Sustainability Literate Graduates: Linking Education for Sustainable Development within Higher Education with the ‘Skills Gap’ in the Employment Market

Abstract

This paper considers the effects of education for sustainable development (ESD) on undergraduates within higher education (HE), through learning outcomes from courses and campus activities. It is high on the agenda of global governments and educational authorities to encourage organisations and economies to become more sustainable, which can be achieved primarily by educating future decision makers, professionals and leaders. Firstly, an overview of secondary data on sustainability and ESD in HE is offered; then, findings and further discussion, contributing to the knowledge and creating opportunities for further explorations in the field. The data was obtained from University of Huddersfield undergraduate students and 'LinkedIn TM ' discussion groups. This paper highlights a lack of sustainability skills and confidence between students, despite strong interest in the subject, and identifies potential issues, leading to a lack of sustainability literate graduates in the UK employment market.