The Toolkit: A Resource for Educational Innovators
This toolkit is a carefully crafted collection of methods and materials intended to support educational innovators—such as lecturers, coordinators, students, and directors of education— in embedding sustainability more deeply into their courses. The toolkit is structured to guide users through the process of mapping out where sustainability currently stands within their programs and identifying opportunities for innovation and is differentiated in four possible steps with advice how to integrate more sustainability into an educational program. For example, the step 'Interview', is the first step you can use when you want to get a better understanding of a program, whether you're involved in it or not. This step is helpful for anyone—like teachers, coordinators, or students—who wants to explore how others feel about a specific program, especially in terms of sustainability.
The toolkit is designed with flexibility in mind. A detailed roadmap within the toolkit allows users to quickly find the information they need. Whether you are just starting out or are already involved in sustainability initiatives, this toolkit provides valuable insights and actionable steps to enhance the integration of sustainability in education.
Integrating SDGs and HES into Educational Programs
A central feature of the project is the use of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a starting point for discussions on sustainability. The SDGs provide a comprehensive framework for understanding global sustainability challenges and serve as a conversation starter to think about sustainability in terms of 'knowledge domains.' By anchoring discussions in the SDGs, the project team was able to explore how these global goals could be reflected in various educational programs.
In addition to the SDGs, the project employed the theoretical concept of Higher Education for Sustainability (HES). HES expands the conversation by considering sustainability not only as a set of knowledge areas but also as a collection of essential competencies. This approach enabled deeper discussions on the skills students need to address sustainability challenges effectively. Competencies such as critical thinking, systems thinking, and problem-solving were highlighted as crucial for students to develop, ensuring they are equipped to contribute to sustainable development in their future careers.
ToekomstMakers Model
The 'You Have a Part to Play' project is deeply connected to Radboud University’s ToekomstMakers Model, which is central to the university’s sustainability strategy. This model is a segmentation model, in which we distinguish five types of students within the student population of the Radboud University, each with own values, ideas and (educational) needs in relation to making a social, sustainable contribution. Radboud University should encourage and support its students in various ways encourage and support their desired development into motivated, socially engaged ToekomstMakers (Future-makers).
By integrating sustainability into educational programs through the toolkit, the project brings the ToekomstMakers vision to life. It equips students not only with the knowledge of sustainability as a global challenge but also with the competencies needed to address these challenges effectively. This approach ensures that students become conscious, responsible individuals who are prepared to lead and innovate in a more sustainable world.
Looking ahead, the project opens the door to future workshops and initiatives that can further enhance sustainability education. By continuing to embed these principles across all aspects of learning, Radboud University is cultivating a generation of mindful and proactive leaders who are ready to shape a sustainable future, fully in line with the goals of the ToekomstMakers Model.