Sustainability Challenge

Empower students to take action on sustainability issues

This is the Ethical Grand Challenge for Year 1 undergraduate students. It's also available to postgraduate students and final year undergraduate students who missed it in their first year. 

Sustainability is really important to us here at The University of Manchester which is why we created the Sustainability Challenge. This challenge gets students to think critically about sustainability in a real world context and empowers them to take action on the issues that matter most to them. As well as introducing first year students to the sustainability ethos of our University, the challenge also marks their first step towards achieving the Stellify Award, our most prestigious extra-curricular accolade.

How you can help

Share our marketing materials with students:

"I think it's a good opportunity for everyone to brainstorm a little bit on how to make our lives as students sustainable, and how to protect the environment." - Denisa Manda

Answering the big sustainability questions facing our world.

The Stellify Award

The Sustainability Challenge counts towards the Stellify Award, the University's most prestigious extra-curricular accolade. Students must complete two of three Ethical Grand Challenges to qualify for the award.

TAKE THE CHALLENGE

If you'd like to see what the Sustainability Challenge is all about, you can enrol in our staff version by following these instructions:

1) Open Chrome, Firefox or Safari

2) Click the below link -
Sustainability Challenge - Staff

3) Log into Blackboard

4) You will see a message that says ‘Access Denied. Access to this resource is prohibited.’ Ignore this message and click the enrol button in the left hand column.

5) Enter Password - EthicallyStaffed!- and click submit

6) Click OK

 

Please note, you will need to tick the ‘Mark as Reviewed’ box at the end of the Welcome section in order to view the next parts. To complete the Project Review form at the end of the Review section you will need to enter the password: CE-PR0000. Students will only receive this password if their project plan meets all the requirements. Once you submit your project review, you will be able to see the Conclusion section.

 

If you have any questions about the Sustainability Challenge, please email:  egc@manchester.ac.uk

Sustainability Challenge FAQs

Why is the university offering the Sustainability Challenge?

The University of Manchester is keen to offer a distinctive undergraduate experience and to help our graduates stand out in a very competitive graduate recruitment market. The Sustainability Challenge supports this ambition by enabling students to think critically about sustainability in a real world context and empower them to take action on the issues that matter most to them.

Who developed the Sustainability Challenge?

The Sustainability Challenge has been developed by the Division of Teaching, Learning and Student Development (Directorate for Student Experience) working alongside students, academics and not-for-profit organisations.

What will students gain from completing the Sustainability Challenge?

By completing the Sustainability Challenge students will:

  • Develop knowledge and understanding of challenges facing society in the 21st century
  • Enhance their employability skills
  • Explore issues of social justice and be inspired to take action
  • Contextualise their degree, placing it in the wider national and global context
  • Engage their critical thinking skills. 

How long does it take to do the Challenge?

The Sustainability Challenge takes just under an hour to complete. Students can do the Sustainability Challenge in one go or can work through it at their own pace in a number of bite-sized chunks. To complete it, students must work through all the sections.

How do students access the Sustainability Challenge?

Year 1 undegraduate students: From Monday, 18 September students are automatically enrolled in the Sustainability Challenge. They can find the Sustainability Challenge in the “My Communities” section of Blackboard.

Year 3+ undergraduate students: Follow these instructions to self enrol from 18 September

Postgraduate students: Follow these instructions to self enrol from 18 September

Is the Sustainability Challenge part of Stellify and the Stellify Award?

Yes. Ethical Grand Challenges are an element of Stellify and completion of two Challenges counts towards the Stellify Award.

How can staff help students to engage with the Sustainability Challenge?

  • Promote the benefits of completing the Sustainability Challenge to all students
  • Make links to the content of the Sustainability Challenge if the subject matter is relevant to any of your teaching
  • Make your students aware of opportunities through Stellify and the Stellify Award
  • Encourage students to visit the EGC website to find out more about all of the Ethical Grand Challenges
  • Once students have completed the Sustainability Challenge, encourage them to think about how it can add value to their degree and employability

How can staff find out more about the Social Justice Challenge?

If you would like to enrol in the staff version of the Sustainability Challenge, please follow these instructions:

1) Open Chrome, Firefox or Safari

2) Click the below link -
Sustainability Challenge - Staff - link coming soon

3) Log into Blackboard

4) You will see a message that says ‘Access Denied. Access to this resource is prohibited.’ Ignore this message and click the enrol button in the left hand column.

5) Enter Password - EthicallyStaffed!- and click submit

6) Click OK

If you have any questions or suggestions about the Sustainability Challenge, please email egc@manchester.ac.uk

If a student does not complete the Sustainability Challenge, can they complete it in their 3rd, 4th or 5th year?

ll final year students will be given the opportunity to catch-up on Ethical Grand Challenges they have missed. They will receive an email from egc@manchester.ac.uk detailing how they can catch up. If a final year student wishes to complete the Sustainability, they should email egc@manchester.ac.uk 

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