Education and students
Image: Malin Grönborg
Image: Malin Grönborg
Education, together with research, is Umeå University’s most important contributor to a sustainable transition of society.
Umeå University is one of Sweden’s biggest higher education institutions with about 38,000 students in around 150 study programmes and 1,800 courses as well as with nearly 900 doctoral students in 115 subjects. By integrating sustainability in education, students are provided with knowledge and skills to use as citizens and decision-makers when meeting present and future sustainability challenges.
Action plan for climate and sustainability contains the university's strategic goals and overall activities for the period 2021-2023. The results of follow-ups for the two targeted goals within the focus area of education and students, are reported here.
Goal 1. Sustainable development is integrated in education on all levels
Sustainable development is a pervasive perspective in the university's Quality System for Education. In practice, this means that those responsible must work actively to integrate such aspects into all study programmes, and follow up on the outcome of the work. The faculties' directors of studies have classified their respective programmes, based on whether sustainable development is a pervasive perspective in accordance with the university's quality system.
Here is how we are doing:
Programmes having a focus on sustainable development, or having sustainable development as a degree objective:
Programmes having sustainable development as pervasive perspective:
Goal 2. The knowledge and commitment of students and staff comes to use in the university’s environmental sustainability work
The students' experiences, views and commitment are important resources for the university in the development of our activities. Of course, this also applies to our work with climate and sustainability matters.
For goal 2, we have chosen the indicator "Number of projects that include student collaboration". During 2023, students have been involved in some several sustainability projects. Examples are:
Social sustainability is in focus when students challenge the university’s sustainability measures.
A course where teachers get to develop their knowledge in, and teaching ability for, sustainable development.
We act for a sustainable development by spreading knowledge that leads us towards a more sustainable society.
During 'Rally Sweden', students presented the next generation of silent, sustainable rally cars.
Students from Ukraine are having difficulty financing their living expenses. Donations can make an impact.
