCC submissions (McKenzie, 2021) which found that whilst climate change education and communication content appeared in submissions, little was suitable for monitoring purposes and that there were important gaps in activities, with an emphasis on cognitive knowledge over affective and action-oriented approaches. Although many countries have laws, plans and policies for climate change in higher education, few have publicly available budgets for climate change education (UNESCO, 2023) and few call for compulsory climate education as a strategy (Kwauk, 2021). 

The key research question guiding this collaboration is: where is there potential to overcome challenges in integrating environmental sustainability into teaching in the different social contexts of two universities: the University of Belgrade (UB) and University of York (UoY)?

Aims and Objectives

The aim of the collaboration is to exchange experiences in integrating environmental sustainability into higher education (HE) and to explore staff experiences of agency in relation to incorporating environmental sustainability into higher education.  Overall, the fellowship will enable us to:

  1. Gain insights into existing structures, projects and policies supporting integration of sustainability into teaching in both universities.
  2. Organize meetings with stakeholders and decision makers influencing/ contributing to sustainability integration in both universities.
  3. Conduct interviews with staff, in order to understand their perspectives on challenges and supporting practices influencing integration of sustainability into teaching within the specific social context of universities.
  4. Share experiences and reflect on different models for integration of sustainability in teaching and further collaboration in this field.

The YESI International Fellowship was a great opportunity to reflect on our own approaches, question current education and research practices, and to play with shared utopian visions for environmental sustainability through education.  The fellowship has sparked a collaboration that will extend beyond the scheme.  Thank you!

- Dr Lynda Dunlop and Prof Violeta Orlović Lovren

Project Outputs

Professor Violeta Orlović Lovren presented her research at the YESI International Fellows seminar: Designing ideal learning spaces with sustainability in mind, and connected with many colleagues during her visit to the University of York.  Dr Lynda Dunlop's reciprocal visit to the University of Belgrade was equally immersive with project seminars and research meetings.  A co-authored paper is in the planning stage.  

Photos of Exchange Trips - from Belgrade to York, and back again.

Three photos of Violeta's trip to york, talking to someone at a workshop, and two with colleagues in York

Photos taken during Violeta's trip to the University of York. 

Photo of Lynda's trip to Belgrade, taken with colleagues during various seminars and research presentations

Photo of a meeting with researchers at University of Belgade, students are sat around a table talking to Lynda who is standing up

Photos taken during Lynda's trip to the University of Belgrade. Showing Lynda talking with colleagues during a project seminar and a research meeting.

University of York collaborators

Lynda Dunlop, Department of Education

Bio: Lynda Dunlop is Director of Education for Environmental Sustainability at York and Senior Lecturer in the Department of Education. Her research focuses on the use of participatory methods to explore the intersection between science, politics and environmental education and youth participation in environmental decision making.

Kate Harper, Community Engaged Learning Manager, Careers and Placements

Bio: Kate Harper is Community Engaged Learning Manager for the Environmental Sustainability at York Sustainability Clinic, which won a Green Gown award for student experience in 2023. Her work focuses on community engaged learning, partnership working and environmental sustainability.

International collaborator

Professor Violeta Orlović Lovren, Department of Pedagogy and Andragogy, University of Belgrade

Bio: Violeta Orlović Lovren is Professor at the Department of Pedagogy and Andragogy in the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Belgrade. Her work focuses on environmental adult education, adult education and sustainable development, and higher education didactics. She has previously held a number of prestigious fellowships including a LEAD Fellowship and Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship. Violeta has collaborated with others to create a framework for integrating the SDGs in university of programmes and an assessment of competences for university teaching of sustainable development.