Student Engagement and Living Labs
At Queen’s, students do more than study sustainability. They apply it. Through our Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) Framework, we embed the ethos of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across the student experience.
From interdisciplinary hackathons to community-based projects, students engage with real-world challenges such as climate resilience, sustainable design, and social impact. These opportunities are found across modules and co-curricular programmes, helping students build GreenComp competencies and connect learning to action.
Turning Ideas into Action, and Learning into Impact
Our Living Labs programme transforms Queen’s into a testbed for sustainability innovation. Students collaborate with staff, Estates, and external partners to tackle real challenges on campus and in the community, co-creating practical, scalable solutions that contribute to climate resilience, circular economy, and sustainable design.
Learn more about Living Labs at Queen's.
Understanding Climate. Empowering Change.
Through our partnership with Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, students can complete certified Carbon Literacy Training. This interactive programme builds understanding of climate science, policy, and the power of individual and collective action.
Over 2,000 students and staff have already taken part.
Shaping Change through Partnership and Action
Students play a key role in advancing sustainability at Queen’s. From Sustainability Ambassadors and Student Reps to societies like the Sustainable Healthcare Group, students are working alongside staff to influence decisions, lead projects, and build a more sustainable university community.
This work will be increasingly supported through our ROOTS framework for student engagement, which forms part of our wider Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) approach. A new student introduction to sustainability and a refreshed menu of opportunities will launch during the academic year.
Dedicated Pathways for Future Sustainability Leaders
Queen’s offers a growing portfolio of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes focused entirely on sustainability and climate action. These degrees provide students with the knowledge, practical experience, and critical skills needed to lead meaningful change.
Your Ideas. Your Impact.
Whether you want to join a project, start something new, or simply explore what is possible, there is a place for you in sustainability at Queen’s. We are always keen to hear from students who want to make a difference.
Email us at: sustainability@qub.ac.uk