Geography students recently stepped out of their classroom to engage in a series of interactive workshops focused on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), led by renowned academic Professor Simon Kemp.
Professor Kemp, a celebrated leader in Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and employability, currently serves as the University Lead in ESD for the University of Southampton. His visit provided students with a unique opportunity to learn from an expert dedicated to embedding sustainability into the modern student experience.
The workshops transformed the classroom into a global forum. Students were assigned to represent different continents, requiring them to:
- Debate regional priorities based on specific geographic needs.
- Vote on the most critical SDGs for their assigned areas.
- Analyse the complexities of global inequality and sustainability.
By simulating high-level decision-making, the sessions allowed students to apply their academic knowledge to complex, real-world scenarios.
The initiative was met with high praise from both students and faculty for its hands-on approach to complex global issues.
“It was really good because we could put what we’ve learned in the classroom into action,” said one participating student. “It showed how important and relevant these issues are right now.” Staff noted that the workshops did more than just teach geography; they helped students build essential skills such as critical thinking, collaboration, and diplomatic discussion.