Curriculum development towards a sustainable university

This paper represents an opportunity to reflect upon an institutional initiative to embed sustainability within the curriculum; which is one strategy to move towards a more sustainable university. The University of the Arts London allocated £150,000 over 5 years to fund curriculum development projects in order to provide opportunities for academic, support and administrative staff to propose and instigate curriculum change in relation to environmental sustainability. The scheme which is now in its 4th year provides an excellent opportunity to reflect upon the impact and effectiveness of such strategies.

This paper draws upon an evaluation of the scheme and will reflect upon its impact in terms of fostering curriculum change and impacting the student experience. The paper considers the aims, engagement methods and outcomes of the scheme and critiques it in relation to articulations of Education for Sustainability and the disciplinary focused Design for Sustainability. Such a critique aims to problematize constructions of knowledge and to be thoughtful about the relationship between the two. This paper will of interest to peers in terms of reflecting upon the role of institutions and change strategies, learning from curriculum interventions in art and design aiming to be more ‘sustainable’ and to consider differing articulations of sustainability.