Since launching our Learning Academy in 2020, we have delivered over 300 different trainings & events, ranging from lectures and workshops for students, to supporting workplace learning around sustainability for staff at organisations including UK Sport, Association of Colleges, and Kew Gardens

We're proud to have provided training and development to over 1800 staff and students, including over 1000 through our popular Carbon Literacy courses and over 900 staff through our partnership with UCU delivering sustainability education workshops through their professional development training for members.

All training is delivered by our in-house SOS-UK staff and is open to any organisation or individual, regardless of whether they take part in any of our other programmes.

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Support for universities, colleges and students’ unions

Every year in our Sustainability Skills Survey around 80% of students tell us that they want their institutions to be doing more on sustainability, and around 60% want to learn more about it.

Over the last 3 years our Learning Academy has supported universities, colleges and their SUs to meet this demand and provide opportunities for staff and students to engage with sustainability and social justice issues.

Our practical, interactive training sessions are designed to empower staff and student to take action, and create a cascade of positive change across our campuses.

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Highlights from the last year include:

·      Campaign planning workshops at a number of students’ unions

·      Sustainable careers talks at City University and the University of Lincoln

·      Alcohol awareness training for SU and university staff from across the UK

·      Delivering lectures on a number of topics including behaviour change and energy management

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An attendee from one of our trainings said:

“Learning more about climate change and justice has been on my 'to do ' list for a while but to be honest I have avoided it since it felt overwhelming. To do it in a supportive group coupled with thinking about what can be done, was very welcome”

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Learning in the workplace

But what about those who have already left formal education? We know to have a realistic chance of keeping global warming below 1.5 degrees and limiting the most catastrophic consequences of climate change we need current decision makers to take bold action now. We need to upskill those currently in the workforce to play their role in decarbonising their workplaces and their industries.

To support this SOS-UK have opened up the Learning Academy to any organisation who meets our partnerships policy. Through this we have delivered training on a range of sustainability and social justice topics.

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Highlights from the last year include developing and delivering

·      A bespoke Carbon Literacy training course for the Open University

·      A programme of workshops for staff at UK Sport, the government agency       responsible for investing in Olympic and Paralympic sport in the UK

·      Carbon literacy courses for staff at the Museums Association, The Association        of Colleges, The Open University, Kew Gardens, English Heritage and many        universities and colleges.

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Sara Kassam, Sustainability Lead at V&A said:

“We chose SOS-UK to launch our sustainability learning and development programme due to their vast experience in staff engagement and tailored approach to meeting our needs. The webinars delivered so far have been well-constructed and thought-provoking, with an overwhelmingly positive response from attendees!”

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Carbon Literacy

One of our most popular Learning Academy offerings is our Carbon Literacy Training which we have so far delivered to over 1000 staff and students from universities and organisations across the UK.

Carbon Literacy training provides attendees with an understanding of the causes and impacts of carbon dioxide emissions, and supports them to explore how they can take steps to reduce their footprint and contribute to meeting their organisation’s carbon reduction strategies and targets. Additionally, all SOS-UK courses have an increased focus on climate justice, and support learners to understand the inter-related nature of carbon emissions and wider environmental concerns such as biodiversity loss.

Head to our Learning Academy pages for more information, or get in touch by email for any bespoke requests!

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