Helping teachers and young children develop the skills and resilience needed to respond to climate change was at the centre of an international project supported by academics from the University of Northampton (UON).
The two-year Eco-Creative Pedagogies: Training the Next Generation of Teachers on Green Skills and Resilience project brought together academics and researchers from UON’s Institute for Social Innovation and Impact (ISII) in collaboration with Lancaster University, and the Education Reform Initiative (ERG) at Sabancı University in Turkey, with funding from the British Council.
ISII’s Professor Richard Hazenberg and Associate Professor Ecem Karlıdağ-Dennis helped develop an innovative curriculum aimed at embedding environmental awareness and resilience in pre-school and primary education.
Associate Professor Karlıdağ-Dennis said: “Working closely with eight practising teachers in Turkey, the research team co-created a handbook featuring eight learning modules that combine environmental education with nature-based, play-based and project-based learning approaches.”
“The resources encourage children to build stronger relationships with nature, explore their feelings about climate change and develop practical problem-solving skills.”
British Council’s International Science Partnerships Fund Coordinator Berrak Yıldırım Çelik, said: “Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time. This project brings diverse voices together to share what works and build the green skills our educators and students need.”
The ISII also supported international knowledge exchange activities. In 2025, project partners from Turkey visited schools in Northamptonshire and Milton Keynes, as well as the University’s Forest School, led by Dr Emma Whewell and Helen Tiplady, to explore outdoor learning approaches.
The project culminated in a showcase event this month which saw they launch of a comic book designed to engage young learners with environmental issues.
The curriculum is now being piloted in schools across Turkey while the partnership continues to pursue future research collaborations and policy development work.
This research was supported by British Council’s Research Collaborations Programme Project under the International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF).