Driving change: creating student-NGO partnerships for climate solutions Luis Ricardo Fernández Carril and Luis Gerardo Rojas Solorio reveal how to energise and empower students to take part in the fight against climate change Luis Ricardo Fernández Carril , Luis Gerardo Rojas Solorio Monterrey Institute of Technology
Moving beyond climate change to teach the climate crisis Ways to scale up education relating to the climate crisis and the questions it must guide students to answerAdam R. Aron University of California San Diego
How to select and monitor climate adaptations for universitiesIn the fourth and final part of their series, Rob Wilby and Shona Smith explain how universities can implement adaptation measures and monitor their progress towards resilient net zeroRobert Wilby, Shona SmithLoughborough University, University of Leeds
Circular impact: a call to action for research on grand societal challengesHow to enact a ‘circular’ approach to research and impact so outcomes feed back into the work to inform ongoing planning and improvementRyan Nolan University of Exeter, Universities Policy Engagement Network (UPEN)
A guide to evaluating and managing climate risks to universitiesIn the third part of their series, Rob Wilby and Shona Smith explain how universities can determine their climate risk exposure, then identify actions to reduce associated threats to people, property and operationsRobert Wilby, Shona SmithLoughborough University, University of Leeds
A practical approach to tackling eco-anxietyWe induce eco-anxiety by teaching students about climate change, so training them in practical and achievable solutions to it are needed, too, write Helen Hicks and Dawn Lees Helen Hicks, Dawn LeesUniversity of Exeter
Making sustainability part of university DNAMeaningful change comes from embedding green practices into every aspect, and every member, of the institution, starting from induction training Thomas Menkhoff, Kevin Cheong Singapore Management University
THE podcast: universities aren’t too small to lead the climate crisis fightIt’s easy to feel hopeless in the face of climate change, but, in this episode, two experts offer ways universities – and individuals – can make a difference to their local area and the planetBryan Alexander, Sebastian PfautschGeorgetown University, Western Sydney University
Unlocking knowledge within local communities as part of ‘levelling up’With ‘levelling up‘ and regional prosperity now central to the UK government’s thinking, universities need to transform the way they conduct research to respond to emerging needs and provide solutions to today’s social, economic and environmental issuesHenrietta L. Moore University College London
Accounting for sustainability: we need to change how we teachAccountants of the future will need to respond to as yet unknown sustainability reporting standards. Freirean dialogic teaching where lecturers learn alongside students through discussion helps build the skills to respond to such changeJennifer RoseUniversity of Manchester
A whole-university road map to sustainability impact Top-ranked Western Sydney University combines immediate action with long-term planning to drive progress in achieving impact aligned with the SDGs. Here, Deborah Sweeney and Kevin Dunn share insights learned from their institution-wide approachDeborah Sweeney, Kevin Dunn Western Sydney University
A case for bringing ethics of friendship and care to academic researchFriendship adds ethical and emotional dimensions that can make research equitable, sensitive, responsive and consequential to local communities, writes Noam Schimmel, based on his experiences in Rwanda Noam SchimmelUniversity of California, Berkeley
Setting scenarios for a university adapted to climate changeIn the second part of their series, Rob Wilby and Shona Smith explain how running institutional plans through different scenarios can help improve a university’s resilience to future challenges relating to climate changeRobert Wilby, Shona SmithLoughborough University, University of Leeds
Decolonisation as a driver for the Sustainable Development GoalsHow decolonial approaches can underpin and drive work to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals across higher educationSean Porter, Eleanor CookUniversity of Exeter
Ease students’ climate anxiety by encouraging climate actionClimate anxiety is a mental health issue and universities can help students overcome it through climate action, multiplying their own impact along the way, writes Cecil ScheibCecil ScheibNew York University
Charting a shared path to net zero universitiesWhat’s been lacking in the decarbonisation journey is the ability to bring universities together to share best practices, resources and tools, so that pioneers in the area can assist those just starting out. Now there’s a toolkitShreejan Pandey, Rebecca PowellMonash University
