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What is the Whole Institution Approach and Why it Matters

Over the past few years, we have been met with significant environmental challenges which urge us to take matters into our own hands. Education, as one of the pillars of society, has an essential role to play in teaching the future workforce about sustainability and embodying it throughout its functions. This is where the Whole Institution Approach comes into play. Instead of treating sustainability as merely a school subject which stays within the classrooms’ four walls, the Whole Institution Approach is a holistic framework which integrates sustainable thinking within every aspect of a school’s operations.

The Whole Institution Approach calls for the full alignment of a school’s governance, curriculum, infrastructure, community engagement, and internal culture with the principles of sustainability. This means that sustainability is reflected in how a school is managed, how it interacts with its community and how its employees and students are involved in shaping their environment. A school which applies this approach may not only teach environmental science, for example, but also take concrete steps to reduce its carbon footprint, support professional development in green skills and collaborate with external partners who share the same values.

For VET schools, the Whole Institution Approach holds particular significance. VET institutions play a direct role in preparing learners for real-world professions, many of which are undergoing major transitions due to climate change, digitalisation, and evolving social expectations. By adopting the Whole Institution Approach, a VET school can create a dynamic learning environment where sustainability is not only taught in theory but practiced and experienced daily. This might include revising training programs to integrate environmental responsibility, encouraging students to take part in campus improvement projects, and fostering long-term relationships with businesses committed to sustainable innovation. It allows sustainability to become something students live and breathe, not just study.

The importance of the Whole Institution Approach lies in its power to shape not just knowledge, but attitudes, skills, and behaviors. It makes sustainability tangible and relevant, turning educational spaces into real-life examples of sustainable practice. In doing so, it helps learners understand that they can be agents of change, not someday in the future, but right now, starting within their own school. Aligned with European priorities such as the Green Deal, the GreenComp Framework, and the Sustainable Development Goals, this approach is more than a best practice; it is a blueprint for transforming education in the 21st century.