Colleagues win Highly Commended award at the International Green Gown Awards for Ruskin Modules

Our innovative Ruskin Modules, an initiative that has seen more than 11,000 ARU students engage in crucial issues has won an international sustainability award. The Green Gown Awards celebrate 'great sustainable and innovative projects' that represent the 'very best in the education sector on a global scale'.

ARU was awarded Highly Commended in the Next Generation Learning and Skills category at the prestigious International Green Gown Awards yesterday for its Ruskin Modules. You can watch the announcement online.

This category recognises achievement in the development of academic courses, skills and capabilities relevant to sustainability and ARU was the only UK university shortlisted for this category.

The judges commended the Ruskin Modules for their "interdisciplinary nature and focus on real world or wicked challenges highlighting the social underpinnings of sustainability". They also highlighted:

• A truly integrated approach involved professional and academic staff from ARU and beyond
• An evidence of shift in attitudes among students are takeaways that other universities can learn from and adopt
• Impact beyond the UK demonstrates success of the ARU model.

Elaine Brown, ARU Institutional Lead for Personal Development Tutoring and Ruskin Modules, said: “We are now in the third year of our Ruskin Modules, where ARU students are supported to respond together to global societal or cultural concerns that are uniquely difficult to resolve. These challenges align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and cover three themes: Health, Performance and Wellbeing; Safe and Inclusive Communities; Sustainable Futures.

“The active, collaborative interdisciplinary model means students can develop the sorts of skills employers need, such as team-working, problem-solving and critical thinking.

“We are very proud the innovative nature of the Ruskin Modules has been recognised by the International Green Gown Awards 2024.”

To find out more about Ruskin Modules please email [email protected].