Students wanting to learn about biodiversity can now study a recognised qualification at SCQF level 4.
‘Biodiversity Action’ was added to Scotland’s framework for qualifications after programme owner Keep Scotland Beautiful (KSB) received funding for credit rating.
The funding was administered by the SCQF Partnership on behalf of the Scottish Government. The aim of the investment was to increase the range of Learning for Sustainability (LfS) qualifications on the SCQF. It’s hoped this will help young people learn and build the skills needed for future green jobs.
It follows on from a report the SCQF Partnership created for the government in 2021 which identified the barriers faced by organisations that want their LfS programmes added to the SCQF.
Several applications were received for the recent round of funding, and eight of the bids were successful, including KSB.
Striving to inspire change
KSB aims to inspire environmental action. Its vision is for a clean, green, sustainable nation and it works across Scotland to help combat climate change, reduce litter and waste, restore nature and biodiversity and improve places.
It strives to inspire changes in behaviour to improve our environment, the quality of people’s lives, their wellbeing and the places that they care for.
The Biodiversity Action programme supports Scotland’s net zero ambitions and aims to develop understanding of biodiversity and local and global threats, encouraging action to prevent biodiversity loss.
Course aims
Aimed at secondary school pupils, the course will help young people develop their knowledge of key biodiversity concepts on how the natural world works and how we are dependent on its healthy functioning. It will build awareness of what positive action they might take to address the causes of biodiversity loss and skills to plan action for a nature positive future.
In creating an action plan to target causes of biodiversity loss, learners will develop skills that will help them construct social, systemic and physical changes to create a nature-positive legacy for the school, the community and themselves.
What’s involved
Students will develop:
- awareness and understanding of the causes and consequences of biodiversity loss.
- a personal connection to the natural world.
- motivation to take action to address biodiversity loss through changed behaviours, systems and physical spaces.
The course, which has 1 credit point, is particularly relevant to staff with responsibility for learning for sustainability, outdoor learning, and green careers. It is deliverable over one term through a minimum of 12.5 hours.
Material is primarily delivered by the class teacher, with optional support from a KSB trainer. Summative student work is shared with the trainer electronically, who will mark it and provide feedback for the students.
Nicola Smith, SCQF Partnership Lead for Projects and Employer Support, said: “It is great to see an increasing number and range of courses for young people on the SCQF that have a Learning for Sustainability focus. This will provide teachers and youth leaders with the tools they need to build a growing understanding of, and interest in, Learning for Sustainability topics among our young people, building the skills and understanding needed in our future workforce to face the significant challenges ahead.”
Eve Keepax, Senior Officer, Education and Learning at Keep Scotland Beautiful, added: “We’re excited to add this Biodiversity Action course to the Keep Scotland Beautiful Climate Action Schools programme. Both the biodiversity and climate change crises are intertwined and cannot be resolved in isolation. We tend to take action on things we care about so the course offers young people an opportunity to develop their own connection to the natural world alongside their academic learning. It also provides a framework to support students to develop their ideas on what they want to change, and different ways to achieve it. Beyond the immediate benefit to schools and candidates of a relevant qualification, I am looking forward to seeing biodiversity action projects emerging across Scotland, led by students energised by the course in a spirit of discovery, wonder and agency.”
For more information on the Learning for Sustainability projects, contact Nicola Smith.
To learn more about the KSB qualification, visit Biodiversity Action.