Masters in Sustainability Blends Classroom and Hands-On Learning

Educating future leaders in sustainability involves learning about integrated landscapes and relationships, so what better reason to forge a collaboration between three Faculties: Education, Forestry, and Land and Food Systems (LFS). These Faculties are creating a truly interdisciplinary masters program – the Master of Education (MEd) in Sustainability, Regeneration & Resilience.

Launched last year, this two-year program blends hands-on learning, community engagement, and real-world applications, all with a clear focus on sustainability. The program’s roots trace back seven or eight years, when Professor Rob VanWynsberghe from the Department of Educational Studies saw the potential for a new model of education for sustainability.

Inspired by his previous work with the City of Vancouver on its Greenest City Policy, Dr. VanWynsberghe sought to reshape the curriculum around concrete, applied learning.

“Forestry and food became the gap I wanted to address,” he explains. The idea was to bridge theory with practice – by taking the learning out of the classroom and into the real world.

At the heart of the program is the UBC Farm, the 24-hectare site located within UBC’s south campus, which VanWynsberghe describes as “an incredible place” that gives students a tangible space to explore sustainability issues. It’s here that students connect the dots between food systems, forestry, and urban sustainability, all while learning in a hands-on environment.

“We always thought we needed a home away from UBC, pedagogically speaking, to get a broader view of things,” says VanWynsberghe. “The farm became that home, a convening space for the program’s activities.”

“The farm became that home, a convening space for the program’s activities.”

– Robert VanWynsberghe

Dr. Will Valley, Associate Professor of Teaching in LFS, echoes the importance of the farm.

“Having students start onsite at the UBC Farm, alongside elements unique to UBC, really enhances how we teach,” he says. “We could have done it all in classrooms, but this combination has proven much more potent.” The farm’s production fields and surrounding landscape provide a dynamic backdrop, allowing students to dive deep into the complexities of food and forestry.

One of the program’s standout features is its cohort-based model. Students from a range of professional backgrounds – including education, journalism, and sustainability – come together to tackle shared challenges. This diversity of perspectives, according to Valley, is “magical.” Students aren’t connecting over a single discipline, but over real-world problems they’re passionate about solving. The result? A richer, more engaged learning experience.

Taryn Cigagna, a student and UBC’s Climate and Sustainability Engagement Manager, reflects on her experience in the program. “I’d been out of formal education for a long time and had doubts about committing to a masters program,” she says. “But the cohort and the structure of the program make it so supportive, and the hands-on learning is incredible.” Cigagna’s career in sustainability aligns perfectly with the program’s focus, allowing her to immediately apply what she’s learning to her work at UBC. “It’s flexible enough to work full-time and still engage deeply in the material,” she adds.

“The cohort and the structure of the program make it so supportive, and the hands-on learning is incredible.”

– Taryn Cigagna

The program’s flexibility is a key draw for many students, particularly professionals looking to further their education without pausing their careers. The blended format – combining online learning with intensive in-person sessions – accommodates busy schedules. “No one has two years to take off,” says VanWynsberghe. “This program is realistic. It gives students the chance to continue working while engaging in meaningful, practical education.”

Collaboration is at the core of the MEd in Sustainability. Students, faculty, and the broader community all play a role in shaping the program’s direction. Whether it’s designing socio-ecological learning stations for an activity circuit in the forest or developing new courses in partnership with Indigenous communities, the program emphasizes connection – across disciplines, people, and landscapes. “There’s magic in this collaboration,” VanWynsberghe says. “It’s one of the ways higher education can truly adapt to the complex challenges we face today.”

As the program moves forward, the focus will remain on equipping students to become confident leaders in sustainability. “We want them to be able to identify their leverage points,” says VanWynsberghe, “to know who needs to be at the table and how to lead in a way that’s sensitive to the needs of others.” Valley shares a similar vision, emphasizing the program’s goal to help students build “affective stamina” – the capacity to care deeply and act effectively in addressing environmental issues, while staying grounded and engaged even when facing difficult emotions like grief, guilt, or uncertainty.

With its innovative approach, the MEd in Sustainability is setting a new standard for interdisciplinary education at UBC. By blending theory with practice and fostering collaboration, the program is preparing the next generation of leaders to tackle the urgent environmental challenges of our time.

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