In the 2024/2025 academic year, a new microcredential was developed at the University of Galway. The title of this course was CEL6109 Embedding Sustainability in the Curriculum. It was designed as a 10 ECTS microcredential for any staff member to avail of and as an optional module in the Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) Masters in Academic Practice.
The module was led by two SATLE funded Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) Lecturers in CELT and co-developed with ten members of staff from across the University. These included staff from: College of Science and Engineering; College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities; the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion unit, Student Services and the Sustainability Office.
In co-developing this course with staff members at the University, an interdisciplinary space was created for and with staff. Participants of the course were, for the first time, invited to engage across topics relating to sustainability terms and concepts; climate science; decolonising the curriculum; green labs; eco-anxiety; and curriculum design for sustainability, during 7 sessions, each 3-hours in duration.
Upon completion of the module, participants formed a new Community of Practice (CoP) for ESD. The purpose of the CoP is to explore strategies and pedagogical practices related to the integration of ESD into the formal curriculum. Members seek to create a community whereby they share knowledge, discuss experiences and explore best practices, and create a community of support and inspiration for furthering ESD – developing new teaching and research constellations and new sites of inspiration going forward.
For more information: https://www.universityofgalway.ie/centre-excellence-learning-teaching/about-esd/
Contact: Dr. Alma Clavin + Dr. Elizabeth Hurley, Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT), University of Galway.
