Responsible Futures International
Responsible Futures is a whole-institution approach to embed holistic sustainability in student learning at educational institutions. It is a supported change programme and accreditation mark, delivered in partnership with students. Responsible Futures puts sustainability at the heart of education. The Responsible Futures framework assists in creating an environment for staff and students to work together, in partnership, to embed sustainability throughout teaching and learning. The programme legitimises and mainstreams education for sustainable development (ESD), ultimately helping to ensure students leave education with the knowledge, skills, and attributes needed to create a more just and sustainable society.
The International Programme
Responsible Futures was developed by Students Organising for Sustainability (SOS-UK) in 2014. Since it’s inception, thirty-nine partnerships across the UK have joined Responsible Futures. Collectively, these partnerships represent nearly 700,000 students. Following the success of the Responsible Futures UK programme, SOS-UK and the IAU partnered in 2023 to develop an international edition of the programme.
Pilot Programme Launch
The IAU and SOS UK successfully kicked off the international pilot of the RF programme with the first group of universities. The universities participating in the pilot are IAU Members who have been invited on board in recognition of their existing commitment to sustainable development and working with an SD strategy at the whole institution. Pilot universities will play a leadership role in working with IAU and SOS to co-create an international RF framework and shape how the international programme is designed and delivered. The programme aims to support them in overcoming institutional barriers and putting systems in place that will encourage the development of lasting sustainability initiatives.
Why Responsible Futures International?
“The joint IAU and SOS UK Responsible Futures International Programme is an accelerator on the highway to successfully working with sustainability at the whole institution and can help students, staff and leadership at universities work more closely together.”
The IAU strongly advocates for the role of higher education for the 2030 Agenda and for the importance of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) as a backdrop for action in HE. The IAU decided to endorse the Responsible Futures programme based on its focus on student engagement and co-development so as to accelerate and ensure both medium- and long-term success of sustainability initiatives at the participating universities. Thanks to the diverse group of institutions from different countries, higher education systems, and backgrounds involved in the pilot group and framework co-design process, the IAU is convinced that the international RF programme will be beneficial and help HEIs to advance their sustainably efforts.
Next Steps
The pilot programme concluded in summer 2024, and its results were presented at the IAU International Conference 2024 in November 2024 in Tokyo.
IAU Members interested in participating in the Responsible Futures International in 2025 are invited to contact Isabel Toman to receive further information on requirements and timelines.