Online course: Embedding the SDGs across the Curriculum (October 2026)
October 8 - December 10
The National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education are delighted to announce that the fully online Open Course Embedding the SDGs across the Curriculum – Open Courses will run from October 2026.
This free 6 week course is available to all staff currently working in tertiary education in the Republic of Ireland, subject to availability of places. Additional facilitator training is included so that you can become a facilitator of this course and run it in your own institution. A further commitment of five learner hours will be required for the facilitator add-on, in addition to attendance at two extra webinars over 2 weeks.
Course Schedule
| Embedding the SDGs across the Curriculum | |||
| Dates | Theme | Description | Facilitator |
| 08/10/2026 | Open Course Introduction | Thursday 13.00-13.30 | Facilitated by Dr. John Scahill (ATU) with support from Dr. Nataliya Romanyatova (IADT) and David Chernick (ATU). The team may also be introduced, subject to availability. |
| 15/10/2026 | Week 1 SDGs at an Institutional Scale | Thursday 13.00-14.00 | Facilitated by Dr. Mark Kelly (ATU) with support from Dr. Nataliya Romanyatova (IADT) and David Chernick (ATU). |
| 22/10/2026 | Week 2 SDGs Curriculum Mapping | Thursday 13.00-14.00 | Facilitated by Dr. John Scahill (ATU) with support from Dr. Nataliya Romanyatova (IADT) and David Chernick (ATU). |
| 26-30/10/2026 | Mid-Term Break | No workshop | |
| 05/11/2026 | Week 3 Embedding the SDGs across the Curriculum | Thursday 13.00-14.00 | Facilitated by Dr. Alma Clavin (University of Galway) and Dr. Elizabeth Hurley (University of Galway) with support from Dr. Nataliya Romanyatova (IADT) and David Chernick (ATU). |
| 12/11/2026 | Week 4 Embedding the SDGs across the Curriculum | Thursday 13.00-14.00 | Facilitated by Dr. Alma Clavin (University of Galway) and Dr. Elizabeth Hurley (University of Galway) with support from Dr. Nataliya Romanyatova (IADT) and David Chernick (ATU). |
| 19/11/2026 | Week 5 Best Practice Examples | Thursday 13.00-14.00 | Facilitated by Barry Peak with support from Dr. Nataliya Romanyatova (IADT) and David Chernick (ATU). |
| 26/11/2026 | Week 6 Moving from Intention to Action | Thursday 13.00-14.00 | Facilitated by John Scahill (ATU) and Dr. Brian Gormley (TU Dublin) with support from Dr. Nataliya Romanyatova (IADT) and David Chernick (ATU). |
| Facilitator Add-on | |||
| 03/12/2026 | Week 7 Facilitator Guidance | Thursday 13.00-14.00 | Facilitated by Dr. John Scahill (ATU) with support from Dr. Nataliya Romanyatova (IADT) and David Chernick (ATU). |
| 10/12/2026 | Week 8 Facilitator Presentations | Thursday 13.00-14.00 | Facilitated by Dr. Mark Kelly (ATU), Dr. John Scahill (ATU), Dr. Brian Gormley (TU Dublin), Barry Peak (DCU), Dr. Alma Clavin (University of Galway), and Elizabeth Hurley (University of Galway), with support from Dr. Nataliya Romanyatova (IADT) and David Chernick (ATU). |
Learning Objectives
- Raise awareness and understanding of the SDGs within an educational context with a view to catalysing action on embedding them more holistically across the curriculum
- Create a community of practice amongst higher and further education staff through the digital and facilitator badges, that will lead the curriculum transformation required to equip students with the necessary competences to become change agents for a sustainable future
- What are the SDGs and what role does HE and FE play in meeting the listed targets?
- How can HE and FE embed the SDGs more holistically across the curriculum?
- Programme and module design that embrace the SDGs citing international best practice examples.
- Best practice examples of teaching, learning and assessment.
The main learning outcomes include:
- Demonstrate an ability to critically explore the SDGs and how they may apply across all disciplines.
- Critically evaluate and analyse SDG teaching, learning and assessment approaches within the context of different disciplines.
- Explore opportunities to utilize inter- and transdisciplinary approaches to embedding the SDGs across the curriculum.
Learning Activities
The learning activities will be a mixture of online weekly workshops, peer triads, and independent learning.
| Activity | Hours per week | Six Weeks |
| Weekly Pre-Workshop Activities | 3 hours | 18 hours |
| Weekly Online Workshop 1 hour | 1 hour | 6 hours |
| Reflection | 1 hour | 1 hour |
| Total | 25 hours |
Content
| Indicative content | Facilitator/Guest speaker |
| SDGs in Higher Education | Dr. Mark Kelly |
| Mapping the SDGs across the Curriculum | Dr. Mark Kelly |
| Integrating the SDGs into the Curriculum | Dr. Mark Kelly |
| Embedding the SDGs across the Curriculum | Dr. Mark Kelly |
| Exploring Critiques of the SDGs | Dr. Mark Kelly |
Registration
For more information, please contact Dr Mark Kelly Mark.Kelly@atu.ie (Course Facilitator).