Gain professional recognition that validates your educational sustainable development (ESD) expertise, positioning you as a trusted leader in sustainable educational change.
Developed by the Education and Training Foundation (ETF) and the Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges (EAUC), the Specialist Status in Education for Sustainable Development (SSESD) is the first formal accreditation in the UK’s Further Education (FE) and Skills sector for advanced ESD practice. It is based on a seminal report jointly produced by ETF and the Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges (EAUC), ensuring SSESD reflects the latest sector-wide research and expertise around sustainable teaching, leadership, and operations.
Launch date: April 2025
Duration: 12-week, competency-based validation
Modality: Live Online
If you’re an organisation interested in this validation for your team, we’d love to discuss how this specialist status can meet your specific needs by contacting us by using the ‘Register your interest’ button. If you’re an individual you can book now using the button the below.
Receive a formal accreditation similar to Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills Status (QTLS) and Advanced Teacher Status (ATS) that acknowledges your advanced expertise in Education for Sustainable Development.
Align your work with the UK’s Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy and UNESCO’s ESD framework, helping professionals and institutions transition toward a low-carbon economy.
Support students, colleagues, and workplaces in developing the competencies needed for a sustainable workforce meeting the UK’s urgent demand for green skills.
Whether you’re a teacher, leader or member of FE professional services, SSESD’s 12-week online process is designed to accommodate diverse roles and busy schedules.
Stay ahead of emerging educational challenges by integrating globally recognised sustainability competencies into your practice.
Demonstrate your capability to influence institution-wide sustainability efforts through a recognised, competency-based accreditation. SSESD validates your expertise, reinforcing your credibility to drive meaningful, lasting change that advances sustainability goals within your organisation and across the sector.
Validate your real-world ESD impact and solidify your professional profile in a rapidly evolving sector.
Showcase your ability to shape institutional strategies and address the UK’s pressing green skills needs.
By gaining SSESD, you join a community of ESD leaders driving meaningful, lasting change across the FE and Skills sector.
The SSESD framework is built around nine core ESD competencies derived from the ETF-EAUC report and UNESCO’s ESD guidance ensuring participants can illustrate genuine impact:
This information may change, however it will give professionals an idea of time commitment and scheduling. Please note this is subject to change and we reserve the right to do so.
Week-by-Week Breakdown
Pre-Validation (Before 08 April 2025)
Week 1 (w/c 07 April 2025)
Week 2 (w/c 14 April 2025)
Week 3 (w/c 28 April 2025)
Week 4 (w/c 5 May 2025)
Weeks 5-6 (w/c 12 & 19 May 2025)
Week 7 (w/c 26 May 2025)
Week 8 (w/c 2 June 2025)
Weeks 9-10 (w/c 9 & 16 June 2025)
Week 11 (w/c 23 June 2025)
Week 12 (w/c 30 June 2025)
Post-Validation (After 01 July 2025)
Certificates issued
Await outcome and feedback
The majority of steps are self-paced and the plan is a recommended timeline to support progress but professionals can work through the validation process at their own pace, depending on other time/dairy commitments.
The support sessions aim to share practices and questions between colleagues. Support sessions are optional. All the information will available on the online learning platform.
Requirements to undertake the validation programme:
*The SSESD process validates and confirms existing advanced knowledge, skills, behaviours and effective practice related to ESD. The programme does not contain learning material.
**The SSiSD is not suitable for those seeking an introductory programme to ESD. Applicants who are currently building their knowledge and skills in ESD may need to undertake CPD prior to registering for the SSESD programme.
If you’re an organisation interested in this validation for your team, we’d love to discuss how this specialist status can meet your specific needs by contacting us by using the form below. If you’re an individual you can book now using the button the below.
For any queries, contact enquiries@etfoundation.co.uk.