Creating a reusable takeout dish programme on campusWant to reduce single-use waste at your university? In this guide for students and administrators, Rojine McVea offers tips for how to set up a reusable dish service based on her own experienceRojine McVea University of Alberta
Start your university on a path to resilient net zeroPractical tips on how institutions can improve their resilience to climate threats while on a path towards net zero emissions, by Rob Wilby and Shona SmithRobert Wilby, Shona SmithLoughborough University, University of Leeds
A ‘grocery store’ model can help your campus food bank reduce wasteA move from pre-packed hampers can make university food banks more efficient and the space more welcoming – and build a stronger community. Erin O’Neil offers tips for switching to a grocery-store modelErin O’NeilUniversity of Alberta
Why learning to listen will help you avoid ‘helicopter research’ and make you a better science communicatorA year of failed fieldwork in Africa led Sallie Burrough to ask questions about how researchers interact with the societies they work in. Here, she shares five tips for transparent, inclusive practicesSallie BurroughUniversity of Oxford
Building blocks of university-industry partnerships for positive changeHow universities can develop strategic cross-sector partnerships and trans-disciplinary research in order to boost progress towards the SDGs Tim Bodley-Scott, Ersel OymakUniversity College London
A holistic blueprint for sustainabilityInstead of compartmentalising decisions about infrastructure or resource allocation, universities need a whole-system approach to sustainability that shifts attitudes and behaviour, writes Lily KongLily KongSingapore Management University
We’ve engaged 250 student volunteers to hold climate emitters to account The Net Zero Tracker taps into students’ passion for climate action, teaches them net-zero literacy and builds their employability. Here’s how we work with themCamilla HyslopUniversity of Oxford
Raising aspirations: lessons in running a young scholars programmeWidening access to higher education for children from disadvantaged backgrounds is a priority for UK universities. Here, Valsa Koshy outlines lessons from a successful programme for primary school pupilsValsa KoshyBrunel University London
Restructuring a university, part twoWhen funding pressures made it clear that the University of Alberta had to change, it overhauled its entire way of working. Here, president Bill Flanagan explains how they did itBill FlanaganUniversity of Alberta
The four-day week in higher education: can we make it work?With a culture of overwork eroding well-being among UK university staff, could a four-day working week be part of the solution? Rushana Khusainova looks at whether this mode of working is feasible in higher educationRushana KhusainovaUniversity of Bristol
Bingo! Try bringing games into your staff trainingTo engage professional service staff with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, a team at the University of Exeter took a novel approach, creating SDG Bingo. Here’s how they did it Eleanor Cook, Sean PorterUniversity of Exeter
Transformative change is needed to deliver Earth-centred educationThe time for incrementalism is over. As responsible humans and academic professionals we must radically rethink the purposes and processes of education and developmentMark FettesSimon Fraser University
Defining impact: a shift in thinking, acting and beingWhat is impact? And, more importantly, how do universities foster and measure it? Here is a plan to raise impact awareness, literacy and readinessIgor Campillo, Glória Nunes, Iñigo PuertasEnlight European University, Euskampus Fundazioa
Creating ‘third spaces’ will revolutionise your campusInformal communal spaces bring multiple benefits, from encouraging interdisciplinarity to helping with net zero targets, says Jerry TateJerry TateTate and Co
Seven strategies to turn academic libraries into social organisations For libraries to secure their future on higher education campuses, they must embrace a model that prioritises partnerships and collaboration, says Sheila Corrall Sheila Corrall University of Pittsburgh
THE podcast: academia and activism Three academics share their experiences of using their research and teaching for social justice aims Colette Cann, Eric DeMeulenaere, John McKendrickUniversity of San Francisco, Clark University, Glasgow Caledonian University
How to run an effective student well-being campaignFrom reaching out to the local community to making it interactive, Christina Chant offers seven tips for effectively promoting your university’s well-being servicesChristina ChantEdinburgh Napier University
Voting counts: how to get more students to the ballot boxYoung people are less likely to vote than any other age group, so what can institutions do to engage students with the most fundamental of democratic processes? Rebecca Deegan shares some lessonsRebecca DeeganI Have A Voice
