Learning for Sustainability (LfS) includes global citizenship, sustainable development, social justice, human rights, climate change, biodiversity loss, and equality. LfS is an approach that builds learners' capacity to deal with the unpredictable social, economic and environmental challenges facing our rapidly changing world.
What's different about NextGen: HN?
Learning for Sustainability is a core component of all NextGen: HN qualifications.
LfS is an approach that helps learners to question, analyse and think critically while working with others. Embedding LfS in NextGen: HN qualifications will help to prepare learners for the increasing demand for skills, jobs, and careers, as Scotland transitions to a greener and net-zero economy.
The expectation is that all NextGen: HN learners will exit their studies with:
a general understanding of sustainability and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs)
a good grounding in subject-specific sustainability
the confidence to apply the knowledge, skills, and values developed through their learning in the next stage of their lives.
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UN goals and Scottish Government action plan
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
All learners have an entitlement to learning for sustainability which is underpinned by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Scottish and UK governments have signed up to this global call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and improve the lives and prospects of everyone, everywhere.
The Scottish Government's National Performance Framework was refreshed in 2018 to incorporate all of the UN SDGs. Therefore, all Scottish Government policy and resource decisions are underpinned by the SDGs.
Scotland's Learning for Sustainability Action Plan
NextGen: HN Qualifications use the Scottish Government Target 2030: A movement for people, planet and prosperity, Scotland’s Learning for Sustainability Action Plan 2023-2030, for definitions and guidance.
Making LfS a key driver in the future of Scottish education will not only enable us to heed the call to action from learners but will allow us to achieve much more besides.All of our policy ambitions in relation to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, climate and net zero, biodiversity, circular economy, and economic and social transformation can only be delivered with the commitment of Scotland’s people, supported throughout their education.
The LfS Action Plan (2023) was developed through extensive consultation with children and young people, along with educators across a range of early years to university learning settings. Underlying research, feeding into the plan, provided strong evidence that the learner voice is strong on LfS and young people want it to be part of their everyday learning.
We should have Learning for Sustainability because if people learn about it, they will act, and it’s true that just a few people can make a change, and more children can have their voices heard.
Resources
We have produced a poster (A3) that outlines what is meant by the three pillars of sustainability, their importance, and their link with the UN Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals.
We have produced some subject-specific infographics that highlight how a named global issue relates to an aspect of course/unit content, and some of the Sustainable Development Goals linked to impacts of that global issue. These are intended for use both by practitioners and learners, and can be used to stimulate discussion and ideas for the LfS outcome. We will add further examples in due course.
SQA Academy Module Module 1, An Introduction to the UN’s Sustainability Development Goals and Learning for Sustainability provides learners and practitioners with an introduction to LfS.
Learning for Sustainability Scotland United Nations University and recognised Regional Centre of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development provides policy, practice, courses and resources
LfS resources for 3-18 curriculum (many can be adapted for college use)
EAUC Scotland EAUC Scotland’s mission is to inspire, empower and support leadership and collaborative action for sustainability across the Scottish further and higher education (FE/HE) sector.
General Teaching Council for Scotland
GTCS Professional Standards The Professional Standards for Teachers and College Lecturers outline registration expectations regarding sustainability education
SOS-UK is a student-led education charity focusing on sustainability they have a resource bank to help educators with embedding sustainability into their teaching, learning, or assessment.
Free online sustainability courses for everyone
University of Edinburgh with LfS Scotland and British Council online course available at certain times through the year