Education for the goals

Education is the cornerstone of sustainable development. We are deeply committed to advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through meaningful education.

Our mission is to cultivate a new generation of healthcare professionals equipped to tackle global health challenges through sustainable, ethical practices. We integrate principles of environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and climate action into our teaching and pedagogy, ensuring that our graduates are prepared to lead in a rapidly changing world.

In 2023 and 2024, RCSI was recognised as the top-performing medical school in Ireland in the international Planetary Health Report Card, achieving the highest score for two consecutive years. This global initiative, led by the Planetary Health Alliance, assesses how well higher education institutions promote and support planetary health in the face of global environmental changes. Our submission was proudly spearheaded by our medical students, highlighting their active role in advancing sustainability within healthcare education.

RCSI regularly provides input into national government SDG policy development. For example, various RCSI initiatives feature throughout ESD to 2030: First Progress Report published by the Government of Ireland in November 2023 – see page 52 for information on how REACH RCSI developed a ‘UN SDG Engaged Learning’ project, which invited TY students from the university’s linked second-level DEIS schools to explore the SDGs together with RCSI students.

We are committed to increasing climate change and sustainability awareness across our undergraduate programmes, with planetary health modules now integrated into both our Medicine and Pharmacy programmes. Additionally, we are equipping all healthcare professionals with the skills and knowledge needed to implement sustainability in healthcare settings through a free online CPD course to empower future healthcare leaders.

Through the efforts of the Sustainability and Climate Health Committee, our education workstream will further expand activities that support education for the SDGs, benefitting staff, students, and the wider community. This commitment ensures that RCSI continues to lead in education for sustainable healthcare, fostering a culture of responsibility and innovation in line with the SDGs.