ATU Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) Academy

The ATU ESD Academy is co-led by Dr. Mark Kelly (Head of ATU Centre for Sustainability); Dr. John Scahill (ESD Academic Developer); and Dr. Carina Ginty (Head of ATU Galway Teaching and Learning Centre) with support from Sharon Mortimer and Ewelina Kowalczyk.

• Dr. Mark Kelly is an accredited facilitator for the ‘SDGs to 2030’ game; Climate Fresk, 2 Tonnes Fresk; Planetary Boundaries Fresco; Lego Serious Play; Climate Play; and the ‘Risk and Race’ game.

• Dr. John Scahill is an accredited facilitator for the ‘SDGs to 2030’ game and has developed a suite of SDGs-related resources including ‘SDGs 101’, ‘Introduction to the SDGs’, 17 SDGs MOOCs, and a Level 6 Certificate on the SDGs: Partnership, People, Planet, and Prosperity.

The ESD Academy is also supported by the following facilitators:

• Dr. Deirdre Garvey, Head of Dept. of Environmental Humanities and Social Sciences, who is an accredited facilitator for the ‘SDGs to 2030’ game and Climate Fresk.
• Dr. Gabriela Gliga, Lecturer in the School of Business, who is an accredited facilitator for the ‘SDGs to 2030’ game and Climate Fresk.
• Dr. Lala Ruth, Postdoctoral Researcher, who is an accredited facilitator for the ‘SDGs to 2030’ game.
• Niamh Keely, Lecturer in the School of Business, who is an accredited facilitator for the ‘SDGs to 2030’ game.
• Dr. Jan Gottsche, Lecturer in School of the Built Environment, who is an accredited Carbon Literacy and Climate Fresk facilitator.
• Kevin O’Callaghan, Lecturer in the School of Social Sciences and Humanities, who is an accredited Carbon Literacy facilitator.
• Anne Wiseman, Lecturer in the School of Social Sciences and Humanities, who is an accredited Carbon Literacy and Climate Fresk facilitator.
• Mary-Clare Connelly, Technical Officer-Home Economics, who is an accredited Carbon Literacy facilitator.
• Dr. Luminita Boblea, Lecturer in the School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, who is an accredited Carbon Literacy Facilitator.
• Eilis McNulty, Lecturer in the School of Business, who is an accredited Climate Fresk facilitator.
• Natahsa Ronan, Lecturer in the School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, who is an accredited Climate Fresk facilitator.
• Mairead Cluskey, Lecturer in the School of Social Sciences and Humanities, who is an accredited Climate Fresk facilitator.
• Sally Reidy, Lecturer in the School of Marketing, Tourism, Services, Retail and Languages, who is an accredited Climate Fresk facilitator.
• Michelle Lynch, Lecturer in the School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, who is an accredited Climate Fresk facilitator.

• Level 9 Postgraduate Certificate on Education for Sustainability, which runs over a full semester based around 5 online workshop focused on Curriculum, Campus, Community, Collaborative Research, and Culture; with a final in-person workshop focused on actions and implementation.
• Level 6 Certificate on the ‘Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Partnership, People, Planet, and Prosperity’ is a self-paced course that consists of 4 mandatory modules: SDGs and Partnership; SDGs and People; SDGs and Planet; and SDGs and Prosperity.
• HEA Open Course on ‘Introducing Education for Sustainability’, facilitated in collaboration with TU Dublin and IADT. This course consists of 25 learner hours run over a 6-week period with weekly one-hour online workshop and peer triad sessions. Participants who complete the Open Course, can pursue the facilitator element over 2 weeks consisting of an extra 5 hours. The Open Course is run annually from Feb. to April.

This Open Course is also available as an immersive week-long blended programme in ATU.

