Case Study: Embedding Sustainability in Sustainability and Business (BUS3048) 

Overview 

Sustainability and Business (BUS3048) is a sustainability-focused module delivered across two semesters that places the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the centre of learning. The module explores all 17 SDGs and examines the role businesses play in both creating and addressing environmental, social, and economic challenges. 

The Approach 

The module develops students’ understanding of sustainability concepts, theories, and practices within a business context. Students critically examine issues such as climate change, sustainable development, corporate sustainability strategies, governance, energy, trade, finance, and supply chains. The curriculum encourages learners to evaluate how businesses are responding to sustainability challenges and how the SDGs are shaping future business priorities.  

Sustainable Learning 

Sustainability is reflected in the delivery of the module itself. No paper resources are used, with teaching and learning supported entirely through digital materials and e-resources. This approach reduces resource consumption while ensuring students have access to a wide range of sustainability-focused content.  

Applied Learning and Engagement 

Students engage with real-world sustainability issues through case studies, videos, discussions, and interactive activities. Seminar sessions explore how businesses contribute to sustainability challenges and the innovative ways organisations are working to address them. These activities encourage students to consider sustainability from local, national, and global perspectives while engaging with all 17 SDGs.  

Assessment and Student Impact 

Assessment is directly linked to sustainability practice. Students first analyse and compare the sustainability strategies of major companies, applying sustainability concepts and evaluating their effectiveness. They then work collaboratively with a sustainability-focused organisation or enterprise, assessing its activities, partnerships, and contribution to the SDGs. This enables students to apply theory to real-world business contexts and develop practical sustainability analysis skills.  

Impact 

The module demonstrates a comprehensive approach to embedding ESD within business education. By exploring sustainability across all 17 SDGs and connecting learning to real organisations and business challenges, students develop the knowledge, critical thinking skills, and practical understanding needed to support sustainable business practices in their future careers.  

Embedding Sustainability and Wellbeing in Body Matters in Performance (DAN2301)  

Overview  

Body Matters in Performance is a Level 5 dance module within English and Creative Arts that embeds Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) through a focus on embodied research, wellbeing, and environmental awareness. The module supports SDG 3: Good Health and Wellbeing and SDG 13: Climate Action, encouraging students to consider the relationship between health, movement, self, others, and the environment.   

The Approach  

Through varieties of embodied dance practice, students explore sustainable approaches to dance research and performance. The module promotes kinaesthetic empathy, reflection, care, and responsibility, helping students understand how creative and inclusive practice can respond to social and environmental challenges.   

Sustainable Learning  

Sustainability is embedded in the delivery of the module. Learning takes place in both indoor and outdoor settings, making use of natural light where possible and encouraging low-impact working practices. Students are also encouraged to use digital reading resources and recycled materials in their creative work.   

Collaborative Learning and Research  

Students engage in collaborative research activities and problem-based learning, either working in small groups or sharing embodied research workshops with peers. These approaches help develop critical thinking, adaptability, self-awareness, and an understanding of wellbeing and environmental responsibility.  

Assessment and Student Choice  

Students identify their own research topics and present their findings through a visual essay supported by practical exploration. This flexible approach allows them to investigate issues connected to wellbeing, ethics, sustainability, and artistic practice.  

Impact  

Students develop not only specialist dance knowledge but also transferable skills such as empathy, adaptability, critical thinking, and responsible decision-making. Through embodied learning, collaborative inquiry, and sustainable creative practices, they gain a deeper understanding of the connections between personal wellbeing, artistic practice, and environmental responsibility.  

Embedding Sustainability in Plant Sciences and Conservation Management   

Overview  

The BSc Plant Sciences and MSc Conservation Management programmes embed Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) throughout the curriculum by exploring the relationships between plants, people, conservation, and society. The programmes align with SDG 2: Zero Hunger, SDG 3: Good Health and Wellbeing, SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, SDG 13: Climate Action, and SDG 15: Life on Land, helping students understand the vital role plants play in addressing global challenges.  

  The Approach  

Sustainability themes are integrated across several modules, including Plants & People and Restoration & Conservation Planning. Students explore topics such as ethnobotany, plant conservation, climate change, food security, ethical ownership of plant resources, and habitat restoration. The curriculum encourages students to examine how plant science can contribute to environmental sustainability and human wellbeing.  

