The University of Manchester, in partnership with the UK National Commission for UNESCO, is pioneering transformative approaches to sustainability learning through a British Academy Innovation Fellowship.
Central to this initiative is the RoundView toolkit, which serves as a practical, big-picture framework for engaging communities in imagining sustainable futures. With its accessible and imaginative learning tools, the project bridges global sustainability goals with local heritage and ecosystems. The aim is to shift the dial from chronic ‘short-termism’ towards embedded sustainability thinking in neighbourhoods, communities, landscape planning and decision-making at all levels.
At the heart of the project are multi-sensory learning tools that combine art, poetry, and puzzles to inspire diverse audiences. These tools are designed to make it easier for community groups, partnership organisations, libraries and schools to learn and engage in creative dialogue about sustainability. They offer an inclusive platform for individuals of all ages and backgrounds to understand what sustainability could mean for them. As part of the Fellowship, the RoundView was trialled and refined in several UNESCO sites, including Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere, as well as Manchester Creative City of Literature.
During 2023, a series of sixteen engagement events and workshops were designed and delivered in partnership with Galloway and South Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and focussed on the river Nith (the longest river in the Biosphere) to collaboratively envision and think creatively towards a more sustainable future for the local environment and surrounding communities. Through exploring local traditions and ecological priorities, the RoundView fostered a deeper connection between communities and the unique landscapes of the Biosphere.
In Manchester, the RoundView toolkit has been successfully integrated into 13 libraries across the city region as part of the Manchester City of Literature initiative. This collaboration uses poetry, workshops, and creative tools to connect school groups and communities with sustainability concepts, making the city’s literary and cultural resources a driving force for positive environmental change.
While rooted in the UK, this collaboration has global ambitions. By linking local innovation in sites like Galloway and Manchester with UNESCO’s international network, the project offers a model for how sustainability education can be scaled up to address critical global challenges. The RoundView’s principles—understanding systems, valuing local knowledge within a shared global story, and designing for a regenerative future—perfectly align with UNESCO’s mission to build peace and sustainability through education, science, and culture.
With Galloway and Manchester leading the way as a dynamic test bed for these innovations, the project underscores the importance of local action as a cornerstone for achieving global sustainability.
