How do you incorporate sustainability and social responsibility into your curriculum and campus?

1 Define your vision and goals

The first step to incorporate sustainability and social responsibility into your curriculum and campus is to define what they mean for your institution, and what specific goals you want to achieve. You can use frameworks such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the Principles for Responsible Management Education, or the Global Reporting Initiative to guide your vision and strategy. You can also consult with your stakeholders, such as students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community partners, to ensure that your vision and goals are aligned with their needs and expectations.

2 Review and revise your curriculum

The next step is to review and revise your curriculum to ensure that it reflects your vision and goals, and that it provides your students with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes they need to address sustainability and social responsibility challenges in their fields of study and careers. You can use tools such as curriculum mapping, learning outcomes assessment, and course design rubrics to identify the gaps and opportunities in your curriculum, and to make the necessary changes. You can also involve your students in the process, by asking them for feedback, inviting them to co-create learning activities, or engaging them in service-learning projects.

4 Collaborate and communicate with external partners

The fourth step is to collaborate and communicate with external partners, such as other higher education institutions, local and global organizations, industry and government sectors, or media and public outlets. You can do this by joining networks and alliances that share your vision and goals, such as the Global University Network for Innovation, the Higher Education Sustainability Initiative, or the Talloires Network. You can also do this by participating in benchmarking and accreditation schemes that measure and improve your performance, such as the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System, or the Green Gown Awards. You can also do this by showcasing and sharing your best practices and lessons learned, by organizing events, publishing reports, or creating online platforms.

5 Evaluate and improve your impact

The fifth step is to evaluate and improve your impact, by collecting and analyzing data, feedback, and evidence on the outcomes and effects of your curriculum and campus initiatives on sustainability and social responsibility. You can do this by using indicators and metrics that are relevant and meaningful for your institution, such as student satisfaction, retention, graduation, employability, or civic engagement. You can also do this by using methods and tools that are rigorous and reliable, such as surveys, interviews, focus groups, case studies, or portfolios. You can also do this by using the results and insights to inform your decision making and action planning, and to celebrate your successes and address your challenges.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?