Getting Involved with Sustainability: Skills Survey and SDG Teach In

This guide explains how students and staff can get involved with sustainability, featuring the SOS UK Sustainability Skills Survey, the SDG Teach In 2026, and ways to embed sustainability into the curriculum.

About SOS UK

Students Organising for Sustainability UK (SOS UK) is a charity transforming education, so people protect the climate and nature. They are working to:

• Transform the way we teach, what we learn and how that is assessed so climate and nature is a priority.
• Make sure the places where we learn show us what is possible, helping us to support nature and climate action.
• Ensure students from every background can play their role in protecting and building a better world.

The student demand for sustainability

SOS UK's Sustainability Skills Survey 2024-25 (9,973 responses from Further and Higher Education) found that:

• 86% agree that their place of study should teach skills and understanding that positively impact society and the environment.
• 91% agree that sustainable development is something which places of learning should actively incorporate and promote.
• 84% agree that sustainable development is something which all courses should actively incorporate and promote.

Staff actions for sustainability

Promote the Sustainability Skills Survey 2025-26 to students

For the past 15 years, SOS UK has conducted research into UK Further and Higher Education student attitudes and opinions on their learning experience, with a focus on sustainable development and skills. The 2025-26 survey is open from 27 October to 16 November 2025.

Why promote the survey?

• Develop a strong understanding within your institution and the wider sector about students' priorities and reflections on their learning and teaching.
• Support direction for activities in careers and employability, enrichment, teaching and learning, and curriculum design.
• Institutions who receive 100 or more responses will be able to obtain their anonymised student data.

Guidance for promoting the survey:

• Use the ready-made promotions (email and social media templates in Welsh and English).
• Work with Students' Unions, course reps and student groups to promote the survey.
• Avoid referring to the environment or sustainability – this is to attract responses from students with varying degrees of familiarity. You could promote it as, for example, a ‘college skills’ or ‘learning and careers’ survey.
• Browse further guidance in the research briefing.

Skills Survey link (open from 27 Oct to 16 Nov 2025): https://online1.snapsurveys.com/Skills_Survey

Take action: the SDG Teach In

The SDG Teach In is an annual campaign to encourage and support educators, workplace facilitators, and education staff with embedding the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into their teaching, learning, assessment, and Continuing Professional Development. Since 2018, the SDG Teach In has reached nearly 600,000 learners of all ages in 50 countries, with over 1,000 educators in 17 countries taking part in 2025.

Aims of the SDG Teach In:

• Empower: ensure students and staff are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and attributes to be the change they want to see in the world.
• Critically engage: share case studies and good practice of educators' engagement with the SDGs and other sustainability-related frameworks.
• Catalyse curriculum transformation: by encouraging and supporting educators to innovate methods in education for sustainable development.

Why participate in 2026?

• The Teach In is an ideal springboard for getting started or going further with integrating sustainability and climate justice into education.
• Equip the next generation of leaders and changemakers with the sustainability skills, knowledge and attributes.
• Respond to student demand for incorporating sustainability across all subjects.
• Share and inspire others with how you are embedding sustainability into education.
• Help your institution land a spot on the leaderboard for learners reached and educators involved.

Sign-up form (open until 31 March 2026): https://bit.ly/sdgteachin2026

Attend the SDG Teach In 2026 introduction webinar

The introduction webinar takes place on 28 January 2026, 12:00 to 13:00 UK time. This is your chance to hear about the global impact of the SDG Teach In to date, examples from Further Education institutions, the structure and support for 2026, how educators and students can get involved, and to ask any questions.

Webinar link: https://bit.ly/sdgteachinintro26

Use the SDG Teach In Resource Bank

Available and updated throughout the year, the SDG Teach In Resource Bank is a go-to source of multimedia resources to support educators with getting started and going further with sustainability education. It features:

• Guidebooks, articles, videos, and interactive activities for students in different subjects to engage critically with the SDGs and Education for Sustainable Development.
• Social, environmental, and economic sustainability-themed resources for all ages.
• Case studies and publications to inspire creative, nature-connected, and values-driven approaches to sustainability education.

