Making the Links De Montfort University and the

Making the Links: De Montfort University and the UN Sustainable Development Goals Dr Andrew Reeves De Montfort University, Leicester, UK Summer School, 27 th July 2018. 1

Aims for the session • Introduce the SDGs – DMU’s commitment – Links to your course • How you can contribute – Via your course – Via volunteering, societies and more 2

The Big Picture: What is a university for? From De Montfort University (DMU) Strategic Framework 2015 -2020 3

Achieving Public Good: Contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals • A transformative agenda for 2030 – Agreed via United Nations in September 2015 4

What is Sustainable Development? “Sustainable development is the kind of development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. ” Bruntland Commission, 1987 Images from Climate Visuals

Caring for the “three pillars” Image: Stockholm Resilience Centre http: //www. stockholmresilience. org/i mages/18. 36 c 25848153 d 54 bdba 33 ec 9 b/1465905797608/sdgs-foodazote. jpg

“a sixth mass extinction event” – when the Earth loses more than three-quarters of its species in a geologically short interval Barnosky, Anthony D. , et al. "Has the Earth/'s sixth mass extinction already arrived? . " Nature 471. 7336 (2011): 51 -57.

(Always) a topical issue! From the Guardian: https: //www. theguardia n. com/environment/20 18/jul/26/just-13 -ofglobal-oceansundamaged-byhumanity-researchreveals

(Always) a topical issue! From the Guardian: https: //www. theguardia n. com/commentisfree/2 018/jul/06/britainheatwave-worse-tocome-water-climatechange

Linking to Learning at DMU… Photos from SDG Teach-in February 2018 11

Students and the University want this to happen 82% of DMU students agree that sustainable development should be incorporated and promoted within all DMU courses NUS Student Survey (2017) “We will equip students and staff with an understanding of the challenges of sustainability and sustainable development, and will approach learning, teaching and assessment mindful of the opportunities to contribute locally and globally to the public good and environmental futures as well as of our impact on a resource-limited world. ” DMU University Learning Teaching and Assessment Strategy, 2018 12

…and we aim to go further 13

Sites of learning at University Formal Curriculum Informal Curriculum Hidden Curriculum 14

Formal Curriculum • 90 modules explicitly address sustainability • Links made via: – Topics taught – Assessments – Projects Examples: Textile Contexts, led by Claire Lerpiniere, within BA Textile Design. Students examine the “circular economy” as the future context for textiles production. Social Work: 3 rd year students explored links between their practice placements and the SDGs via 15 a conference in 2018 organised by Prof. Julie Fish.

Informal (or co-) Curriculum • Learning around courses – Student societies, clubs – Major initiatives • #DMUWorks – employability • #DMUGlobal – international experience • #DMULocal – community volunteering • Example: DMU Square Mile India, in Ahmedabad – Aiming to “transform the lives of some of the poorest communities in Gujarat” – Students volunteer on projects to support education, sustainable energy… 16

Hidden Curriculum How sustainability is embedded in campus life Planned phase out of singleuse plastic products, by: • Removing all single use nonrecyclable drinking cups on campus • Replacing all plastic disposable cutlery with compostable items • Expanding the number of free drinking water fountains on campus 17 DMU (2018)

Discussion 1 • Which goal(s) are most challenging to achieve where you grew up (whether UK or overseas)? 18

Discussion 2 • Which goal is most strongly connected to the course you aim to study? 19

Discussion 3 • Which goal do you feel most interested in working towards? 20

Next Steps • Could your course be a case study programme for linking to the SDGs in 18/19? – Sign up to keep in touch • SDG Teach-in: Feb 18 th to 22 nd 2019 – Ask your course leaders to take part • Volunteering and global learning – #DMULocal – #DMUGlobal • Follow Sustainable. DMU on Facebook and Twitter 21

Thank you! Any questions? What would you like to see happen at the university? Dr Andrew Reeves: areeves@dmu. ac. uk Sustainable DMU: sustainability@dmu. ac. uk 22