Find full information on the mapping process and support package in our 2025-26 programme overview document.

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A support package for mapping the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) teaching and learning approaches across the formal curriculum through a student-led audit.

The SDGs set out a framework for eliminating poverty, taking action on climate change, and creating a more just and sustainable future for all. They are a universal set of goals, targets, and indicators that UN member states are expected to use to frame their agendas and political policies from 2015-2030.

ESD is a learning and pedagogical process to support learners to imagine and shape a more sustainable world.

Universities, colleges, and students’ unions across the UK are increasingly examining how they might map their teaching and learning onto the SDGs. We know there is significant demand from students for greater inclusion of sustainability, in its broadest sense, in the formal curriculum.

In response to this institutional and student demand, the University of Winchester and NUS developed a training and support package for mapping the curriculum to the SDGs through a student-led audit. The package also includes mapping against education for sustainable development (ESD) teaching and learning approaches, to ensure students are not just acquiring knowledge but also the skills and competencies to deliver on sustainability.

Since 2018, we have worked with over 500 students from 20 institutions map over 7000 modules/lessons as well as over 3300 weeks of teaching and learning. Benefits to curriculum mapping include:

• Student knowledge and skills development - ex. data analysis, critical thinking, global citizenship
• Student engagement and leadership
• Engaging staff and senior leaders
• Reporting on the SDGs and other sustainability criteria to track progress
• Linking the SDGs to other initiaitves within the institution and students' union
• Identifying areas of good practice
• Developing an evidence base to kickstart cross faculty and whole-institution discussions

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Find full information on the mapping process and support package in our 2025-26 programme overview document.

For more information and to discuss this support package, please email Sonya Peres, Senior Project Manager - Education.