Education for Sustainable Development

Commitment to Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in learning, teaching and research

Bangor University is committed to becoming ‘the Sustainable University’ through the University’s Strategic Plan and sustainability strategy. Consultation is currently taking place on the 2021-2030 Strategy - A Sustainable World for Future Generations. Our Mission Statement also makes a commitment to sustainability with the remit for Sustainability being held by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor.

By emphasising sustainability, aiming for an international and ‘best in class’ reputation for its commitment to sustainable development, and by setting short and long term targets to integrate all aspects of sustainability into daily operations, it is contributing not only to its own sustainability but also to that of the region and the world in the context of its rich, natural environment and in terms of social cohesion, financial stability, and resource efficiency.

What this means for students is that the University provides excellent education and student experiences, and ensures that the development of the curriculum reflects this commitment to sustainable development and global citizenship. This approach also enhances teaching and research success by aiming to foster a culture that values and promotes sustainability alongside business and enterprise activities.

Mapping the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within Bangor University’s Curriculum

During the 2019/20 academic year, Dr. Tara Smith and Dr. Hayley Roberts in the School of Law undertook a module review of 28 undergraduate and 26 postgraduate modules to map the legal curriculum against the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Subsequently, PhD students in the College of Arts, Humanities and Business - Nnaoma Uzoamaka Ukachukwu, Adanna Omaka and Virginie Rouillard Le Court de Billot - mapped modules across the College as part of Bangor University's participation in the British Academy and Students Organising for Sustainability SHAPE Impact project. The project’s aim was to support students to better understand sustainability and through the mapping exercise, participating students had the opportunity to explore, question and make recommendations in relation to curricula across the College relating to the 17 SDGs.

The Sustainability Strategy Group has agreed to build on these efforts by supporting the collaborative rolling out of this mapping exercise to all three Colleges in 2021/22 so that the extent to which sustainability is taught across Bangor University can be recognised and enhanced going forward. Once complete all data will be made publicly available.

Our annual Objectives and Targets contains a target on education, for 2021/22 it is:

  • Promote the UNSDG curriculum mapping exercise across schools and colleges, and work with at least one additional school to map their curriculum

These targets are presented as part of the Annual Report published publicly and reviewed by the Sustainability Strategy Group each year, which is chaired by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor.

ESD support and training for staff

Bangor’s staff development team and the trade unions work to offer informal and structured support and training to help all staff integrate ESD into the curriculum and their work as part of Bangor’s ongoing commitment to its staff’s Continuing Professional Development programme to ensure continual improvement of its learning, teaching, research and other activities. This support and training includes discussions about ESD, opportunities to explore and develop collaborations, and support to develop ESD teaching, learning, research and work resources.

Get in touch with us to find out what’s on offer.

Read more about how ESD support and training fits into Bangor’s overall Staff Development Policy

Sustainability Education in Action

The University offers a large number of courses with direct links to real-world sustainability issues. Students can have the opportunity to conduct projects and get involved with practical sessions which consider the sustainability of University operations and how future developments can be shaped by sustainability considerations.

  • DXX4535 Research Planning and Communication: Work with real environmental data (Waste and Energy) from Bangor University buildings to develop research and analysis skills. Students complete a small project with conclusions and recommendations for the Campus Environmental Performance Team using a dataset of their choice. A scientific poster, practice note or briefing paper is produced.
  • DXX4524 Strategic Environmental Management: Staff from Campus Environmental Performance Team lead sessions based on their own expertise and work both within University and with other businesses, on Global Environmental Issues, Future Proofing and eco-design, Environmental Performance Indicators. Real data on the energy consumption of Bangor University buildings is used to teach energy auditing and assessments skills.
  • DXX4525 Green Technologies: Assess the success of renewable technologies on the Bangor University estate in a practical session.
  • DXX4518 Business Planning for Green Economy: Students develop business plans to target sustainability issues. Recent students have created business plans for a wide range of projects including; renewable energy generation for Bangor University, recyclable coffee cups, environmental education, a vegan micro-brewery.
  • Sustainability Master’s Projects: A huge variety of sustainability-related Master’s projects are conducted by Bangor University students every year supported by staff with active sustainability research projects and interests. Projects recently have included:
    • An evaluation of the context of adoption of agroforestry techniques
    • What discourses of nature and the environment inform and inspire rewilding activists?
    • Combining farmer’s local knowledge with ecological surveys
    • Impact of warming on the growing conditions of Aspen trees
    • Meta-analysis of wind farm guidelines to manage the mortality risk to bats
    • Quantifying the impact of climate change on forest biodiversity

In addition, Bangor has many more opportunities to learn about sustainability at undergraduate and post-graduate levels. Courses include Agroforestry and Food Security, Renewable Materials, Sustainable Forest and Nature Management, Sustainable Tropical Forestry, Wildlife Conservation, Environmental Conservation, Marine Environmental Studies and many more.