The M-Framework for Teaching Sustainability
For curriculum managers, heads of department, quality managers and other strategic posts.
1️⃣ Climate Basics (Management)
Descriptor
Demonstrates accurate understanding of climate change and sustainability, including the SDGs, to inform strategic decisions.
Performance Criteria:
- ✔️ Reference SDGs when setting sustainability priorities or strategy
- ✔️ Challenge inaccurate sustainability claims in planning or reporting
- ✔️ Brief teams on core sustainability concepts relevant to the organisation
2️⃣ Vocational Linking (Management)
Descriptor
Aligns sustainability priorities with curriculum areas, sectors, and employer needs.
Performance Criteria:
- ✔️ Map sustainability priorities to vocational areas or departments
- ✔️ Engage employers to identify sustainability skills needs
- ✔️ Align sustainability goals with sector standards or local labour market needs
3️⃣ Evidence Literacy (Management)
Descriptor
Uses credible evidence and data to inform sustainability planning and evaluation.
Performance Criteria:
- ✔️ Use external benchmarks or sector data to inform sustainability plans
- ✔️ Evaluate the quality of evidence used in sustainability reporting
- ✔️ Use data to justify sustainability-related decisions or investments
4️⃣ Structured Dialogue (Management)
Descriptor
Leads respectful organisational dialogue on ethical, social justice, and controversial sustainability issues.
Performance Criteria:
- ✔️ Set clear expectations for respectful discussion of sensitive sustainability issues
- ✔️ Facilitate balanced discussion of contested sustainability decisions
- ✔️ Coach staff who face difficulties with teaching and promoting sustainability issues
5️⃣ Curriculum & Systems Design (Management)
Descriptor
Plans and enables systematic embedding of sustainability across curriculum and organisational processes.
Performance Criteria:
- ✔️ Produce team guidance on embedding sustainability across the curriculum
- ✔️ Support teams to develop sustainability outcomes and assessment approaches
- ✔️ Allocate time or resource to enable sustainability planning
6️⃣ Culture & Engagement (Management)
Descriptor
Builds a culture that motivates staff and learners to engage with sustainability.
Performance Criteria:
- ✔️ Recognise and promote effective sustainability practice
- ✔️ Encourage staff and learners to contribute sustainability ideas
- ✔️ Support initiatives that raise visibility of sustainability across the organisation
7️⃣ Improving Outcomes (Management)
Descriptor
Leads actions that improve sustainability-related outcomes for learners and the organisation.
Performance Criteria:
- ✔️ Set clear sustainability improvement priorities and success measures
- ✔️ Monitor progress against sustainability goals
- ✔️ Use outcomes data to adjust sustainability strategy
8️⃣ Reflect on Practice (Management)
Descriptor
Reviews the organisation’s sustainability practice and leads continuous improvement through partnership and evidence.
Performance Criteria:
- ✔️ Use research to inform sustainability strategy and improvement
- ✔️ Review organisational sustainability performance and identify priorities
- ✔️ Build partnerships with employers and agencies with sustainability expertise
