An Eden Project-inspired way of learning in local schools, colleges and universities has won a world class award.
The Morecambe Bay Curriculum was awarded the bronze award in the Sustainability Action category at the world-wide QS Reimagine Education awards held in London this month.
The Curriculum, launched in 2020, focuses on the health and wellbeing of the eco system, and opportunities for future sustainable living, learning and working.
It ensures that different stages of the education system provide the green skills, knowledge and behaviours needed to respond to the climate emergency.
Partners include Lancaster University, Lancaster and Morecambe College, University of Cumbria and Eden Project,
The citation on the award reads: “This project has achieved world-class recognition in education innovation, being selected as one of the top applications from a pool of 1,600 submissions in the QS Reimagine Education Awards 2025.
“The award application demonstrated exceptional innovation, impact and scalability, successfully progressing through four rigorous evaluation rounds conducted by a panel of 1300 international higher education and edtech experts.”
Lancaster University had to pitch the Morecambe Bay Curriculum, including a presentation, alongside stiff competition from across the world including universities in Australia, Malaysia and Azerbaijan.
“Morecambe Bay Curriculum is now a globally recognised, award winning project," said Carys Nelkon, MBC Partnership Development Manager.
“This recognition for the teachers who have built the Morecambe Bay Curriculum community from the ground up, and for our partners who support them, means so much.”
Sarah Kemp, Lancaster University’s Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Engagement) ,said: “Lancaster University is thrilled that this local, place-based approach to learning about sustainability has gained much-deserved global recognition.
“Along with our partners, we are supporting and enabling our young people to become the change-makers and innovators our planet needs.”
The QS Reimagine Education Awards rewards the most pioneering pedagogical approaches that enhance learning outcomes, improve employability, and advance sustainability education.
With 18 diverse award categories, it is an opportunity for organisations to showcase innovation on a global stage.
Community-powered, and rooted in the Bay’s environment and heritage, MBC is transforming education across the Morecambe Bay region with 140 schools, colleges and nurseries now involved.
Lancaster University staff and students play a key role in shaping the MBC which was founded in 2019.
Imaginative resources have been developed ranging from biomimicry flight investigations and blue-space wellbeing workshops to beach ecology and recognising colonial history.
Each resource is designed to foster knowledge, values and skills, with adaptations for accessibility and emotional wellbeing.
A host of other activities have included, for example, Welly Wednesdays and Community Woods (the rehabilitation of a forest in Barrow) and the highly successful Little Researchers project which engaged with 200 pupils and 60 volunteers across 15 schools in habitat surveys and tree planting.
A new Morecambe Bay Curriculum report summarises the range and scale of recent activity and the impact it is having.
QS Reimagine Education is the global forum for higher education and edtech innovators. Is it part of QS Quacquarelli Symonds, which provides university rankings and other services for higher education.
MBC team members, working with Carys Nelkon, include: Partnership Development Officers Dr Irene Wise, Rosemary Hindley and Stacey Gatley together with lecturer and researcher Dr Bethan Garrett.
The Eden Project educational charity runs a renowned attraction in Cornwall and is set to open the Eden Project Morecambe on the Promenade in 2028.
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