• HEA Open Course on ‘Embedding the SDGs across the Curriculum’, facilitated in collaboration with the University of Galway, TU Dublin, UCC, DCU, and IADT. This course consists of 25 learner hours run over a 6-week period with weekly one-hour online workshop and peer triad sessions. Participants who complete the Open Course, can pursue the facilitator element over 2 weeks consisting of an extra 5 hours. The Open Course is run annually from Oct. to Dec.

This Open Course is also available as an immersive week-long blended programme in ATU. 

• HEA Open Course on ‘Leading from Within: Capacity Building for ESD Leadership’, facilitated in collaboration with UL, IADT, TU Dublin, and SETU. This course consists of 25 learner hours run over a 6-week period with weekly one-hour online workshop and peer triad sessions. The Open Course is run annually from April to June and is only open to participants who have completed one or both of the Open Courses listed above.
• HEA Open Course on ‘Embedding Global Citizenship Education into Higher Education’, facilitated by UCC, Maynooth University, Mary Immaculate College, and STAND. This course consists of 25 learner hours run over a 6-week period with weekly one-hour online workshop and peer triad sessions.
• The ‘Embedding Sustainability across the Curriculum and Beyond’ immersive workshop (1 day) employs a participatory and action-oriented approach to embedding sustainability and the SDGs across learning outcomes, assessment, pedagogy, and content.
• The ‘Introduction to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)’ digital badge is a self-paced resource (5 hours).
• The ’17 SDGs – 17 MOOCs’ is a self-paced resource which takes approx. 3 hrs over 3 weeks to complete.
• Carbon Literacy training is a certified, day-long courses that covers the science of climate change, carbon footprints, and explores practical ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) from an individual and organizational perspective. Training is offered online, blended or in-person through 3 x 2-hour workshops. All participants must complete a Carbon Literacy Evidence Form to achieve certification by the Carbon Literacy Project in the UK.
• The ‘SDGs to 2030’ workshop (2.5 hrs) is an in-person multi-player card-based game simulates the ‘real world’ while exploring the relationship between the SDGs and possible futures to 2030 and 2040.  
• The Climate Fresk workshop (3 hrs) is an in-person or online interactive climate education workshop based on a collaborative card game.
• The 2 Tonnes Fresk workshop (3 hrs) is an in-person or online immersive collaborative game, which is a follow-on from the Climate Fresk workshop.
• The Planetary Boundaries Fresco (3 hrs) is an in-person or online collaborative card-based workshop designed to make Earth system science accessible and actionable.
• The Climate Play workshop (3 hrs) using the Lego Serious Play (LSP) facilitation methodology to explore sustainability and the SDGs within a range of contexts and disciplines.
• The EN-ROADS World Climate Simulation workshop (3 hrs) uses the EN-ROADS simulation tool to underpin a fictitious UN Climate Summit where participants role play diplomats attending the summit.
• The EN-ROADS Climate Solutions workshop (2 hrs) uses the EN-ROADS simulation tool to explore solutions as a follow-on from the World Climate Simulation workshop.  
• The Conference of Parties of COP Simulation workshop (3 hrs) is an interactive, role-playing simulation where participants mirror the negotiations during the UN COP.  
• The Marine Spatial Planning Challenge workshop (4 hrs) is a tabletop strategy game designed around decision-making, and actions related to ecosystem-based marine spatial planning and blue growth.
• The Eco-Actions workshop (3 hrs) introduces a suite of card-based activity games including the ‘Climate Emergency Action’ card game; Eco-Action ‘Snakes and Ladders’; Global Goals Bingo; Eco-Action Higher-Lower game; and Eco-Action Toppers.
• The ‘Doughnuts, Wedding Cakes, and Bananas’ workshop (3 hrs) introduces a suite of activities related to Doughnut Economics, the SDGs, and Carbon Footprints.
• The ‘In the Loop’ Circular Economy workshop (3 hrs) is a strategic board game focused on resource management and circularity.
• The ‘Risk and Race’ Circular Economy workshop (3 hrs) is a strategic board game focused on exploring entrepreneurial decision making, resource efficiency strategies and circular economy business models.
• The ‘Daybreak’ workshop (3 hrs) employs a cooperative board game to explore hopeful visions of the near future.

