Sustainability at Falmouth: Learning & Teaching

Empowering our students with knowledge and skills to make a positive impact, through applying creativity to global issues.

What's covered?

We are using our own bespoke tool to detect and aid embedding sustainability into our courses, equipping our students with relevant knowledge and skills to make a difference during their studies and, most importantly, after they graduate.

We will strive to deliver our learning and teaching activities to minimise our negative environmental impact. Beyond the curriculum, we are offering sustainability-focused initiatives, events and campaigns to educate, inspire and empower our community.

Why?

The role of a university is to understand humanity’s problems, challenge norms and address societal challenges. We have a responsibility to help create a sustainable future, and our students recognise this. 86% agree that we should be developing their social and environmental skills as part of their course (Sustainability Skills Survey, SOS-UK, 2025).

Creativity is inherently regenerative, providing fresh ideas and new, innovative solutions. Creativity is a vital tool for addressing current sustainability challenges and catalysing positive change. With authentic, relevant education for sustainability, our students can go on to lead innovation, enhance communication and become empowered global citizens.

A woman sits next to a student, holding a piece of paper

Our targets

Target 1

To apply a published, peer-reviewed evaluation framework across our entire curriculum to determine the level of environmental sustainability embedded at the course level.

Target 2

To establish evaluative evidence of at least three environmental sustainability themes in every course we deliver, based on target 1 data.

Target 3

To evaluate student "learning gains" at the course level, in environmental sustainability awareness and knowledge / skill acquisition using established OfS guidance.

Target 4

To implement curriculum-based enhancement of authentic learning related to education for environmental sustainability through assessments and projects (including partners and industry).

Target 5

To adopt an audit & improvement approach to action planning within and across faculties to ensure circularity is embedded into our academic infrastructure.

How we're going to do it

Evaluate our entire curricula using our Falmouth Curriculum Ladder for Sustainability tool & approach (FCL-S): We will determine the breadth and depth of sustainability content embedded across our curricula, working to identify and integrate at least three core sustainability themes within each of our courses, building a comprehensive, data-informed picture of how sustainability is embedded across our provision.

Evaluate our students' sustainability literacy: We will evaluate student "learning gains" at a course level, in sustainability awareness, knowledge and skill acquisition, using established sector guidance to ensure our approach is consistent and evidence-informed.

Implement assessments and projects related to education for sustainability: We will grow the number of sustainability-focused projects, briefs and assessments delivered across our courses, encouraging authentic learning opportunities in partnership with local organisations and industry.

Audit and improve the circularity of our faculties' activities: We will adopt an audit and improvement approach to action planning within and across departments, ensuring circularity is embedded into our academic infrastructure and that progress is tracked consistently over time.

Educate, inspire and empower our community: We will continue to design and deliver a variety of extra-curricular initiatives that help our community identify opportunities for creating individual and collective positive impact, whilst reducing negative ones.

What we've done so far

Evaluated and expanded sustainability across our curriculum: Using our Falmouth Curriculum Ladder for Sustainability (FCL-S) framework, we have now analysed 80 courses (58% of our portfolio), generating a comprehensive and data-informed understanding of the breadth and depth of sustainability content across our curricula. In 2024/25, all 14 undergraduate courses reviewed embedded at least three of the nine key sustainability themes, with 13 evidencing at least six themes and nine evidencing all nine.

Advised and co-created new sustainability content: Our Sustainability Team have consulted with academics to help them understand key sustainability principles, how they're relevant to different subject areas, and provide resources to empower them to increase the amount of sustainability content in their courses. We have also co-created and delivered a variety of guest lectures and workshops to catalyse this process.

Integrated sustainability into our course validation process: Sustainability continues to be integrated into course validation and revalidation processes, ensuring course teams consider environmental and social responsibility when developing curriculum content, learning outcomes and assessments. This process supports a consistent and scalable approach to embedding sustainability across our provision.

Developed new sustainability-focused learning opportunities: This year saw the continued development of sustainability-focused teaching and short course provision. This includes the return of the 'A Greener Future' Sustainability Assessor Training course, designed to equip participants with practical sustainability expertise for live events settings, alongside the development of two new courses through 'The Future is Green' skills programme focused on carbon reduction and sustainability leadership within Cornwall's visitor economy.

Falmouth's unique methodology has received external recognition: In 2023, we were announced as a Finalist in the 'Tomorrow's Employees' category of the UK & Ireland Green Gown Awards, recognising the relevance of our FCL-S approach to ensuring a transition to a sustainable economy through equipping students with necessary knowledge, skills and behaviours. In 2021, our FCL-S approach was also listed as a case study in the 'Mainstreaming Climate Change Education in UK Higher Education Institutions' briefing paper by the UK Universities Climate Network, to assist other universities in considering how best to embed sustainability across their courses.

Delivered impactful sustainability initiatives: Each year we have delivered a wide range of sustainability-focused extra-curricular initiatives for our students, staff and local community. These include our 'Swap Shop' resource 8 redistribution campaign (recognised as sector-leading in the 2024 UK & Ireland Green Gown Awards) and campus conservation volunteering sessions.

Established an eco-anxiety support network: In collaboration with 'Force of Nature' CIC, we set up 'Breathing Space', an initiative seeking to create space for our community to understand their climate emotions, connect with likeminded people, and learn how they can use these feelings to define and take meaningful action.

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"We have adopted the FCL-S into our quality and standards processes, thereby driving a broader, deeper understanding of sustainability issues and themes. This means students leaving Falmouth gain better understanding of the importance of sustainability within their disciplines as well as aiding them more holistically as global citizens."

- Professor Russell Crawford, Strategic Lead for our Learning & Teaching sustainability theme