The University has launched a new Living Labs programme, creating opportunities for students and staff to collaborate on real-world sustainability challenges.
The Living Labs programme supports the commitments outlined in the University’s Sustainability Strategy and Liverpool 2031, to reimagine a research-connected curriculum that addresses real-world challenges, and to embed sustainability across teaching and the wider student experience.
The programme is a key strand of the Curriculum Project and will contribute to the Liverpool Learning Framework as part of ‘Liverpool Advantage’, a set of modules and activities which aim to embed interdisciplinary, challenge-led learning at the heart of the student experience.
Through the living labs programme, we will also reinforce our commitment to the joint declaration on Embracing a Living Lab Approach to Promote Carbon Neutrality, which was developed by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and to which the University of Liverpool became a signatory in June 2024.
What is a Living Lab?
Living Labs provide a framework for students to explore sustainability through live, practical projects. The model allows academic programmes to engage directly with operational and regional challenges, connecting theory to practice. While universities across the UK have taken diverse approaches to living labs, our model is designed to reflect the University of Liverpool’s distinctive strengths and local context.
How will it work?
Living Labs at Liverpool will be focussed on project briefs developed by the University’s Sustainability Team, addressing both campus-based and city-region sustainability priorities. All briefs will align with the University’s Sustainability Strategy and be designed with measurable outcomes to track impact over time.
Academic colleagues will be invited to adopt briefs that align with their teaching and module aims, working in partnership with the Sustainability Team and the Centre for Innovation in Education (CIE) to integrate the work into the curriculum. An interdisciplinary approach will be encouraged to develop holistic, effective solutions. A Responsibility Matrix outlining roles and support available is to staff who are interested in getting involved.
Pilot programme
A pilot programme will run during the 2025/26 academic year, with an initial focus on waste and recycling. Staff interested in embedding a brief into their teaching are encouraged to complete these online form or contact the Sustainability Team at sustainability@liverpool.ac.uk. The pilot phase will provide an opportunity to evaluate the model, understand its impact, and refine the approach ahead of wider rollout. The term long-term ambition is to create a sustainable and scalable model that enables every student to engage with real-world challenges, while contributing to the University’s climate and civic commitments.
Opportunities to get involved
We welcome engagement from across the University community. Staff are encouraged to express interest in adopting project briefs within their teaching, share examples of relevant past or ongoing Living Lab activity, and propose ideas for future projects as the programme expands into new areas such as energy, biodiversity and sustainable travel. A submission form and further details are available on the Living Labs webpage.
For more information or to express interest, please visit the Living Labs webpage or contact the Sustainability Team at sustainability@liverpool.ac.uk