LTA Connect Series: Embedding Sustainability into the Curriculum - Student led sustainability projects - UHI Rebel Fund

Session Outline

The UHI Rebel Fund is a unique opportunity for any UHI student (or group of students) to receive up to £2,500 to design and deliver a sustainability-focused project. It’s all about supporting student-led ideas that challenge the norm, tackle waste or inequality, and help make UHI (or your local community) a better place for people and the planet.

It was established by Clare Campbell, founder of Prickly Thistle, the region’s only cloth weaving mill and combined clothing maker. Clare and her business have donated to UHI since 2018, demonstrating their belief that every small ripple can create huge waves.

Three projects were awarded funding during its first launch in the 2025/26 academic year, focusing on digital wellbeing, plastic-free food production and sustainable business practices.
This initiative is entirely created, developed and driven by the students and focuses on sustainability as the primary foundation for the project. The criteria for the project requires it be student-led, addresses a sustainability challenge (environmental or social), link to a UN Sustainable Development Goal and be realistic within the budget and timeline constraints.

This is reflected in the 2025/2026 student led projects. The Tea Shack: Plastic-Free tea project created a permanent growing and learning space at UHI Inverness that encourages people to grow and prepare their own tea while raising awareness of microplastics found in some tea bags. The MauiScreen Time project is a digital wellbeing app designed to help users understand the environmental impact of their online activity. Finally, hairdressing students at UHI Moray transformed their training salon through the Eco-Friendly Hairdressing Initiative focusing on sustainable salon practices.

Presenter

Stephanie Strother

Experienced professional working within the higher and further education sector with a proven track record of developing industry and philanthropic partnerships, securing competitive grants and contracts, and advancing sustainable funding streams aimed at expanding access to education and accelerating research and innovation.

Learning and Teaching Enhancement Strategy Values

Advance HE Professional Standards Framework

• V1 respect individual learners and diverse groups of learners
• V2 promote engagement in learning and equity of opportunity for all to reach their potential
• V3 use scholarship, or research, or professional learning, or other evidence-informed approaches as a basis for effective practice
• V5 collaborate with others to enhance practice
• A4 support and guide learners
• A5 enhance practice through own continuing professional development

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