• UVM

 

Educating for a Sustainable Future

Both Shelburne Farms and the University of Vermont have long-standing commitments to supporting and empowering educators. As an educational non-profit and a land grant university, they share the vision of a just and sustainable future for all, attained through an educational system in which all learners can thrive.

Together they're committed to deepening the impact of education for sustainability: locally, regionally, and globally.

The University of Vermont is a land grant university with a robust commitment to sustainability. As part of UVM’s College of Education and Social Services, the UVM Tarrant Institute for Innovative Education partners with schools by leveraging professional learning and leadership, storytelling, and research in order to empower educators and students to engage in learning that is meaningful and relevant, so all learners can thrive.

Shelburne Farms is a non-profit organization whose mission is to inspire and cultivate learning for a just and sustainable future. Their programs engage youth and people of all ages in learning experiences that empower them to build diverse, resilient, caring communities. The Education for Sustainability (EFS) Institute of Shelburne Farms will be committed to the advancement of education for sustainability around the world. This approach to education, grounded in empowering students to make positive changes in their communities, has the potential to truly shift societies to improve the quality of life for all, now and for future generations, and we are excited to get in on the ground floor of this unique experience.

Why Education for Sustainability?

By combining a personal learning plan (PLP), proficiency-based assessment, and flexible pathways to engagement, students can create a way forward that honors their own unique identities, ways of knowing, and connections to their community. These three pillars of education are foundational to education for sustainability as well.

When the UVM Tarrant Institute talks about education for sustainability, we know that project-based learning offers holistic learning opportunities that help students connect more deeply to their communities.

And at the intersection of our two organizations’ work is a commitment to youth engagement, collaborative relationships, and a vision for co-creating a better educational ecosystem. Together with partner schools, we aim to work toward a new vision for teaching and learning through intensive professional development, leadership preparation, and compelling stories of education in action.

All students deserve the opportunity to craft a deeply personal vision of learning.

Together, Shelburne Farms and the UVM Tarrant Institute for Innovative Education are transforming learning and schools for a sustainable future.