The concept of open scholarship has radically altered the way in which academic research operates in Europe, providing as it does both opportunities and challenges for researchers. In addition, funders are increasingly demanding that researchers, must, as a pre-requisite to securing grant funding, have undertaken training in research ethics. Finally, there are increasing pressures on researchers to be aware of and comply with obligations under intellectual property and data protection law, and to ensure the proper management of their research data. This course seeks to provide researchers and research support staff with the tools necessary to navigate these issues.
These presentation slides, developed by Dr Amanda Platt and Colette Murphy (Ulster University) for the Advancing Quality and Leadership in Sustainable Higher Education workshop hosted by the Higher Education Authority (HEA), provide a detailed institutional case study of how Ulster University has systematically embedded Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) across all aspects of academic quality and curriculum design.
The slides outline Ulster’s six-year journey, highlighting strategic milestones including the development of the Integrated Curriculum Design Framework (ICDF), alignment with institutional strategies and sector frameworks such as QAA and Advance HE guidance, and successful accreditation under the SOS-UK Responsible Futures programme. They also illustrate how ESD principles have been built into programme approval, staff development, and quality enhancement processes—ensuring sustainability is embedded as a core academic value. The presentation provides an overview of Ulster’s commitment to collaboration, transparency, and evidence-based practice, offering valuable insights for institutions seeking to align ESD with academic standards, curriculum assurance, and sector quality codes.
