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Introduction

One of the primary functions of colleges and universities is to educate students. By training and educating future leaders, scholars, workers, and professionals; higher education institutions are uniquely positioned to understand and address sustainability challenges. Institutions that offer courses covering sustainability issues help equip their students to lead society to a sustainable future.

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Pros and cons of online education as a measure to reduce carbon emissions in higher education in the Netherlands

  • Avans University of Applied Sciences
  • Open University of the Netherlands

Dutch institutions of higher education have to meet stringent requirements for energy efficiency and reduction of carbon emissions imposed by the national government and through voluntary agreements on energy-efficiency. This …

  • Posted March 29, 2018
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Personal values and approach of undergraduates towards corporate social responsibility

  • Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul

The purpose of this paper is to broaden the knowledge to identify which factors influence the relationship between business undergraduates and corporate social responsibility (CSR).The results identified that undergraduate students …

  • Posted March 29, 2018
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Pedagogical methods for sustainable development: business educational projects generating direct impact on stakeholders through fundraising and fund management

  • Arizona State University (AZ)
  • Duquesne University (PA)
  • University of California, Berkeley (CA)
  • Universidade Federal Fluminense

Business Schools have faced the challenge of emphasising ethics and sustainability by developing students as professionals able to meet current sustainability needs. To date, there is limited practical guidance in …

  • Posted March 29, 2018
  • Publications
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Educating for Sustainability Webinar Series - Strategies for Redesigning your Course to Integrate Sustainability

  • Santa Clara University (CA)
  • AASHE (MA)
  • Creative Change Educational Solutions (MI)

This webinar will provide two different frameworks for faculty leaders of all disciplines who wish to revise existing courses or develop campus-wide curriculum change programs for their schools. Susan Santone, …

  • Posted March 27, 2018
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Integrating Geoscience and Sustainability: Examining Socio-Techno-Ecological Relationships Within Content Designed to Prepare Teachers

  • Arizona State University (AZ)

Coupling the study of sustainability with geoscience may enable students to explore science in a more sophisticated way by examining the social–technological–ecological relationships that exist between human–nonhuman and flora–fauna–land interactions. …

  • Posted March 22, 2018
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Integrated Interdisciplinary Science of the Critical Zone as a Foundational Curriculum for Addressing Issues of Environmental Sustainability

  • Pennsylvania State University (PA)
  • University of Arizona (AZ)
  • University of California, Merced (CA)
  • University of New Hampshire (NH)
  • University of Nebraska at Omaha (NE)
  • University of Dubuque (IA)

Earth's critical zone (CZ) is the uppermost layer of Earth's continents, which supports ecosystems and humans alike. CZ science aims to understand how interactions among rock, soil, water, air, and …

  • Posted March 22, 2018
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New Trends in the Higher Education: Renewable Energy at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering

  • Holon Institute Of Technology

Renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies are the key for creating a clean energy future for not only the nation, but the world.World Energy Consumption relies heavily on coal, oil, …

  • Posted March 22, 2018
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Maturation of sustainability in engineering faculties – From emerging issue to strategy?

  • Universite Libre de Bruxelles (Brussels Region)
  • Universidad de Chile (Region Metropolitana)

Although higher Education Institutions (HEIs) have seen a blossoming of sustainability initiatives of various kinds in recent years, the variety of institutional and socio-economic contexts brings about an equally plural …

  • Posted March 22, 2018
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Learning while creating value for sustainability transitions: The case of Challenge Lab at Chalmers University of Technology

  • Chalmers University of Technology

To achieve a sustainable future, a variety of societal systems need to be transformed and new ways of social collaboration created. Higher education institutions play an important role in guiding …

  • Posted March 22, 2018
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Learning how to understand complexity and deal with sustainability challenges – A framework for a comprehensive approach and its application in university education

  • University of Helsinki

Sustainability challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, poverty and rapid urbanization are complex and strongly interrelated. In order to successfully deal with these challenges, we need comprehensive approaches that …

  • Posted March 22, 2018
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Learning and teaching sustainability: The contribution of Ecological Footprint calculators

  • Global Footprint Network (CA)
  • Cardiff University
  • University of Siena

Consumption habits imply responsibility. Progressive awareness of the scale of materials, energy, goods and services consumed on a daily basis and knowledge of the implications of consumption choices are prerequisites …

  • Posted March 22, 2018
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Interdisciplinarity: Practical approach to advancing education for sustainability and for the Sustainable Development Goals

