Skip to content ↓

Educating for Sustainability

Uniting The World For Our Planet And Our Future

Climate change is the defining challenge of our time. We have all experienced its impact to some degree, but we know that the most significant fallout of climate change will unfairly and disproportionately affect future generations.

As educators, we have a moral imperative to prepare young people for what lies ahead. And that is why sustainability is at the heart of everything we do at UWC.

Our mission to make education a force for peace and sustainability calls us to lead the way as we equip students with the skills, knowledge and applied experiences to become ambitious, resourceful and inspiring changemakers. 

Climate is changing the game; education must change as well. To thrive in careers unknown to them, young people need a framework as dynamic, adaptable and interconnected as the global challenges they face. They need the freedom to discover, explore and extrapolate. They need to witness their diverse, purposeful, and sustainable actions positively impact our planet. These lessons must go beyond theoretical and become experiential. 

Delivering sustainability education requires agile, innovative teachers whose commitment extends beyond the curriculum. They must embrace a holistic approach, which seeks to understand, acknowledge, mentor and support a generation facing global challenges on an unprecedented scale.

When education, youth and opportunity converge – powerful, systemic changes occur. Our challenge is to ensure these powerful forces continue to converge on our campuses for generations to come.
 

 
You can listen back to an exploration of some of these issues in the UWC Climate Education Forum which took place on 22 June 2023. Members of the community came together to discuss the key role of education in combating climate change, with moderation by H.E. Aminath Shauna (Pearson College UWC, 2004-2006), Maldives Minister for Climate Change, and expertise from panellists including, disaster risk management expert, Barrise Griffin (UWC Costa Rica, 2012-2014); environmentalist, author, educator and activist, Bill McKibben; environmental geographer and researcher, Camila Fernández Nion (UWC SEA, 2014-2016); and Vice Principal of Learning Innovation at UWC Atlantic, Marija Uzunova Dang. This was a lively and far-reaching discussion providing valuable insights into driving forward solutions for a sustainable future.
 

You have not allowed cookies and this content may contain cookies.

If you would like to view this content please

  • Educating for a Sustainable Future


    UWC Costa Rica's Sustainability Framework 
    Learn More
  • Young Aurora Finalists Champion Humanitarian Causes


    Three teams have now made it to the final of this year’s Young Aurora. UWC Dilijan, UWC South East Asia and UWC East Africa all impressed the pre-selection panel with their choice of projects, and their dedication to solving a pressing humanitarian issue within the vicinity of their school. Th...
    Learn More
  • Environmental Engineer With a Can-Do Mindset


    Bhushan Tuladhar (UWC-USA, 1985-1987)
    Learn More
  • Climate Warrior From a Small Island with a Big Voice


    Selina Leem (UWC Robert Bosch College, 2014-2016)
    Learn More
  • The state of the natural world is directly linked to our well-being as human beings says UWC-USA alum


    Aurelio Ramos, (Colombia, UWC-USA, 1989-1991)
    Learn More
  • Li Po Chun UWC Hong Kong alumna turns waste into luxury goods


    Kresse Wesling CBE (Li Po Chun UWC Hong Kong, 1994-1996)
    Learn More
  • Reimagining Tomorrow's Climate Change Action


    Since graduating from UWC, Aldi (UWC Dilijan, 2016-2018) has been busy reshaping the concept of sustainability in her hometown of Mendoza, Argentina, applying it to almost every project she participates in and sharing best practices with her community. She has spent countless hours with “Ducha...
    Learn More
  • Two Alums Bringing The Climate Crisis to the International Court of Justice


    Aoife and Jule (UWC Maastricht, 2014-2016) were recently recognised by the Basel Peace Office for their work on climate justice, and more specifically for their work on a campaign called World's Youth for Climate Justice (WYCJ). Their aim is to put human rights at the heart of the climate crisis...
    Learn More
  • UWCers Unite to Help Curb the Effects of the Mauritius Oil Spill


    The Mauritius oil spill hit the major international headlines in August 2020 after the ship “MV Wakashio”, which ran aground on a coral reef off the country’s coast with 4,000 tonnes of fuel on 25 July, started leaking. It has since leaked hundreds of tonnes of fuel into the ocean...
    Learn More
  • UWC Alum At The Helm of Fridays For Future


    Moritz Kalis (UWC Robert Bosch College, 2015-2017) on his involvement in the Fridays For Future movement and what we as a community can do in the race against climate change.
    Learn More
  • Sustainability at UWC and Beyond