This site provides a full teaching resource for a masterclass that is designed to support student in connecting career aspirations with sustainability. 

Designed to address the intersection of employability and sustainability, this masterclass can be adapted across disciplines and levels of study. Drawing on the SOAR employability framework and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it guides students to shape purpose-led careers grounded in personal values and strengths.

Structured as a three-act storytelling narrative — from Call to Adventure through to Seizing the Treasure — sequenced activities move students from selecting an SDG that personally resonates, through to identifying transferable skills and real-world opportunities, and finally to practising how to communicate their story confidently in applications and interviews. Students leave with a completed storyboard and a career narrative they can use immediately.

Background context:

Following a pilot design by Karen Cripps in 2022,  version 1.0 was developed by Dr Karen Cripps, Cathy d'Abreu (Oxford Brookes University) and Dr Milena Bobeva (University of Bournemouth) through funding by PRME UK and Ireland Chapter Competition for 'Developing Innovative Pedagogic Approaches and Teaching Practices'. Over 2023-24, as part of the funded project, the masterclass was shared at 18 universities. 

The masterclass has been iteratively re-designed and re-developed by Karen.  On the following pages, you can find the masterclass resources along with student and collaborating educator testimonials, from each year of delivery (2023-24, 2024-25 and currently building 2025-26). Please see the journal article link extracurricular below for a full overview of its pedagogic design.  

The masterclass is designed for any level or programme of study, and can be delivered in person, online or hybrid. It can be embedded into module learning, or form part of an extra curricular event. Please get in touch if you would like to collaborate or talk about how you could deliver this yourself at your institution!

On the last page of this site you can find publications and details of how to join the PRME UK and Ireland 'Careers and Sustainablity' Working Group which frequently hosts events of interest to educators, students and professionals - all are welcome 

Dr Karen Cripps (Associate Professor in Responsible Management and Leadership - Oxford Brookes University Business School)    

Read more about the project in this article:

Cripps, K. and Bobeva, M. (2025) ‘Career and employability learning through storytelling for the Sustainable Development Goals’. International Journal of Management Education. Special issue ‘Creative teaching methods for achieving responsible management: Educating the next generation of business leaders’ 23 (3) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijme.2025.101211: