BTSP ALUMNI SPRINT
A Non-Profit Initiative Supporting Higher Education Institutions in Bringing Alumni Back to the Classroom for Sustainability Learning
The Back to School for the Planet (BTSP) Alumni Sprint supports higher education institutions in bringing their graduates back to the classroom alongside current students to update their knowledge and competencies through newly introduced sustainability courses and other learning activities.
The initiative builds on the often already existing relationship between higher education degree programs and their alumni to facilitate their post-graduation access to the state-of-the-art, updated learning in sustainability now on offer, thus accelerating the adoption of sustainable practices by graduates who are now professionals in their fields and increasing their contribution to societal change towards a more sustainable future.
Who Can Participate in the BTSP Alumni Sprint?
The BTSP Alumni Sprint is an inclusive and accessible program available to all higher education institutions worldwide.
Participation in the initiative is free, and there are no restrictions based on geographical location or institutional size. The only requirement for institutions to join the initiative is to offer a sustainability course or activity that they wish to make accessible to their graduates alongside their enrolled students. This course or activity serves as the platform for alumni engagement within the initiative, providing an opportunity for graduates who may not have previously had access to sustainability education to participate and contribute to ongoing sustainability efforts in their jobs and communities.
As a non-profit, Back to School for the Planet is aiming at facilitating and mainstreaming this virtuous practice thanks to advocacy, communication and a community of participating faculty and alumni. All institutions who have or want to develop lifelong learning alumni initiatives can partner with BTSP for more visibility and broader impact by writing to info@backtoschoolfortheplanet.org.
Key Benefits for Schools
Spotlight on sustainability teaching already taking place
Enriched classroom experience
Experience in innovative lifelong learning methods
Key Benefits for Students
Updated skills from an institution they trust
Strengthened connection with alma mater
Back to School for the Planet certificate and network
More Benefits for Schools
The BTSP Alumni Sprint creates an opportunity for higher education institutions to demonstrate their commitment to lifelong learning, develop new bonds with their alumni while updating their sustainability skills, and provide an invaluable experience for their current students, who benefit from classroom interactions and knowledge sharing with alumni of their program.
Improve your alumni engagement and satisfaction by updating their skills with access to your most recent sustainability courses and activities.
Upgrade overall classroom involvement through field experience shared by alumni with students and educators.
Implement an innovative lifelong learning program and increase the attractiveness of your institution for new potential students.
Contribute to accelerating systemic change among professionals and citizens by addressing the sustainability knowledge and skill gaps.
More Benefits for Students
Bringing alumni back to the classroom has the potential to transform education by creating a unique intergenerational learning setting where young students share the classroom with more experienced alumni.
Thanks to the BTSP Alumni Sprint, the student learning experience can be enhanced in several ways:
Integrated into the classroom discussion are first-hand accounts of how the sustainability strategies and concepts being taught may play out – or may have already been executed – in the professional world thanks to the live responses of alumni with experience in the field.
A strong link is created between current students and participating alumni, leading to potential networking and employment opportunities.
A new type of collaborative environment emerges that is intergenerational and bridges the academic and professional world in a dynamic way.
About Back to School for the Planet
Back to School for the Planet (BTSP) is a non-profit organization founded in France in 2020 with the mission of supporting the achievement of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through lifelong learning initiatives. We believe that education is key to fostering a sustainable future, and we aim to empower and support the individuals, institutions, organizations, and communities that will lead us there.
BTSP leads the following initiatives:
Alumni Sprint: supporting higher education institutions in bringing alumni back to the classroom to ensure that their sustainability knowledge and skills are kept up-to-date
SustyGrab: a card game that promotes sustainability awareness for 2 to 10 players of all ages
Professional Training: training programs for alumni associations, companies, and professionals to deepen their commitment to sustainable practices