Advancing Quality and Leadership in Sustainable Higher Education: Anti-Greenwash Education Resources

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Creator(s)

Alex Ryan

Organisation(s)

Learning Energy

Discipline(s)

Topic(s)

Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), Professional Development

License

CC BY

Media Format

Word document

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Description

This curated collection includes key materials, toolkits, and reports from the Anti-Greenwash Education initiative, developed to support quality, transparency, and integrity in Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). It provides direct access to the education kit, training resources, worked examples, film series, sector review, and action guidance, along with related reports and international frameworks informing current ESD policy and practice.

The resource is designed for students, course representatives, and staff engaged in sustainability education and quality enhancement. It connects practical learning tools with wider evidence on ESD trends, student demand for sustainability, and institutional quality frameworks, offering an overview of current developments in the field.

This resource was shared as part of the Advancing Quality and Leadership in Sustainable Higher Education workshop hosted by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) and facilitated by Dr Alex Ryan. The workshop supported Irish higher education institutions in strategically implementing high-quality ESD in alignment with the Government of Ireland’s ESD to 2030 Strategy and the HEA’s ESD programme objectives.

Benefit of this resource and how to make the best use of it

This compilation serves as a learning and reference tool for educators, students, and institutional leaders aiming to strengthen sustainability education and avoid “greenwash” in curriculum and communications. It can be used to support workshops, curriculum reviews, and professional development sessions focused on authentic and evidence-based ESD delivery.

By engaging with the kit and cited materials, users can explore how to assess sustainability claims, align programmes with recognised quality standards, and respond effectively to student expectations for credible and transparent ESD. The resource provides a practical foundation for advancing leadership and quality assurance in sustainable higher education.

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY)

This work is licensed under a CC BY license, allowing sharing and adaptation with proper attribution.

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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Ryan, A. (2025). Advancing quality and leadership in sustainable higher education: anti-greenwash education resources. National Resource Hub (Ireland). Retrieved from: https://hub.teachingandlearning.ie/resource/advancing-quality-and-leadership-in-sustainable-higher-education-anti-greenwash-education-resources/ License: Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY).

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Related OER

This toolkit draws on our experiences facilitating a SATLE-funded community-engaged learning project that brought students of the School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures (UCC) together with people in Cork seeking international protection for a series of three wellbeing and creativity workshops.

The HEA Education for Sustainable Development Spotlight Series 2025: Case Studies Compendium brings together 115 case studies from higher education institutions across Ireland. It showcases how universities and colleges are integrating sustainability and the UN Sustainable Development Goals into teaching, research, curriculum design, assessment practices and community engagement. It offers a comprehensive picture of national ESD activity and provides an accessible resource for educators and policymakers seeking examples of practice-based innovation.