Lessons In Sustainability

Discover how an increase in demand for environmental knowledge is boosting the availability of sustainability education.

Right about now, thousands of A Level students up and down the country will be deep in revision mode, surrounded by textbooks and notes as they work towards distilling two years of learning into a few hours of exams. While many will have applied to study traditional subjects at university or college, an increasing number will have chosen a new area of learning: sustainability.

With young people having more interest in the environment and climate change, educational institutions are seeing an increased demand for courses that deal in all areas of sustainability, from environmental science and sustainable development to courses that provide an overview of the entire global climate crisis.

A Thirst For Knowledge

As global temperatures rise and the impacts of climate change become more obvious, universities all over the country are boosting the number and size of their sustainability courses. According to the website whatuni.com, 64 UK universities currently offer at least one undergraduate or postgraduate course dedicated to sustainability, with 14 of those being Russell Group universities.

One example is a new BA course in climate justice, sustainability and development offered by the University of Sussex, which will equip students with a blend of expertise in climate politics, activism and environmental human rights. “Climate change is at the centre of so much of politics today,” said course co-convener Will Lock. “People are naturally keen to learn about it in more depth.”

This statement is echoed by The National Union of Students Annual Sustainability Skills survey, which revealed that 60% of current students are eager to learn more about sustainability, while 87% say that universities should take sustainability more seriously. These figures leave little doubt that young academics take sustainability very seriously.

Bridging The Skills Gap

The pressure for an increase in educational opportunities to study global sustainability isn’t just coming from the students. The current job market is desperately seeking candidates with specialist knowledge and skills in the sustainability sphere. Between 2019 and 2024, recruitment company Indeed saw a 116% increase in ESG/sustainability-related job postings. This figure not only highlights the rising demand for roles in sustainability, but also demonstrates the speed at which industries are recognising the need for environmental experts.

However, despite the increased uptake in sustainability-related courses, the job market remains in dire need of skills in this area, with almost a third (29%) of employers saying there’s a lack of candidates with the correct skills to take on specialist sustainability roles (Indeed, 2024).

Student Satisfaction

With pressure coming from students about to enter the job market and the changing requirements of companies, the future of sustainability education and employment is looking bright. And as for the students, they get the satisfaction of learning something that’s close to their hearts while setting themselves up for a long and rewarding career.

“I’ve always dreamed about doing something that’s more in touch with nature and learning practical skills,” said Priya Doshi, who’s studying for an NVQ in forestry at Black Mountains College in Wales. “We discuss climate change, which is really great – discussing how to live positively, because it is quite a stressful time.”