4 ESD at Ulster University: A multifaceted approach

Since 2019, Ulster University has taken a whole-institution approach to embedding ESD, led by Dr Amanda Platt. In this presentation, Dr Platt provides an overview of the university’s journey, highlighting the integration of sustainability into curriculum design, quality assurance, and student learning experiences.

From the outset, Ulster aligned ESD with its curriculum design framework, requiring staff to demonstrate how sustainability is embedded within programmes during validation and revalidation. This strategic move ensured that ESD became a shared responsibility across all disciplines rather than the remit of individual enthusiasts. Complementing this, bespoke workshops, case studies, and tailored resources have helped staff understand what ESD looks like in practice and how it benefits students.

Dr Platt also describes how ESD has been incorporated into professional development, including the Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education Practice, and supported by sector initiatives such as SOS-UK’s Responsible Futures programme. Ulster recently became one of the first Irish institutions to achieve accreditation under this framework, reflecting its commitment to whole-institution change.

Other milestones include updating module handbooks with explicit SDG references, embedding sustainability into graduate attributes, adding student survey questions on ESD, and engaging over 700 students in the National Sustainability Skills Survey.

Dr Platt frames Ulster’s progress as significant but ongoing: the goal is to move beyond progress markers towards a culture where ESD is embedded across research, teaching, and the wider student experience.