  • Kingston University London

The need for a more sustainable world was unanimously acknowledged by United Nations members in September 2015, when 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were set, positioning education at the heart …

  • Posted March 22, 2018
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Integrated circular economy and education model to address aspects of an energy-water-food nexus in a dairy facility and local contexts

  • Başkent University

Universities have responsibilities for accelerating pedagogical innovation to enable a more sustainable future. This research work develops a three-phased approach for integrating principles of a circular economy system within a …

  • Posted March 22, 2018
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Inspiration From the Classroom: A Mixed Method Case Study of Interdisciplinary Sustainability Learning in Higher Education

  • Deakin University

Within higher education there is widespread support for developing students’ interdisciplinary skills. Despite this, evidence for, and practice of, cross-faculty interdisciplinary sustainability learning remains in its infancy. Recent articles have …

  • Posted March 22, 2018
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Synthesis and Study of Sustainable Polymers in the Organic Chemistry Laboratory: An inquiry-based experiment exploring the effects of size and composition on the properties of renewable block polymers

  • University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)

A discovery-based experiment highlighting the use of renewable starting materials to synthesize triblock polymers was developed and successfully implemented in our introductory organic chemistry laboratory course. Green chemistry principles applied …

  • Posted March 20, 2018
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Educating for Sustainability Webinar Series - Strategies for Institutionalizing Sustainability in the Curriculum

  • Dickinson College (PA)
  • University of Hawaii Kapiolani Community College (HI)
  • AASHE (MA)

This webinar provides a broad and diverse perspective on the topic from a panel which includes: Krista Hiser & Bob Franco - Kapiolani Community College and Lindsey Lyons - Dickinson …

  • Posted March 20, 2018
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Educating for Sustainability Webinar Series - The Why and How of Transformative Learning

  • AASHE (MA)
  • EcoChallenge.org (OR)

This webinar will provide the context around why transformative learning and deeper engagement in sustainability issues are important. The ways we learn and engage are critical to fostering the skills …

  • Posted March 20, 2018
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Educating for Sustainability Webinar Series - Introduction to Sustainability in the Curriculum and STARS (It's more than science)

  • University of California, Los Angeles (CA)
  • AASHE (MA)
  • Creative Change Educational Solutions (MI)

This webinar offers participants resources and tools on how to develop a framing of sustainability that moves beyond science to address its economic and social equity dimensions. Participants will identify …

  • Posted March 20, 2018
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Sustainability PhD

  • University of South Dakota (SD)

The Doctor of Philosophy in Sustainability–dissertation only–is available for students seeking a doctoral degree in sustainability.

The concept of sustainability encompasses a wide range of topics and endeavors, including economic …

  • Posted March 15, 2018
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Sustainability (MS)

  • University of South Dakota (SD)

The Master of Science in Sustainability–thesis and nonthesis option; is ideal for students studying social and/ or environmental aspects of sustainability.Sustainability is an interdisciplinary field of study, and the existing …

  • Posted March 15, 2018
  • Academic Programs
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Towards Green Campus Operations: Energy, Climate and Sustainable Development Initiatives at Universities

Matters related to sustainable development, albeit global in nature, are best handled at the local level. This line of thinking is particularly true to the higher education context, where the …

  • Posted March 13, 2018
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Environmental Management Bachelor of Technology

  • State University of New York at Cobleskill (NY)

The four-year Bachelor of Technology in Environmental Management program educates students in the skills and technological applications critical to conserving biodiversity and natural resources in a dynamic and challenging global …

  • Posted March 13, 2018
  • Academic Programs
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AASHE Award Winner Webinar Series: The Form and Function of the Sustainability Agenda in Higher Education Institutions - Hawaii Approach to Sustainable Living On and Off-campus

  • University at Albany (NY)
  • University of Hawaii Kauai Community College (HI)
  • AASHE (MA)

Colleges adapt to new circumstances based on differing motivations: some are seeking new growth strategies while others are trying to avoid decline. Sustainability initiatives provide an opportunity to analyze how …

  • Posted March 12, 2018
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Insights into responsible education for sustainable development: The case of UWE, Bristol

  • University of the West of England, Bristol

In this paper, we argue that it is opportune to revisit profound questions about the purpose, nature and value of higher education in society at a juncture where the context …

  • Posted March 12, 2018
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Inquiry into sustainability issues by preservice teachers: A pedagogy to enhance sustainability consciousness