Sustainable Learning  

Sustainable practices are embedded in teaching and laboratory activities. Reading materials are provided digitally, practical sessions use reusable equipment and carefully managed resources, and laboratory waste is recycled through a departmental sustainability plan. Students share materials where possible, and field trips incorporate measures to reduce environmental impact, including carbon mitigation initiatives and shared transport.  

Applied and Experiential Learning  

Students engage with real-world sustainability challenges through visits to botanical gardens, conservation sites, museums, and environmental facilities. Activities encourage discussion of plant conservation, climate change, biodiversity loss, and the contribution of plants to human wellbeing. These experiences help students connect scientific knowledge with contemporary environmental and societal issues.   

Assessment and Student Impact  

Assessment tasks are directly linked to sustainability and conservation practice. In Restoration & Conservation Planning, students develop conservation management plans for local sites and produce public information materials that communicate conservation value to wider audiences. In some cases, student work has been adopted by conservation practitioners and used to support site management, demonstrating a tangible real-world impact.   

Impact  

These programmes demonstrate how sustainability can be embedded across biological sciences teaching through curriculum design, practical learning, fieldwork, and assessment. Students develop scientific knowledge alongside an understanding of environmental stewardship, conservation, ethical responsibility, and the role of plant science in addressing global sustainability challenges.  

Case Study: Masters in Public Health Nutrition 

Overview  

Nutrition and Sustainability (HUG4053) was introduced to the Masters in Public Health Nutrition due to the growing awareness of the impact of the food system on carbon emissions and climate change, along with the impact of climate change on food security. It is a sustainability-focused module delivered in semester 2. The module unpacks principles underpinning food sustainability and food security and discusses challenges and opportunities within the food supply chain. 

The Approach  

The module uses a systems thinking approach to develop students’ understanding of the complexity of the food system and the challenges of developing food production processes and consumption patterns that are supportive of human and planetary health.    

Sustainable Learning  

Sustainability is reflected in the delivery of the module itself. Minimal paper resources are used, with teaching and learning supported through digital materials and e-resources. This approach reduces resource consumption while ensuring students have access to a wide range of sustainability-focused content.   

Applied Learning and Engagement  

Students engage with real-world food sustainability issues through videos, discussions, and interactive activities. Seminar sessions explore how policy, technology and behaviour change can be used to solve complex food sustainability problems. These activities encourage students to consider food sustainability from local, national, and global perspectives, while considering issues of scalability and power imbalances. 

Assessment and Student Impact  

Assessment is directly linked to sustainability practice. Students are required to identify a food sustainability problem within the food chain and propose evidence-based solutions and recommendations to address the problem. They then produce a poster or infographic to communicate the findings to a relevant target audience within the food chain or in a position to influence the food system (e.g. policy makers). 

Impact  

The module demonstrates a comprehensive approach to embedding ESD within public health and nutrition education. By exploring food sustainability within the complexity of the food system, while considering challenges of solution scalability and power dynamics between actors in the food system, students develop the knowledge, critical thinking skills, and practical understanding needed to support food sustainability and food security.   

• QAA and Advance HE launched revised ESD guidance intended to help UK higher education institutions incorporate ESD within their curricula. 
• CoDesignS ESD Framework and Toolkit Provides an easy to implement pedagogic method for embedding Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in the curriculum using a co-design and co-creation approach. 
• Sustainability for Everyone: Perspectives from Higher Education Leaders Developed on the premise that sustainability is an area of great importance to higher education, of relevance to everyone in the sector and everyone needs to play their part. 
• Reduce your carbon footprint with Carbonfund.org This program is an innovative and flexible way to help businesses calculate, reduce and offset carbon footprint.  
• UNESCO sustainability competencies  compiled from the relevant literature, eight cross-cutting sustainability competencies that are interrelated with each other, and key for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
• People and Planet University League 2025/26 the UK’s largest student campaigning network, compiling the only comprehensive and independent league table of UK universities ranked by environmental and ethical performance. Edge Hill University has been ranked 64th and a 2:1 Class University status in the People & Planet University League. 
• GreenComp: The European sustainability competence framework is one of the policy actions set out in the European Green Deal as a catalyst to promote learning on environmental sustainability in the European Union. 
• Planetary Health Report Card: he Planetary Health Report Card is a metric-based tool for evaluating and improving planetary health content in health professional schools.
• Centre for Sustainable Healthcare: empower individuals and organisations to drive sustainable healthcare.
  • Case studies and learning materials: for healthcare including clinical care, pathway, waste, medicines and equipment
  • Quality improvement: healthcare outcomes of a service are measured against environmental, social and economic costs

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