Developing a Curriculum Design Framework and Toolkit for ESD at Trinity College Dublin

This case study describes the development of an Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) Curriculum Design Framework and accompanying toolkit at Trinity College Dublin. Led by the Centre for Academic Practice in collaboration with Trinity Sustainability, the initiative provides a structured framework to support the embedding of ESD across modules and programmes. The Framework integrates UNESCO’s ESD competencies and pedagogical approaches with the SDG “Wedding Cake” model, aligning themes, competencies, and teaching, learning, and assessment strategies through constructive alignment. Resources and toolkits have been made available to staff via the Centre for Academic Practice website, and early implementation includes redesign of internal teaching modules and planned curriculum workshops to support broader uptake