Quality Education' and sustainable approaches to learning and teaching

By Mark O’Hara

The last two days have been spent at the GET-AHED Conference in the Clean Technology Centre at Munster Technological University in Cork, Ireland. GET-AHED stands for Green Education and Transition: A Higher Education online Digital buddy. The conference was the culmination of two years of collaborative work involving a number of European HEIs. This Erasmus-funded project will provide Higher Education institutions across the EU with a range of online tools, guidance and support as they seek to implement the EU’s Green Transition priorities. The platform’s resources will be a valuable resource for institutions involved in designing, implementing and monitoring their sustainability plans; it offers support for HE leaders and managers in embedding sustainability into all aspects of an institution’s operations; and it will support staff and student involvement in sustainability initiatives both internally and externally.

I was there to deliver one of the Keynote addresses and it was a wonderful opportunity to do two things:

The first was to share some of the key lessons contained in the EAIR publication ‘Transcending boundaries for a sustainable future of higher education’. The book draws on papers delivered at the EAIR Annual Forum held at University College Cork in 2024. Its key themes and ideas revolve around the role of higher education institutions (HEIs) in addressing global sustainability challenges, particularly through collaborative, transdisciplinary approaches aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As the world faces critical interrelated problems like climate change, inequality and resource depletion, HEIs are increasingly expected to contribute to societal transformation through education, research and community engagement.

The second opportunity was the chance to catch up (in-person for once) with old colleagues and meet new ones interested in sustainable practices in HE and to hear about some fabulous initiatives both in Ireland and elsewhere in the EU. It was a great to engage in discussions about two topics dear to my heart concerning sustainable learning and teaching: effective approaches to student enablement and agency and the co-requisite challenge of developing impactful approaches to staff development. I will certainly be reaching out to some of the contacts I’ve made in the last 48 hours when Advance-HE launches its ‘Elevate Ireland’ programme this autumn!

In closing, I invited all attendees to the upcoming EAIR Forum, which will be held in Vilnius, Lithuania, from August 26th to 28th, 2026.

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Sustainable Travel Ideas for the EAIR Cork Forum

Travelling from Europe

Visitors from Europe can travel via Eurostar from Paris to London and from there by train to Wales and by boat to Dublin. Travellers can then take the train or bus to Cork. Alternatively, there is a daily boat connection from Roscoff or Calais (in Northern France) directly to Ringaskiddy, Cork.  

Link for Direct Ferries: https://www.directferries.ie/

Travelling from the UK

There are ways to travel to and from Ireland without flying, as there are train and bus services that link with ferry services across the Irish Sea which connect several ports in England, Wales and Scotland with Irish ferry ports of Rosslare, Dublin or Belfast with ongoing travel by car, bus or train. 

Cross County Rail Services

Where taking a flight is necessary, attendees are encouraged to consider direct flights to Ireland (Cork, Dublin) airports and to use cross country rail services where a direct flight to Cork is not possible.

Link for Irish rail: https://www.irishrail.ie/en-ie/

Travel options in Cork

Cork is a city where active travel options are both available and encouraged – walking and cycling.  Visitors to Cork City can get a 3 day TFI bike subscription.

Link to TFI Bike Subscription: https://www.bikeshare.ie/pricing-and-subscriptions.html

All accommodation options and EAIR Forum venues in Cork can be accessed easily by foot. 

Offsetting Travel Emissions

Forum attendees are invited to offset the unfavourable impact of air travel by combining attendance at the Cork forum with other meetings in Ireland, the UK and Europe. 

Forum attendees who wish to consider sustainable travel options may also wish to combine their attendance at the Cork EAIR Forum with their annual holiday and by so doing minimise the number of air flights taken in 2024.