  • Lahore College for Women University

Education for sustainable development (ESD) is transformative education aiming at developing participants’ understanding of sustainability issues and transforming their attitudes and behaviours regarding environment, society and economy. Sustainability consciousness, an …

  • Posted March 12, 2018
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Infusing sustainability into software engineering education: Lessons learned from capstone projects

  • Lappeenranta University of Technology

Sustainable development (SD) has become a millennium challenge for humanity. It has boosted the integration of sustainable, sound practices across different fields (e.g. e-participation, smart transportation, sustainable agriculture). Information and …

  • Posted March 12, 2018
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If Living Labs are the Answer – What's the Question? A Review of the Literature

  • Curtin University

The world's economy is becoming increasingly knowledge intensive. This will drive further technological, societal and organisational change. A knowledge intensive economy gives the producers of knowledge – universities – a …

  • Posted March 12, 2018
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Identification of core objectives for teaching sustainable healthcare education

  • University of California, San Francisco (CA)

Physicians will be called upon to care for patients who bear the burden of disease from the impact of climate change and ecologically irresponsible practices which harm ecosystems and contribute …

  • Posted March 12, 2018
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Empathy as an Antecedent of Social Justice Attitudes and Perceptions

  • Appalachian State University (NC)

At the same time that social justice concerns are on the rise on college campuses, empathy levels among US college students are falling (Konrath et al. 2016). Social injustice resulting …

  • Posted March 12, 2018
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Case Study: Using a Service-Learning Course to Reinforce the Three Pillars of Sustainability

  • University of Mississippi (MS)

Service-learning courses at the university level provide a unique opportunity for students to learn about sustainability. The senior and graduate level elective course Service-Learning for Water Treatment at the University …

  • Posted March 9, 2018
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2017 Guide to Business Schools for Social and Environmental Impact

  • Net Impact (CA)

The information in the 2017 Guide to Business Schools for Social and Environmental Impact (formerly Business as UNusual) was compiled from an online survey completed by almost 2,000 students. This …

  • Posted March 9, 2018
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Compilation of Sustainable Engineering Syllabi

  • Syracuse University (NY)

The Center for Sustainable Engineering at Syracuse University compiled syllabi from 65 courses focused on sustainable engineering as part of an EPA-funded project to determine the status of sustainable engineering …

  • Posted March 6, 2018
  • Course Materials
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Hidden curriculum in student organizations: Learning, practice, socialization and responsible management in a business school

  • University of São Paulo

For many students, education does not simply mean obtaining a university degree and, consequently, a good job; rather, there is also a need to attain personal satisfaction and a sense …

  • Posted March 5, 2018
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Public-Public Partnerships for a New Paradigm in the Civic Role of the University

  • California State University, Chico (CA)

Recognizing the need to proactively prepare engaged citizens for the dynamic socioeconomic and environmental conditions of the 21st century, the Institute for Sustainable Development at California State University (CSU), Chico, …

  • Posted March 5, 2018
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Exposing Students to Environmental Sustainability in Accounting: An Analysis of its Impacts in a U.S. Setting

  • Illinois State University (IL)
  • University of Northern Iowa (IA)

In this research study, we examine whether the introduction of two different forms of an environmental sustainability intervention into differing sections of an introductory-level managerial accounting course at a US …

  • Posted March 5, 2018
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Green machines? Destabilizing discourse in technology education for sustainable development

  • University of Gothenburg

Technology education (TE) and education for sustainable development (ESD) increasingly converge. This makes perfect sense given the techno-optimism that permeates the prevailing discourse on sustainable development. The present article reviews …

  • Posted Feb. 28, 2018
  • Publications
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Green for All? Gender Segregation and Green Fields of Study in American Higher Education

  • Cornell University (NY)
  • Harvard University (MA)

Using the example of green fields of study in higher education, which emerged largely in response to the growing prominence of the environmental movement over recent decades, this article posits …

  • Posted Feb. 28, 2018
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Gendered citizenship and the individualization of environmental responsibility: evaluating a campus common reading program

  • Washington State University, Pullman (WA)

Campus common reading programs are intended to stimulate critical thinking and dialogue across disciplines yet scarce evidence exists to evaluate the success of such programs. We assess the extent to …

  • Posted Feb. 28, 2018
  • Publications
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Faculty Development for Advancing Community Engagement in Higher Education: Current Trends and Future Directions

