Sustainability Education Guidelines for Sustainability from SEAC
The Sustainability Education Accreditation Commission (SEAC) has released Version 1.1 of the Sustainability Education Guidelines for Sustainability and Sustainability-Related Degree and Certificate Programs in Higher Education, now available at sustedu.org.
The revised guidelines are the result of a three-year development process informed by input from more than 500 stakeholders, including educators, program directors, administrators, employers, students, and recent alumni of sustainability-focused academic programs. This document represents one of the first broadly accessible sets of standards designed to guide the creation, evaluation, and continuous improvement of sustainability degree and certificate programs.
Anchored in the widely recognized Key Competencies in Sustainability Framework, the guidelines present evidence-based best practices across eight core dimensions of program quality. These areas encompass curriculum design, learning assessment, leadership and governance, faculty development and support, institutional alignment, community and industry engagement, and other essential elements that contribute to strong and effective sustainability education.
Collectively, the standards aim to help higher education institutions prepare graduates who are equipped to drive transformative, solutions-oriented sustainability work across all sectors. By strengthening program coherence, increasing visibility, and enhancing the credibility and value of sustainability degrees, the guidelines support the broader evolution of higher education toward more future-ready, sustainability-focused learning pathways.