51 Designing an Academic Development Programme to Support Embedding ESD in the Curriculum

Dr Alison Calvert presented Queen’s flagship CPD initiative, Leading ESD in the Curriculum, a SEDA accredited programme designed to build academic confidence and capacity in embedding sustainability. Developed with colleague Dr Kieran Higgins, the programme responds to a clear skills gap: staff recognised the urgency of climate and sustainability but often lacked confidence in translating ESD principles into their teaching.

The programme consists of six two-hour sessions, requiring full engagement, active learning, and reflective practice. Participants complete four assessed tasks, including reflective essays and the review and redesign of a module mapped against the SDGs and ESD competencies. Accreditation provides professional recognition, a strong motivator for staff engagement.

Piloted in 2023–24 with 10 academics and expanded to 11 more the following year, the programme attracted staff from diverse disciplines, demonstrating that sustainability is relevant beyond STEM. Participants reported statistically significant improvements in skills and confidence, with the largest gains in their ability to integrate ESD into teaching.

Feedback highlighted the value of ringfenced professional development time, opportunities to share practice across disciplines, and the transformative nature of active learning. Challenges included workload pressures and completing assessments, but the community of practice formed among participants has provided continued peer support.

Dr Calvert emphasised that the programme empowers staff to act as ESD leaders within their schools, creating a ripple effect. By embedding sustainability into modules and modelling reflective practice, participants are directly transforming student learning and helping to normalise ESD across Queen’s curricula.