Overview
Have you completed one or both of the following Open Courses?
If so, you are invited to register your interest in a new Open Course on ESD Leadership, focusing on capacity-building and leading from within.
This open course is designed for staff in Higher and Further Education and involves approximately 25 learner hours over seven weeks. Participants who successfully complete the course will be awarded a digital badge.
The course aims to develop the capacity of Higher and Further Education staff to take leadership roles in Education for Sustainability. It explores different forms and levels of sustainability leadership, taking a holistic approach that extends beyond traditional business-oriented leadership models. These approaches include mentoring, advocacy, role-modelling and activism.
Using innovative and reflective activities, the course draws on the creative arts and humanities to foster self-awareness, empathy, critical reflection, creative collaboration and problem-solving.
Throughout the course, participants will engage with peer groups to collaborate, share their experiences and learn from one another. They will also begin applying their learning by planning leadership actions relevant to their professional context and will be encouraged to implement these actions during the course where possible.
As a cross-institutional collaborative initiative, the course aims to strengthen Education for Sustainable Development across the tertiary education sector and develop a network of leaders taking action at a local level.
Prerequisites
Participants must have completed at least one of the following courses, involving a minimum of 25 learner hours, through the HEA National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning or their institution:
- Embedding the SDGs across the Curriculum
- Education for Sustainability
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Identify personal values, actions and leadership styles as they relate to the development of a sustainability mindset.
- Examine institutional and societal challenges and opportunities through a cross-disciplinary lens to foster strategic insight.
- Integrate insights with creative approaches to address real campus or community challenges.
- Apply your learning to action in Education for Sustainable Development leadership and advocacy.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT RECOGNITION
On earning the open badge for this course, you will have achieved further recognition across the following domains of the National Professional Development Framework for Staff Who Teach:
- Domain 2: Professional Identity, Values and Development in Teaching and Learning focuses on professional or disciplinary identity in particular contexts. It supports critical reflection and recognises that professional identity can evolve throughout an individual’s career.
- Domain 3: Professional Communication and Dialogue emphasises the importance of excellent, clear and coherent communication skills within a changing learning environment.
- Domain 4: Professional Knowledge and Skills supports individuals in remaining current in their professional or disciplinary knowledge and applying evidence-based teaching, learning and assessment approaches that promote active learning.
Course Developers
This open course has been developed by the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education in partnership with:
Dr Mark Kelly
Atlantic Technological University
Dr Deirdre Garvey
Atlantic Technological University
Úna McInerney
University of Limerick
Jennifer Farrell
University of Limerick
Dr Lucia Walsh
Technological University Dublin
Dr Hazel Farrell
South East Technological University
Ronán O’Muirthile
Institute of Art, Design and Technology
Eileen Hoffler
University of Limerick
Register Your Interest
Registration is expected to open in February 2027. Complete the form below to receive updates about the next rollout of this course.
For additional information, contact Úna McInerney at Una.McInerney@ul.ie or Dr Mark Kelly at mark.kelly@atu.ie.
