This resource sets out five strategic enablers that can support the implementation of Education for Sustainable Development across all areas of a higher education institution:
1. Collaboration and commitment
2. Holistic and transformational practice, scholarship and leadership
3. Capacity-building and professional development
4. Student partnership, engagement and leadership
5. Reciprocal learning communities
The Enablers translate national and international ESD commitments into shared language, strategic direction and practical prompts for higher education. They address curriculum, pedagogy, assessment, campus operations, governance, leadership, professional learning, student partnership, research and reciprocal engagement with communities.
The resource is designed to support institutional reflection, planning and enhancement rather than prescribe a single model. It recognises institutional autonomy, diversity of mission and disciplinary differences.
Benefit of this resource and how to make the best use of it
Use the Enablers to frame institutional direction and build agreement about the conditions required for whole-of-institution ESD. They are particularly useful for:
Strategic planning and policy development.
Cross-functional workshops involving academic, professional, operational and student representatives.
Establishing or reviewing ESD governance and coordination structures.
Connecting curriculum development with campus operations, research and civic engagement.
Planning professional development and communities of practice.
Strengthening student partnership, leadership and recognition.
Developing ethical, reciprocal and sustained partnerships with communities.
Reviewing resourcing, leadership responsibilities and institutional support for ESD.
Each Enabler includes practical areas for implementation. Institutions can use these prompts to identify existing strengths, gaps, responsibilities and priority actions before undertaking a more detailed self-evaluation.
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Lowry, C., Kelly, M., Woods, R., & Conlon, T. (29/07/2026). Hea enablers for whole-of-institution education for sustainable development in higher education. National Resource Hub (Ireland). Retrieved from: https://hub.teachingandlearning.ie/resource/hea-enablers-for-whole-of-institution-education-for-sustainable-development-in-higher-education/ License: Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY).
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The HEA ESD Self-Evaluation Tool is a voluntary, developmental resource that supports higher education institutions in reviewing and strengthening whole-of-institution Education for Sustainable Development. It helps institutions undertake structured reflection on current strengths, gaps and progression, identify local priorities and plan practical next steps.
The tool is organised around the five ESD to 2030 Priority Action Areas. For each area, it provides developmental descriptors across three broad stages of practice: Emerging, Established and Leading. It is intended to support dialogue, planning and quality enhancement.
This overview introduces the Higher Education Authority’s Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) Framework for Higher Education: a connected suite of resources supporting whole-of-institution ESD across Irish higher education. It explains the Framework’s purpose, its relationship to national and international ESD priorities, and how its component resources work together to provide strategic direction, sector evidence, structured reflection, thematic insight and opportunities for peer learning.
The Framework connects curriculum, campus operations, governance, research and community engagement. It is intended for institutional leaders, educators, professional staff, students and representative bodies, ESD and sustainability leads, teaching and learning units, quality and enhancement teams, community partners and policy stakeholders.