Visit ATU Staff Sharepoint here

• Level 6 Certificate on the ‘Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Partnership, People, Planet, and Prosperity’ is a self-paced course that consists of 4 mandatory modules: SDGs and Partnership; SDGs and People; SDGs and Planet; and SDGs and Prosperity.
• The ‘Introduction to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)’ digital badge is a self-paced resource (5 hours).
• The ’17 SDGs – 17 MOOCs’ is a self-paced resource which takes approx. 3 hrs over 3 weeks to complete.
• HEA Digital Badge on ‘Meitheal Skills – Community Sustainability Leadership: Going Green’, 3 hrs self-study.
• HEA Digital Badge on ‘Introduction to Sustainable Living’, 4 hrs self-study.
• HEA Digital Badge on ‘Civic Engagement’, 4 hrs self-study.
• Carbon Literacy training is a certified, day-long courses that covers the science of climate change, carbon footprints, and explores practical ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) from an individual and organizational perspective. Training is offered online, blended or in-person through 3 x 2-hour workshops. All participants must complete a Carbon Literacy Evidence Form to achieve certification by the Carbon Literacy Project in the UK.
• The ‘SDGs to 2030’ workshop (3 hrs) is an in-person multi-player card-based game simulates the ‘real world’ while exploring the relationship between the SDGs and possible futures to 2030 and 2040. 
• The Climate Fresk workshop (3 hrs) is an in-person or online interactive climate education workshop based on a collaborative card game.
• The 2 Tonnes Fresk workshop (3 hrs) is an in-person or online immersive collaborative game, which is a follow-on from the Climate Fresk workshop.
• The Planetary Boundaries Fresco (3 hrs) is an in-person or online collaborative card-based workshop designed to make Earth system science accessible and actionable.
• The Climate Play workshop (3 hrs) using the Lego Serious Play (LSP) facilitation methodology to explore sustainability and the SDGs within a range of contexts and disciplines.
• The EN-ROADS World Climate Simulation workshop (3 hrs) uses the EN-ROADS simulation tool to underpin a fictitious UN Climate Summit where participants role play diplomats attending the summit.
• The EN-ROADS Climate Solutions workshop (2 hrs) uses the EN-ROADS simulation tool to explore solutions as a follow-on from the World Climate Simulation workshop. 
• The Conference of Parties of COP Simulation workshop (3 hrs) is an interactive, role-playing simulation where participants mirror the negotiations during the UN COP. 
• The Marine Spatial Planning Challenge workshop (4 hrs) is a tabletop strategy game designed around decision-making, and actions related to ecosystem-based marine spatial planning and blue growth.
• The Eco-Actions workshop (3 hrs) introduces a suite of card-based activity games including the ‘Climate Emergency Action’ card game; Eco-Action ‘Snakes and Ladders’; Global Goals Bingo; Eco-Action Higher-Lower game; and Eco-Action Toppers.
• The ‘Doughnuts, Wedding Cakes, and Bananas’ workshop (3 hrs) introduces a suite of activities related to Doughnut Economics, the SDGs, and Carbon Footprints.
• The ‘In the Loop’ Circular Economy workshop (3 hrs) is a strategic board game focused on resource management and circularity.
• The ‘Risk and Race’ Circular Economy workshop (3 hrs) is a strategic board game focused on exploring entrepreneurial decision making, resource efficiency strategies and circular economy business models.
• The ‘Daybreak’ workshop (3 hrs) employs a cooperative board game to explore hopeful visions of the near future.

