De Montfort University has had a strong and explicitly stated commitment to sustainability and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across the taught curriculum since 2018.
DMU's institutional strategy document at the time put the goals on the front page of its guide to institutional activity and did the same in the 2018 Teaching, Learning and Assessment Strategy.
It stated at the time: “We will equip students and staff with an understanding of the challenges of sustainability and sustainable development, and will approach learning, teaching and assessment mindful of the opportunities to contribute locally and globally to the public good and environmental futures as well as of our impact on a resource-limited world.”
In 2024, this commitment was reflected in DMU’s Empowering University Strategy for which ‘Sustainability and the SDGs’ is one of four cross-cutting themes, led by a dedicated Pro Vice-Chancellor for Sustainability to demonstrate strategic commitment, influencing all activities including curriculum.
A dedicated Education for the SDGs (ESDG) website provides resources for students and staff to reflect this ongoing commitment. The two-page briefing sheet for staff explains how and why to deliver ESD, and states: "ESD is applicable to every taught course run by DMU and through collaborative partners".
Education for Sustainable Development is one of three priority areas within the Sustainability and the SDGs theme of the Empowering University Strategy, with dedicated staff responsible for leading delivery against the priority.
This sustained commitment is reflected in curriculum development.
Almost all DMU programmes were re-validated for delivery in seven-week blocks from 2021 and one of the required three over-arching criteria was consideration of sustainability.
This process was documented in the DMU-led QAA project report “ESD and Academic Quality”, which also includes DMU’s strategic commitment statements as exemplars.
One example included in the ESD and Academic Quality report is the text included in the template for every DMU Programme Handbook in 2023/24.
In the report, it states: "DMU is committed to all programmes empowering students to address issues of Sustainable Development, such as social inequalities, health and wellbeing and environmental impacts, through course-specific teaching, learning and assessment approaches.”
As such, the expectation to address sustainability and the SDGs is reflected for all taught courses and all students, both through course validation processes, staff support and student-facing communications.