Welcome to the Sustainability Teacher Education Learning Hub
This site offers courses and resources designed to strengthen Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in higher education and TVET institutions. All courses build the capacity of teacher educators, lecturers, and institutional leaders to design and implement ESD Change Projects, transforming curriculum, pedagogy, assessment, and institutional practice in line with the SDGs, the Africa 2063 Agenda, and ESD for 2030.
Training of Trainers’ Teacher Leaders Course
About the Course
This course is for institutional leaders and experienced teacher educators preparing to facilitate the Teacher Leaders course in their own universities and TVET institutions.
- Mode: Blended learning (40% face-to-face, 60% online)
- Duration: 60 hours (10-day programme)
- Focus: Preparing ESD Leader Trainers
- Key Outcome: Capacity to facilitate and manage institutional ESD Change Projects
The Training of Trainers (ToT) course equips participants with the knowledge, methods, and digital tools to lead Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) within their institutions.
The programme includes:
- A pre-course online workshop to identify institutional needs and leadership concerns.
- A 10-day ToT programme combining national-level face-to-face Community of Practice sessions with online modules.
- Training in facilitation, digital learning, Change Project management, and developing Communities of Practice.
By completing the course, participants become ESD Leader Trainers capable of guiding colleagues, students, and partners in designing and implementing Change Projects.
About the Project
This course is part of the Sub-Saharan Africa Teacher Leaders for Education for Sustainable Development (SSATL-ESD), an Erasmus+ funded Euro-African partnership coordinated by Leuphana University (Germany), with universities in South Africa, Zambia, Namibia, Malawi, Kenya, Cyprus, and Greece.
The project strengthens teacher leadership in ESD by developing blended Continuous Professional Development (CPD) programmes, establishing new ICT learning labs, and fostering a Euro-African ESD Leadership Network.
Join our Community of Practice
If you would like to become part of a growing Community of Practice (CoP) that connects teacher educators, lecturers, and institutional leaders across Africa and beyond click the button below. By joining the CoP, you will connect with peers from universities and TVET institutions working on ESD Teacher Leaders Change Projects.
Our CoP is a space for mutual support, professional growth, and collective impact, helping us scale ESD across the region.
Sustainability Starts with Teacher Leaders Online Course
About the Course
For academic staff, student teachers, and community partners in higher education and teacher education institutions.
- Mode: Online & blended learning
- Focus: Whole-institution approaches & transformative pedagogy
- Key Outcome: Institutional ESD Change Projects
The course provides a structured, interactive pathway where participants engage in online modules, collaborative webinars, and institutional tasks. Learning is action-oriented, combining theory with practice through case studies, peer exchange, and reflective assignments.
By the end of the course, participants will have designed and begun implementing an ESD Change Project in their institution. These projects build leadership capacity, strengthen curriculum and pedagogy, and contribute to transforming higher education for sustainable development.
The course also connects participants across Africa and Europe, building a community of practice that supports professional growth and long-term impact.
About the Project
This course is part of the Sub-Saharan Africa Teacher Leaders for Education for Sustainable Development, an Erasmus+ funded Euro-African partnership coordinated by Leuphana University (Germany), with universities in South Africa, Zambia, Namibia, Malawi, Kenya, Cyprus, and Greece.
The project strengthens teacher leadership in ESD by developing blended Continuous Professional Development (CPD) programmes, establishing new ICT learning labs, and fostering a Euro-African ESD Leadership Network.
Change Projects
Course participants co-design Change Projects that embed:
- Curriculum and pedagogical innovation
- Assessment for sustainability learning
- Institutional transformation and whole-institution approaches
- Partnerships with communities and stakeholders
Sustainability Starts with Teachers’ Online Course
About the Course
For teacher educators and TVET educators in the SADC region.
- Duration: 6 months
- Weekly study: 3 hours.
- Cost: Free
- Certification: Available
The course follows a 5-step action learning framework:
- Review curriculum, context, and policy.
- Identify relevant sustainability and SDG content.
- Apply transformative learning methods.
- Plan and assess for ESD learning.
- Monitor, evaluate, and scale for impact.
By the end of the course, participants will have designed and begun implementing a Change Project in their institution — strengthening their innovation and contribution to the SDGs. The development of this course was funded by UNESCO.
About the Project
This course is part of Sustainability Starts with Teachers (SST), a UNESCO-led programme in Southern Africa, implemented with Rhodes University’s ELRC, SARUA, SWEDESD, and supported by SIDA. The programme strengthens teacher education policy and practice for ESD, aligned with the SDGs, the Africa 2063 Agenda, and ESD for 2030.
Change Projects & Resources
Participants design institutional Change Projects that link ESD to teaching practice, curriculum innovation, assessment, indigenous knowledge, and community engagement.
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