Colin Hocking Robert Ford Angela Daddow Teaching & learning Portal

Colin Hocking Robert Ford Angela Daddow

Teaching & learning Portalhttp://tls.vu.edu.au/portal/index.aspx

October, 2011

Top Down, Bottom Up, Institution Wide: Coordinating & Growing Education for Sustainability Across a University

Victoria University is:. Multi-sector – degree, diploma & certificate, entry level

• 50,000 + students across 12 campuses in Melbourne & Asia

• Primary Uni in Melbourne’s west – part of our statute of formation

• January 2011: new Vice-Chancellor => Sept 2011: new Strategic Plan until 2016:

• Values include: “The staff and students of Victoria University demonstrate respect for others from diverse countries and cultures, educational and socio-economic backgrounds, and for the natural environment. “

• High Level Learning & Teaching Goals include: “VU will be committed to ... education for sustainability to ensure our graduates contribute to the long term sustainability of our natural environment.” (one of six)

Victoria University is:

Where we are now in EfS• EfS committee – under Pro VC Academic & Students

Þ To implement the National Action Plan for EfS: “ provide people with the knowledge, skills & motivation

to plan and make changes for sustainability ”For Higher Education – across all coursesFor TAFE & Vocational Education – in all national training packages

• Sustainability Ed. Officer+ staff in Curriculum Innovation Unit working on EfS+ other staff being appointed (e.g. In Tech Trades & Innovation)

• EfS coordinates with VU Enviro.Committee =>Operations & Infrastructure e.g. Greenhouse Gas reductions; Water savings; Waste minimisation; Biodiversity

• EfS Work plan for 2011• Bottom up as well as top down process • EfS policy for VU under construction

EfS Work Plan for 2011

Council, Vice Chancellor & Senior Management – support & leadership

EfS Policy – under devel.

Framework for Development of EfS at VUTOP DOWN, BOTTOM UP, INSTITUTION WIDE

EfS Strategies EfS Committee Curriculum Innovation Unit

PVC Students & AcademicExternal Groups & Businesses

FAEHD FOHES FBL VE FE

Research Centres: ISICESARECSS

Networking & Professional Development Support - for Champions & Innovators

Networking & Professional Development Support for Teachers & Course Coordinators/Developers

BUILD A CULTURE OF EfS ACROSS VU

Six Faculties across Higher Ed, Vocational Ed, Further Ed

Student Clubs & Projects(StudentLeadership

How we got to this point...the story• Vic. State Steering Group for EfS in Tertiary Ed – 6 yrs old

Sharing ideas – Driver for progress across institutions – ’Bootstrapping’

• Sept-Dec 2008: Exec Deans Meetings at VUÞ Position paper on EfS to Education Review Board

• June 2009 – position paper to peak VU committee

• June 2010– formation of EfS committee- National Action Plan for EfS made this simpler- A ready-made, effective definition of EfS - Policy at national level - Across Higher Ed & Vocational Ed & Community

• March 2011 – Sustainability Ed. Officer+ staff in Curriculum Innovation Unit working on EfS

• Sept 2011 EfS formalised in VU Strategic Plan

The journey... Top down...

ALREADY ACHIEVED• Sustainability embedded in VU mission & VU values

+ one of six high level education goals in VU strategy• EfS embedded in Annual Course Monitoring Process• EfS Committee set up – reporting to VC’s education advisory cttee• Extension of Sustainability Ed Officer position for 2 years

NEAR FUTURE• Review of Learning and Teaching policy to include EfS • Review of VU Grad. Cert. In Tertiary Ed to include EfS in curriculum• New Curriculum framework - 2012 will incorporate EfS in University

curricula

 The journey…bottom up

Snapshots of progress • Workshops on ‘Clarifying EfS at VU’ – in progress• Start-up Community of Practice – travels between Faculties

monthly• Embedding EfS in curricula examples – Footscray gardens;

Sports & Science (later session at AASHE); • Traditional Trades• New Position in Fac. Tech.Trades & Innovation• External Links

• Sustainability Victoria • Links with Local Government

e.g. Western Alliance for Greenhouse Action

Campus as a site of EfS learning ... Practice Firm: A learning in the workplace initiativea 6-star sustainable building that provides Learning in the Workplace and Community (“LiWC”) experiences to a wide range of higher education and TAFE students.

Sunshine Construction Futures Purpose-built, innovative 6 star facility - to support the development of the building and construction industries in Melbourne’s west.

Sport and Learning Precinct- Specialist 5 star sports education & research facilities- Includes a VU-wide ‘Learning Commons’

What we can see on the journey – Institution wide

• EfS in discourse & culture across VU

• Campus sustainability more wide-spread

• Development of student –based projects and other engagement with sustainability

• More partnerships with industry and professional associations - influencing VE teaching, applied research and internal & external university collaboration

• More incorporation of EfS in courses & subjects – supported by clear guidelines for assessment of EfS in new & revised courses?

Lessons Learnt ☼ Avoid imposition of policy that alienates staff

- implement via two-way consultation

☼ EfS can be aligned as part of development of quality education pedagogy of EfS aligns with leading practice in tertiary education

= active, engaged, problem-solving, multi-disciplinary, blended learning

☼ Professional development & support in two parts: generic PD for understanding what EfS & how to progress support staff in discipline areas to embed EfS in their own areas of learning & teaching

☼ Having a specific EfS Committee has benefits - focuses squarely on learning & teaching NEEDS close liaison with other VU sustainability areas e.g. Environment Committee; Research Centres

Colin Hocking - Sustainability Project Officer, Academic and Students

[email protected]

Robert Ford - Educational Advisor, Curriculum Innovation Unit

[email protected]

Angela Daddow – Educational Advisor, Curriculum Innovation Unit

[email protected]

Teaching & Learning Portalhttp://tls.vu.edu.au/portal/index.aspx

CONTACT DETAILS

VU: EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABILITYVALUE & High Level Learning & Teaching Goal

Respect for ... natural environment & ... Commitment to EfS ...

Environment Charter

Environment Policy

Environment Management Plan (EMP) 2009 -2012

Environment Committee

Education for Sustainability (EfS)

Committee

Projects:- Resource Efficiency- Behaviour Change

- Clarifying EfS- Commty of Practice

DVC C&MSFinance &

Infrastructure Committee

DVC A & SEducational

Management Advisory Cttee

Where to from here...

Aim: EfS in conversations & culture across VU

• Spread EfS across sectors and disciplines

• Clarify faculty-based incorporation of EfS in courses & subjects• Provide clear guidelines for assessment of EfS in new & revised courses

• Campus sustainability more wide-spread

• Student –based projects and other engagement with sustainability

• Partnerships with industry and professional associations - infiltrating

VE teaching; applied research and internal university collaboration

Immediate focus...

• Clarify what EfS is for VU – within overall National Action Plan

• Professional Development of Staff – two parts: Generic & Discipline-based

• Discipline-context workshops to elicit and articulate EfS in curricula

• Build & broaden participation in CoP’s – beyond enthusiasts

• Document leading practice case studies in a range of disciplines

• Strengthen links with other sustainability efforts in VU• Campus operations; student leadership; research centres

• Build a team of engaged EfS champions – across faculties & sectors

Community of Practice

Objectives

• Provide examples => document case studies

• Share ideas & strategies

• Networking

• Feed-back to overall EfS development in VU

Senior Management Support

• First CoP launched by Pro-ViceChancellor Greg Baxter - with outline of plan for EfS at VU & how CoP fits in