Visit Sharepoint here

• Level 6 Certificate on the ‘Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Partnership, People, Planet, and Prosperity’ is a self-paced course that consists of 4 mandatory modules: SDGs and Partnership; SDGs and People; SDGs and Planet; and SDGs and Prosperity.
• The ‘Introduction to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)’ digital badge is a self-paced resource (5 hours).
• The ’17 SDGs – 17 MOOCs’ is a self-paced resource which takes approx. 3 hrs over 3 weeks to complete.
• HEA Digital Badge on ‘Meitheal Skills – Community Sustainability Leadership: Going Green’, 3 hrs self-study.
• HEA Digital Badge on ‘Introduction to Sustainable Living’, 4 hrs self-study.
• HEA Digital Badge on ‘Civic Engagement’, 4 hrs self-study.
• Carbon Literacy training is a certified, day-long courses that covers the science of climate change, carbon footprints, and explores practical ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) from an individual and organizational perspective. Training is offered online, blended or in-person through 3 x 2-hour workshops. All participants must complete a Carbon Literacy Evidence Form to achieve certification by the Carbon Literacy Project in the UK.
• The ‘SDGs to 2030’ workshop (3 hrs) is an in-person multi-player card-based game simulates the ‘real world’ while exploring the relationship between the SDGs and possible futures to 2030 and 2040. 
• The Climate Fresk workshop (3 hrs) is an in-person or online interactive climate education workshop based on a collaborative card game.
• The 2 Tonnes Fresk workshop (3 hrs) is an in-person or online immersive collaborative game, which is a follow-on from the Climate Fresk workshop.
• The Planetary Boundaries Fresco (3 hrs) is an in-person or online collaborative card-based workshop designed to make Earth system science accessible and actionable.
• The Climate Play workshop (3 hrs) using the Lego Serious Play (LSP) facilitation methodology to explore sustainability and the SDGs within a range of contexts and disciplines.
• The EN-ROADS World Climate Simulation workshop (3 hrs) uses the EN-ROADS simulation tool to underpin a fictitious UN Climate Summit where participants role play diplomats attending the summit.
• The EN-ROADS Climate Solutions workshop (2 hrs) uses the EN-ROADS simulation tool to explore solutions as a follow-on from the World Climate Simulation workshop. 
• The Conference of Parties of COP Simulation workshop (3 hrs) is an interactive, role-playing simulation where participants mirror the negotiations during the UN COP. 
• The Marine Spatial Planning Challenge workshop (4 hrs) is a tabletop strategy game designed around decision-making, and actions related to ecosystem-based marine spatial planning and blue growth.
• The Eco-Actions workshop (3 hrs) introduces a suite of card-based activity games including the ‘Climate Emergency Action’ card game; Eco-Action ‘Snakes and Ladders’; Global Goals Bingo; Eco-Action Higher-Lower game; and Eco-Action Toppers.
• The ‘Doughnuts, Wedding Cakes, and Bananas’ workshop (3 hrs) introduces a suite of activities related to Doughnut Economics, the SDGs, and Carbon Footprints.
• The ‘In the Loop’ Circular Economy workshop (3 hrs) is a strategic board game focused on resource management and circularity.
• The ‘Risk and Race’ Circular Economy workshop (3 hrs) is a strategic board game focused on exploring entrepreneurial decision making, resource efficiency strategies and circular economy business models.
• The ‘Daybreak’ workshop (3 hrs) employs a cooperative board game to explore hopeful visions of the near future.

If you are a local school or community group, please register you interest here in participating in any of the courses and workshops listed above.

The Curlew Awards recognize excellence in Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) Practice and Scholarship. It is a collaboration between ATU, the Mary Robinson Centre, and the University of Galway. In 2026, the ATU winners were Mairead Cluskey and Dr. Deirdre Garvey (Environmental Humanities and Social Sciences); Marion McEnroy-Higgins (Creative Arts); and Mary Nolan (Engineering).  

The ATU ESD Academy is coordinating, participating and evaluating on (behalf of the HEA) a 12-month programme focused on institutional ESD Leadership across the TU sector. The programme is funded by the HEA and TUA and is being delivered by Professor Daniella Tilbury and Dr. Alex Ryan. See HEA media release.