In 2025, Queen’s University Belfast approved a university-wide Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) Framework.

This provides a structured and consistent approach to embedding sustainability across teaching, learning, staff development, and student engagement.

The framework sets out four interconnected strands that drive sustainability in education at Queen’s:

• Curriculum Systems & Integration - Embedding sustainability into curriculum review, programme design, and learning outcomes across all disciplines.
• ROOTS Framework - Supporting student leadership, peer-to-peer engagement, and co-created sustainability projects.
• Living Labs - Connecting academic learning with real-world sustainability challenges on campus and in the community.
• Staff Sustainability Training - Building knowledge, confidence, and capacity for staff to embed sustainability meaningfully in their teaching and roles.

The framework is underpinned by the European Commission’s GreenComp model, which defines the competencies needed to live, work, and act sustainably. Queen’s enables students and staff to build these competencies through learning, collaboration, and real-world application.

It was informed by a 2024 review of 2,173 modules, with 1,755 identified as sustainability-focused, inclusive, supportive, or containing sustainability-related learning outcomes. Ongoing SDG tracking is now embedded in academic processes to support continuous improvement.

Reporting and Contact

Progress is overseen by the Sustainability Committee and led by the Climate and Sustainability in the Curriculum Officer.

• For more information contact: Natalie Le Seelleur
• Find out more about our Boards and Groups.