University of Waterloo Teaching and Learning Conference Takeaways: Students want sustainability in their courses

Thursday, May 16, 2024

The findings are in: students want sustainability in the curriculum

At the University of Waterloo’s Teaching and Learning Conference, the Accelerating Integration of Sustainability into the Curriculum project team highlighted the need of incorporating sustainability into post-secondary education. This initiative, led by the Sustainability Office and the Teaching Innovation Incubator, aims to prepare students for careers in a rapidly changing world.

Panelists highlighted that survey results from 386 undergraduate students at Waterloo showed that 92% believe sustainability will impact their careers, and over 75% want sustainability included in their education. Data highlights that students favor integrating sustainability into existing course content due to their already demanding schedules.

In response to these findings, the Project team developed a flexible framework that instructors can use to incorporate sustainability into any program of study. The project also produced a comprehensive toolkit featuring sustainability definitions, industry references, integration strategies, and case studies from the University of Waterloo.

To learn more about how you can incorporate sustainability into your course offerings, please visit: Accelerating Integration of Sustainability into the Curriculum | Teaching Innovation Incubator (uwaterloo.ca)