26 Overview of ATU ESD Academy

Dr John Scahill introduced the newly established ATU ESD Academy, created to strengthen and coordinate ESD across the university. A partnership between ATU’s Teaching and Learning Centre and the ATU Centre for Sustainability, the Academy provides a central hub for training, resources, and collaboration. It supports staff and students in embedding sustainability into teaching, learning, and practice through accredited programmes, workshops, and digital tools.

Core activities include the Postgraduate Certificate in Education for Sustainability, a Level 6 Certificate on the SDGs, and over 17 MOOCs aligned to the UN Global Goals. The Academy also delivers national digital badges in ESD and curriculum design, equipping educators with practical frameworks. A significant focus is Carbon Literacy Training, with ATU aiming to roll this out at scale, building staff and student confidence in climate-focused action.

Dr Scahill highlighted the Academy’s role in cultivating a community of practice, bringing together dispersed sustainability initiatives and ensuring good practice is shared across ATU’s nine campuses. With more than 26,000 students and 2,200 staff, ATU is one of Ireland’s largest universities, and its ESD Academy aims to ensure that sustainability is not an add-on but a core principle woven into teaching, research, and operations. Positioned as an AASHE-accredited centre, ATU stands alongside TU Dublin as designated leaders in embedding sustainability across the curriculum.

About the author

name: Dr John Scahill

institution: Atlantic Technological University

Dr John Scahill is a member of the Department of Building and Civil Engineering and Co-Lead of the Atlantic Technological University ESD Academy.