The Sustainability Hub is pleased to announce new projects will move forward with financial support from the 2025/26 Teaching and Learning Enhancement Fund (TLEF) funding round.
In total, $2.44-million in TLEF funding will support 66 new and returning TLEF projects (13 Large TLEF Transformation projects and 53 Small TLEF Innovation projects proposed by faculty, staff, and students across the UBC Vancouver campus. The TLEF supports UBC’s strategic plan Shaping UBC’s Next Century, by advancing transformative learning at the university.
Read on for more information about two new projects led by the Sustainability Hub and partners that will enhance the teaching and learning experience for students and faculty.
Project: Centering and Advancing Indigenous Climate Justice in Climate Education
Partners: Sustainability Hub; Faculty of Applied Science; Faculty of Education
Indigenous perspectives on sustainability and ecological balance are key to Climate Justice Education. Through building upon the novel Climate Kind Pedagogy (CKP) framework, which recognizes the importance of traditional knowledge in mitigating climate impacts and centering values of kindness, trust, equity, resilience and justice, the project aims to understand, integrate and advance Indigenous perspectives on climate change.
By developing educational resources that will support non-Indigenous faculty in teaching climate education, the project also will increase the number of cross-faculty lectures through programs such as the Climate Teaching Connector, and through courses and workshops with a focus on Indigenous climate justice.
“Integrating Indigenous perspectives into climate justice education is crucial to advancing holistic and deep place-based knowledge that is steeped in values of kindness, justice and equity. This project will develop resources to advance inclusive teaching practices and pedagogies, offering long-term opportunities for students and faculty to engage with climate justice and Indigenous knowledge systems.” Kshamta Hunter, Manager of Transformative Learning and Student Engagement, Sustainability Hub.
In making climate education more inclusive, justice-focused and interdisciplinary, the project will contribute to UBC’s broader goals of reconciliation and climate leadership, giving students a deeper understanding of justice-oriented approaches to climate challenges.
Project: Climate Anxiety and Student Wellbeing
Partners: Sustainability Hub; Office of Wellbeing Strategy
Students face increasing climate anxiety and distress, which impacts academic outcomes and their ability to thrive at UBC.
To address these issues, the Office of Wellbeing Strategy and the Sustainability Hub are joining forces to address an identified resource gap: evidence-informed, practical resources to support instructors of all disciplines to integrate climate change and wellbeing content in ways that support students' holistic personal growth, inspire purposeful contributions to their communities and support instructor wellbeing in the process.
“There’s a lot going on in the world right now that doesn’t help us stay focused and positive. We hope this project will provide tools for students and instructors that help to create spaces where learning and teaching about climate change can be a powerful and enriching experience for all.” Oliver Lane, Manager, Teaching and Learning, Sustainability Hub.
"This project is a great example of students, faculty, and staff collaborating with a common goal, complementing the university's initiatives and reaching a large number of students." Sara Kozicky, Strategic Initiatives Project Manager, Office of Wellbeing Strategy
The two-year project will involve the direct participation of faculty and students to help design and test this toolkit in the classroom. It will create a supportive learning environment with equity and student wellbeing at its core, helping prepare students to be agents of change in the world.