Resource Bank: https://www.sos-uk.org/resources/sdg-teach-in-resources

Ideas for using the Resource Bank:

• Identify how existing taught content aligns with the SDGs using the ‘Education for Sustainable Development Goals: learning objectives’ guidebook (UNESCO 2017). Making learners aware of these competencies means they can confidently explain the skills they have developed in job and further study applications and interviews.
• Learn from and create case studies of working with local stakeholders on sustainability. In 2024, for example, Exeter College students developed skills in upcycling and teamwork by working with staff and Coreus Group employee volunteers to create a herbal and sensory garden (SDG 3 and 4).
• Browse the Rounder Sense of Purpose framework for lesson plans and activities related to the SDGs – for example, creating posters on SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, or role-playing dilemmas to develop problem-solving skills.

Spread the word about the SDG Teach In

Help build momentum so that students around the world can upskill with the SDG Teach In by promoting the campaign in your institution and networks. Access the SDG Teach In 2026 Communications Pack with ready-made social media graphics and posts, email promotions, and email signature.

Guidance for promoting the Teach In:

• Utilise staff networks, newsletters, forums, and channels.
• Trial or experiment with innovative teaching and learning methods.
• Participate before, during, and after March 2026 – identify any strategic timings for hosting Teach In learning events.

Communications Pack: https://bit.ly/sdgteachincomms26

Further actions for embedding sustainability

• Not sure how your subject relates to sustainability? Check out #SustainabilityAtoZ: From Art to Zoo Management (NUS) for case studies and resources across subjects.
• Register for the Greening Universities and Colleges webinar on 4 November, 14:00 to 15:30 GMT, hosted by the EAUC.
• Empower students to co-organise an event aligned with the Thematic Days of COP30 (10 to 20 November 2025).
• Review Teach the Future's Curriculum for a Changing Climate Guiding Principles to identify how climate education can be integrated into existing taught content.
• Create a Community of Practice for staff to share good practice and ideas for incorporating sustainability into teaching, learning and assessment.
• Get involved with Teach the Teacher, which trains school and college students to deliver lessons on issues they are passionate about, helping implement the Department for Education's Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy.

Student actions for sustainability

Complete the Skills Survey 2025-26

For the past 15 years, SOS UK has been researching what UK Further and Higher Education students think and feel about sustainability, skills and employability. The 2025-26 survey is open from 27 October to 16 November 2025.

Why complete the survey?

• An opportunity to share your views about your experience of skills and education.
• A chance to win £500 or one of 10 £50 runner-up prizes.
• Tell SOS UK what you want to see from the future of education.

Skills Survey link: https://online1.snapsurveys.com/Skills_Survey

Boost your employability with the SDG Teach In 2026

The SDG Teach In encourages teachers worldwide to include Sustainable Development Goals in their teaching, learning and assessment. The Teach In runs from 1 to 31 March 2026. Why encourage your teachers to get involved?

• Your voice: ensure your education is relevant to your priorities and career aspirations.
• Leadership: be equipped with the green skills, knowledge, and confidence to be the change you want to see in society.
• Help your institution land a spot on the leaderboard for learners reached and educators involved.

Promote the SDG Teach In 2026

• Help promote the Teach In so that students like you can support a healthy and happier future. Use the SDG Teach In 2026 Communications Pack with ready-made social media graphics, posts and email promotions.
• Start a conversation: talk about the SDG Teach In during your next tutorial or class, or with your teachers and lecturers. Why do you want your college involved? What skills or knowledge do you want to gain? Do you have ideas – outdoor learning, solving local problems, creating artwork, debating?

Communications Pack: https://bit.ly/sdgteachincomms26

Further sustainability actions for students

• Support SDG Goal 3: Good Health and Wellbeing with a checklist on eating and drinking for a healthy body and planet, or create sustainable food behaviour change campaigns with classmates and teachers.
• Support SDG Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities by organising a Fairtrade event – all the SDGs are linked to Fairtrade, so browse Fairtrade Fortnight activities and resources.
• Support SDG Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production by creating posters or leaflets on the impacts of everyday household items and how to be ethically-minded consumers.
• Teach the Teacher: register your interest in being trained to deliver climate education to your own teachers – a unique opportunity to develop skills and boost your employability.
• Get creative: express what sustainability means to you through zines, leaflets and posters; reusing and upcycling; illustration, graphic design, painting and sewing; creative writing, storytelling and spoken word; or theatre, music, videos and podcasts.

Keep an eye on SOS UK's Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and LinkedIn for more.

Source document attached below.