ESD Resources for Staff
The Teaching Enhancement Unit has created and collated a range of resources to support staff as they integrate ESD into their curricula and professional practice. Many of these are suitable for those just beginning to explore ESD and those seeking to deepen it within their practice.
Click the tabs below to access the full range of supports.
Education for Sustainable Development on Loop
DCU has provided all staff with access to an ESD area on Loop. This resource is a ‘one-stop-shop’ for staff wanting to get started with ESD. It includes introductory sections on sustainable development and ESD, as well as sections on the EU’s GreenComp Framework and useful resources. The ESD Area can be accessed here.
Professional Development
Digital Badge
Each academic year, alternating between Semester One and Two, DCU offers all staff the opportunity to complete a Digital Badge in Education for Sustainability. This six-week course, originally developed by the National Forum for Teaching and Learning, has been adapted to meet the needs of staff at DCU.
It covers three key areas:
Introduction to Sustainable Development and ESD
The EU GreenComp Framework for Sustainability Competences
Integrating ESD into your Modules and Programmes
If you are interested in completing the Badge, please fill in this expression of interest form.
Workshops (for staff)
ESD Workshop in Progress
The Teaching Enhancement Unit has developed a number of workshops for staff interested in beginning or continuing their ESD journey. These can be delivered to staff at faculty, school or programme level, possibly at a Teaching and Learning Day or other suitable time.
The following workshops are currently available:
- The ABC of ESD: This is an introduction to many of the key ideas related to ESD
- ESD and Interdisciplinarity: This session should bring together staff members from more than one of DCU's faculties. Participants consider how their discipline relates to issues of social, global and climate justice and reflect upon how it may not have all the answers, before exploring how collaboration and interdisciplinary approaches can have greater impact.
- ESD and Critical Thinking: Based on a framework developed by Dr Brighid Golden from Mary Immaculate College, this workshop encourages staff to consider how they can use themes related to sustainable development to develop their students’ critical thinking and reflection skills.
- ESD and Challenge Based Learning: This session could be useful to anyone thinking about refreshing an existing module or developing a new one. How can ESD and CBL be used to relate disciplinary knowledge to real world problems in a way that develops important transversal skills?
Complete this form to book one of the workshops..
Individually, staff can also join the ESD mailing list and we’ll inform you of any forthcoming workshops or events.
Workshops for students
DCU’s ESD Officer is also available for guest lectures / workshops with your students. These can either be a general introduction to sustainable development and the SDGs or tailored to illustrate the connections between the disciplinary subject and themes related to sustainable development.
Curriculum Development
Increasingly, and in line with the broad aims of DCU Futures, there is a need for all graduates to understand how their disciplinary knowledge relates to global challenges and can be harnessed to respond to these challenges in a positive way. Therefore, academics will need to respond by integrating new content, as well as new pedagogies and classroom activities into their curricula.
The TEU is available to support staff in this, whether it is at a module or programme level. This can be done at any time but support is encouraged during New Programme Approval and Periodic Programme Review.
ESD Resources
Resources
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Guidelines for Good Practice
The TEU has developed a set of Guidelines for Good Practice around ESD. This document can be used at module or programme level. It is voluntary, iterative and encourages reflection on practice to identify possible opportunities to enhance ESD content. It involves 11 actions, each with a set of indicators. Academics are invited to identify the indicators they are already meeting, as well as those that they would like to work towards.
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Curriculum Design Toolkit
Using resources developed by Advance HE and others, the TEU can guide you through the process of designing a curriculum with a strong focus on ESD. This process can be tailored to meet the needs of staff.
Consultation
DCU’s Education for Sustainable Development Officer is always available for formal consultation or an informal meeting. To arrange a formal consultation please use this contact form.
To arrange an informal meeting, please use this booking form.
Scholarship of Teaching & Learning
The Teaching Enhancement Unit regularly conducts research into the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SOTL) to improve educational practices within and beyond DCU. Beginning in January, 2026, this will include a focus on ESD. Research areas will include educators’ perceptions of ESD, what makes good ESD and the links between ESD and DCU’s broader approach to teaching and learning, DCU Futures.
Support for research with a sustainability theme
If you are interested in conducting research related to sustainable development, please contact the ESD Officer using this form.
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