From personal to professional: incorporating sustainability into your university workPractical advice for embedding sustainability issues into broader professional practice, taking lessons from teaching English language that are applicable across other disciplinesPeter BuckleyThe University of Edinburgh
Offering students a ‘Big Green Gap Year’ has multiple rewardsJames Derounian makes the case for a gap year in which school-leavers can engage with university while tackling climate change and helping with community developmentJames DerounianUniversity of Bolton
To save higher education, we must look beyond traditional university modelsIf we are to radically transform universities, we must seek solutions from diverse learning projects that have historically been excluded from, or remained separate to, higher education, argue Fern Thompsett, Kristen Lyons and Richard HilFern Thompsett, Kristen Lyons, Richard HilColumbia University , The University of Queensland , Griffith University
How can universities ensure all new students feel welcome?Nikki Anghileri and Elizabeth Parker share practical tips on executing an impactful and memorable welcome transition programme for new students from diverse backgroundsNikki Anghileri, Elizabeth ParkerSt Mary's University Twickenham
When refuge isn’t safe: uncovering real-life stories to shape policyHuman stories that feed into research can be a powerful tool for driving policy change but need careful and sensitive handling, as Lizzie Kirsch explainsLizzie KirschUniversity of Birmingham, Universities Policy Engagement Network (UPEN)
Experiential learning gives students invaluable workplace exposureStrong industry partnerships can help students broaden their career objectives and create graduate opportunitiesReem AlthawadiZayed University
Food for thought: advice for building a university-community collaborationPlanning and communication can turn good intentions into lasting benefits for students, faculty and the community. Joshua Gruver shares his advice for successful outreach, based on his experience developing a local farmers market0]oshua GruverBall State University
Transformative not transmissive education for sustainabilityThe teaching of sustainability and the SDGs needs to equip graduates with the skills to bring about transformative change for a better future. Jen Dollin, Brittany Hardiman and Susan Germein explore what this means for universitiesJen Dollin, Brittany Vermeulen , Susan GermeinWestern Sydney University
Flip the script: why listening is the best form of outreachIn aiming to widen participation, it’s easy to get lost in your own passion. Instead focus on understanding others’ needs – and keep it simpleLynne Bianchi University of Manchester
So, you want to reach out? Lessons from a ‘science for all’ programmePublic engagement in STEM strengthens research relevance and trust in science, but how can universities do it well? Here, the team behind S4 give three considerations based on a decade of effective outreach to disadvantaged schoolsMary Gagen , Will Bryan, Rachel BryanSwansea University
To offset or not to offset – that is the questionCarbon offsetting is a hotly debated issue, with critics positing that it distracts from real efforts to reduce emissions. David Duncan explains why a compromise position in which offsetting is used to complement focused efforts at carbon reduction may be neededDavid DuncanUniversity of Glasgow
For the common good: why we need ecological universitiesHigher education has become too aligned to specific economic interests and needs to be redirected to focus on regenerative values for the common good, argue Richard Hil, Kristen Lyons and Fern ThompsettRichard Hil, Kristen Lyons, Fern ThompsettGriffith University, Southern Cross University, The University of Queensland , Columbia University
THE podcast: how can universities tackle misinformation? Just providing a degree isn’t enough. Through their research, community engagement and teaching, universities can do much more to tackle misinformation.Phil Napoli, Simge AndiDuke University, University of Exeter
Supporting Ukrainian scholars: what’s next for #ScienceForUkraine?Academics and students from Ukraine at home and in exile need help. Here are ways to support the Ukrainian academic communityArran Reader , Anna K. BobakUniversity of Stirling
It is time to bring back peace studiesRecent world events point towards the need for a commitment to peace at every level of society, writes Annelise Riles, as she explains how universities can promote peace-making and related skills through teaching, research and collaborationAnnelise RilesNorthwestern University
Go green, AI!Can artificial intelligence be as green as it is integral to solving complex problems? As universities integrate courses on AI into different fields, they also need to show students its risks and costs, particularly for the environmentInès Chihi, Inma PeralUniversity of Luxembourg