  • University of San Francisco (CA)

This research involved the conduct of a conceptual review of 28 refereed journal articles and a survey of campus centers for community engagement staff to identify salient features and trends …

  • Posted Feb. 28, 2018
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Experiential Learning and Pathways to Carbon Neutrality

  • University of Montana- Missoula (MT)

To date, more than 650 university presidents across the United States have become signatories of the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC). A central goal of being a …

  • Posted Feb. 28, 2018
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Experiments and evidence in sustainability science: A typology

  • Arizona State University (AZ)
  • Leuphana University of Lüneburg

Experiments are crucial for sustainability science because they allow researchers to produce evidence about the causes of sustainability problems and about the effectiveness of solutions. Many laboratory and field studies, …

  • Posted Feb. 28, 2018
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Sustainability Science (MS)

  • Columbia University (NY)

The program is designed for full-time and aspiring sustainability professionals, who wish to develop their skills in Earth systems observation, analysis, projection, and environmental remediation.

The program requires the completion …

  • Posted Feb. 26, 2018
  • Academic Programs
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Green Chemistry Commitment

  • Beyond Benign (MA)

The Green Chemistry Commitment is a voluntary, flexible framework for chemistry departments to progressively adopt green chemistry theory and practice. Recognizing that each institution has different capabilities and resources, the …

Beacons, Not Towers: How Higher Education Can Help Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals

  • United Nations University

Higher education is often idealized as a tool for implementing sustainable development. Yet the structures of higher education institutions (HEIs) often inhibit the types of problem solving and pedagogical design …

  • Posted Feb. 22, 2018
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Sustainable Water Management

  • Tufts University (MA)

Launched by the Tufts Institute for the Environment, the one-year interdisciplinary master’s program offers four tracks, encompassing such areas as urban water infrastructure, the water-energy-food nexus, water diplomacy, and international …

  • Posted Feb. 20, 2018
  • Academic Programs
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Education of Sustainable Development Competence in Higher Education Institution

  • Vytautas Magnus University

The present paper aims at exploring the role of higher education institution (HEI) on education of sustainable development competence (SDC). Considering the connection of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), it …

  • Posted Feb. 20, 2018
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Education for Sustainable Development: Business modelling for flourishing

  • OCAD University (ON)
  • Halmstad University

As companies and other organizations increasingly recognize society’s demand for greater social and environmental sustainability, university and college business schools have responded with new pedagogic approaches. Business schools have begun …

  • Posted Feb. 20, 2018
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Does Specific CSR Training for Managers Impact Shareholder Value? Implications for Education in Sustainable Development

  • University of Zaragoza

This study aims to analyze whether specific corporate social responsibility +CSR) training in sustainable development can boost the potential impact of CSR on shareholder value (i.e., corporate reputation, brand image, …

  • Posted Feb. 20, 2018
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Developing digital educational materials for nursing and sustainability: The results of an observational study

  • University of Plymouth (Devon)
  • Maastricht University
  • Hochschule Esslingen University of Applied Sciences
  • University of Jaén

There is limited European literature on nursing and sustainability; nursing students are poorly prepared on the connections between resources, climate change, sustainability, and health, so they must acquire knowledge and …

  • Posted Feb. 20, 2018
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Designing a sustainability-driven entrepreneurship curriculum as a social learning process: A case study from an international knowledge alliance project

  • University of Vechta
  • University of Gothenburg
  • Masaryk University
  • Vienna University of Economics and Business

Integrating Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in higher education curricula requires innovative ideas and approaches how to combine educational, sustainability and disciplinary knowledge, skills, experiences, and motivations. Curriculum developers are …

  • Posted Feb. 20, 2018
  • Publications
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This tab provides access to data collected through AASHE’s Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System™ (STARS). STARS is a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to measure their sustainability performance. STARS enables meaningful comparisons over time and across institutions using a common set of measurements developed with broad participation from the campus sustainability community.

All responses reference content from reports under the latest version of STARS, version 2.2. AASHE membership and log-in is required.

AC 1: Academic Courses

AC 2: Learning Outcomes

AC 3: Undergraduate Program

AC 4: Graduate Program

AC 5: Immersive Experience

AC 6: Sustainability Literacy Assessment

AC 7: Incentives for Developing Courses

AC 8: Campus as a Living Laboratory

Additional analysis on scores and quantitative fields can be conducted using the STARS Benchmarking Tool.

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