Approach
We have made a commitment within our University Strategy to “combine the expertise and motivation of our community to enhance environmental sustainability within and beyond the University through our curriculum, research, operations, partnerships and engagement”. The commitment is further explained within our Environmental Sustainability Strategy alongside actions we have agreed to pursue between our 2024/25 and 2026/27 academic years.
Our work in this area is supported by the Environmental Sustainability Strategy Board of Governance (ESSBG) chaired by Prof Gary Hutchison, Vice Principal for Regional Innovation and External Engagement. Two of the four ESSBG Workstreams further support our work. The Curriculum & Skills Workstream is led by Dr Amrit (Imi) Dencer-Brown and the Research, Innovation & Knowledge Exchange Workstream is led by Dr Gráinne Barkess.
Progress towards the embedment of education for sustainable development, principally through the ENhance Curriculum Framework, is reported at quarterly ESSBG meetings as well as the Academic Board.
Curriculum and skills
The University Strategy includes key transformational actions. One action states “introduce and embed the ENhance Curriculum Framework”. The Framework is University wide and encapsulates all Schools. A brief all transformational actions agreed by the University are available within our strategy website.
In addition to our University Strategy, our Learning & Teaching Strategy, which reports to the Learning, Teaching & Assessment and Student Experience Committee, includes a significant focus on education for sustainability development. This is through our taught undergraduate and postgraduate provision and through our academic themes and connections with research and professional practice.
Indeed, sustainability is one of five key themes in our ENhance Curriculum Framework. Establishing and embedding the Framework is a key transformational action within the University Strategy. We measure our overall education for sustainable development success through our Curriculum Framework and our United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) focus.
To support all academic colleagues review and embed environmental sustainability opportunities, an ENhance Sustainability Quick Guide has been developed.
Alongside the guide, colleagues from the Department for Learning and Teaching Enhancement (DLTE) have organised workshops and discussion groups focusing on environmental sustainability. This includes presentations at The Gathering, the annual Learning & Teaching conference held within the University.
Examples of our academic work in this area include:
Climate skills programmes
In 2026, we will be running two climate skills programmes through the British Council.
- Edinburgh Napier University - Fondo de Conservación El Triunfo A.C. (FONCET) - This project builds from our successful Climatón delivery in Chiapas, creating a hackathon environment for young people to deliver climate solutions. In this partnership, 50 young people from both Chiapas and Edinburgh will work together with a conservation focus, culminating in a UK–Mexico Climathon, and an international exchange featuring rewilding in Scotland and mangrove restoration in Chiapas.
- Edinburgh Napier University – Can Tho University - This partnership provides green entrepreneurship development for 20 UK and 20 Viet Nam students. After training in green business models, circular design and eco-innovation young people will undertake hands-on prototyping and mentoring with green SMEs. The programme culminates in a 3-day Youth Innovation Lab to showcase innovation challenges.
Achieving Sustainability module
Launched during our 2021/22 academic year, the module was developed by academic colleagues representing five of our six Schools. The key learning outcomes of the module are to “identify and plan creative practical actions to promote sustainability and show how these relate to one or more of the key ideas of sustainability that are discussed in the module” and “collaborate to deliver a practical outcome designed to promote sustainability and evaluate its potential for impact”.
More information available within our module directory.
‘Teaching and researching for a just transition’ conference
In May 2025, Edinburgh Napier joined five other institutions based in the UK and Europe as the Scottish ‘hub’ for a sharing of practice in sustainability in teaching and research. Our contributions included a lightning talk with colleagues at four of our Schools on the work undertaken in the specialisms, from nursing to business and literature. The conference was well received, with over 200 delegates online and attendance in person at our Craiglockhart campus by students and staff representing three Scottish institutions, including the Edinburgh Napier Sustainability Society.
Find out more about the conference.
Build for Purpose
The Business School have developed a free Build for Purpose online course. The course explores how business of all shapes and sizes can build their purpose, transition to a net zero economy and accelerate action towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs).
Living laboratory
There are many living laboratory examples within the university, one being the SDG5 Living Lab developed by Bright Red Triangle.
Wider examples
There many academic best practice examples throughout Schools, Services and teams such as the Transport Research Institute and Institute for Sustainable Construction. The Centre for Timber Engineering was awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Prize in 2015 for internationally acclaimed work in timber engineering, sustainable construction and wood science.
To provide a holistic overview of our academic and research expertise, we have embedded examples of our curricular approach, research and professional expertise within all 17 of our United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) webpages. The information links automatically to live information available through our modules and research repository.
Research, innovation and knowledge exchange
Our environmental sustainability focus is also clear throughout our Research & Innovation Strategy, which reports to our Research & Innovation Committee. The primary aim of the Strategy is to “foster a sustainable and interdisciplinary research environment that inspires and brings together our academic staff, researchers, students and external stakeholders, to solve real world problems as well as influence professional practice and policy nationally and internationally, driving key societal, economic and environmental impacts.”
Our Code of Practice on Research Integrity is available alongside an overview of research integrity. The information provides guidance on the governance, management and expectations of research integrity at the University including criteria for the acceptance of funding and partnerships.
Examples of our academic work in this area include:
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs)
ESSBG members have been instrumental in reviewing existing UNSDG embedment within all research activity. Through developing and running keyword searches within all published documentation, significant insight has been gained. As a result, linked to the ENhance Sustainability Quick Guide, guidance is being developed to support all research colleagues to increase UNSDG knowledge. This includes directly embedding and referring to applicable UNSDGs within all research activity recorded through WorkTribe (the research monitoring tool used by the university).
Scotland Beyond Net Zero
To further develop collaborative research and funding opportunities, the University is a member of the Scotland Beyond Net Zero network.