Goal 4: Quality education
Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
Working in partnership both locally and globally, we are tackling each of the UN Sustainable Development Goals through our research and knowledge exchange, education and student experience, and through our operations. Discover how our unique commitments align with and support Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education.
Research and impact
The University supports SDG 4 through research, partnerships, and public engagement that advance inclusive and equitable education. A major study demonstrated that early cognitive and social-emotional difficulties account for 17% of GCSE failures in England, with affected children up to 4.5 times more likely to underperform. This evidence highlights the need for integrated health education approaches (4.2, 4.a). The Good Writing, Gender and the ‘Gap’ project has challenged assumptions about gender disparities in primary writing, with findings now embedded in teacher training and CPD across the Liverpool City Region, promoting equity in assessment (4.5, 4.6). Partnerships are central to our approach. Another major analysis showed that early cognitive and socio-emotional difficulties account for 17% of GCSE failures in England. Children affected are up to 4.5 times more likely to underperform, highlighting the need for integrated education and healthcare policy initiatives (4.2, 4.a). Through engagement initiatives like the Research Fellows Showcase and Pint of Science, the University continues to foster public learning and promote lifelong education (4.7).
Education and student experience
The University empowers learners through inclusive education, lifelong learning, and community engagement, advancing SDG 4 (4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.7). In 2025, we launched the Liverpool Learning Framework, setting a benchmark for all programmes to embed sustainability and drive ambitious transformation across formal and extra-curricular learning. Alongside this, we introduced new programmes including the MSc in Sustainable Business, MSc Green Finance & Sustainability Accounting and MSc Sustainable Civil & Structural Engineering, equipping graduates to tackle global challenges. Students also engage in experiential learning through our Living Lab programme, which connects education and research to campus sustainability challenges. All students can access the Student Sustainability Hub and our online Sustainability in Action course, embedding Education for Sustainable Development across curricula. Extracurricular achievement is formally recognised through HEAR, capturing both academic and co-curricular contributions (4.4). The University Maths School and Centre for Higher Education Studies further strengthen STEM provision and pedagogical research (4.3, 4.c). Locally, we work with 40 schools, delivering more than 169 engagements annually and supporting around 1,600 young people in long-term outreach projects (4.2, 4.5). Initiatives such as Destination Summer Schools expand access to competitive health professions (4.3, 4.5). Globally, our Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University partnership offers 2+2 pathways, widening international learning and employability (4.7).
Sustainable campus and operations
The University advances SDG 4 through inclusive education practices, innovative programmes, and global partnerships. Locally, our IntoUniversity North Liverpool and Kirkby centre support aspiration and attainment in education-deprived areas, while staff engagement through mentoring, School Governor roles, and recruitment outreach enhances pathways into higher education (4.2, 4.5). The Centre for Innovation in Education supports curriculum design to improve student success, while the Library Service’s Open Access policies ensure equitable knowledge sharing (4.3, 4.7). Institutional priorities include eliminating degree awarding gaps, promoting inclusive attainment across ethnicity, socio-economic status, and protected characteristics (4.5). The Inclusive Curriculum Tool enables staff to audit and enhance inclusivity in course design and delivery, supporting more equitable and accessible learning environments (4.5, 4.a). Lifelong learning is promoted through Continuing Education, free workshops at the Victoria Gallery & Museum, and sector leadership via the Learning & Teaching Conference and the UALL-SCUTREA Lifelong Learning Conference (4.4, 4.c). In recognition of this work, Liverpool was named 2025 Educate North University of the Year.
Case Studies
Expanding global access to high-quality education
In 2025, the University of Liverpool announced the launch of its new campus in Bengaluru, India, marking a major milestone in transnational education and UK–India collaboration. This initiative supports SDG 4 by advancing equal access to affordable, high-quality tertiary education (4.3), embedding global citizenship and sustainable development (4.7), and expanding opportunities for international learning (4.b).
The launch was formalised in New Delhi, where India’s Union Minister of Education presented the Letter of Intent from the University Grants Commission to Vice-Chancellor Professor Tim Jones, in the presence of UK and Indian government officials, the British High Commission, and higher education and industry leaders.
Opening in 2026, the campus will initially offer programmes in Business Management, Accounting and Finance, Computer Science, Biomedical Sciences, and Game Design, with further expansion planned. It will also provide structured study abroad opportunities for Liverpool students, fostering reciprocal access to international education.
The initiative builds long-term capacity by aligning with regional priorities in Karnataka and forging partnerships with government, industry, and academia. MoUs signed at launch included collaborations with the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, AstraZeneca, Wipro Limited, Axis Bank, Dream11, TiE Bangalore, and the YouWeCan Foundation.
By combining inclusive programme design, mutual exchange, and strategic partnerships, the Bengaluru campus demonstrates Liverpool’s commitment to delivering sustainable, scalable higher education models that widen access, strengthen collaboration, and embed lifelong learning in diverse international contexts.
Achieving TEF Gold
The University of Liverpool was awarded the highest rating, Gold, in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023. Run by the Office for Students (OfS), TEF is a national scheme that aims to encourage higher education providers to improve and deliver excellence in the areas that undergraduate students care about the most: teaching, learning and achieving positive outcomes from their studies. The TEF does this by assessing and rating universities and colleges for excellence above a set of minimum requirements for quality and standards across the range of its undergraduate courses and subjects. The Gold rating in TEF 2023 underlines our commitment to world class teaching and learning, with teaching delivered by leading experts and research-connected curricula across our courses. Employability is embedded throughout our undergraduate programmes, and our graduates enjoy high employability rates. The TEF panel rated the inclusion of student voice at Liverpool to be very high quality with some outstanding features and the panel specifically noted the embedding of student voices across multiple layers of activity in relation to the University’s strategy and policy development. The TEF panel also noted the “unusually wide range of examples” of research, innovation and professional practice being brought together into a suite of curricular and co-curricular opportunities. The diverse ways in which research is fed into the syllabus, developing students’ understanding of research processes and engaging them in enquiry-based projects as producers of knowledge, were specifically referenced. So too were the growing number of student experience enterprise-related activities and the use of employers at every stage; from supplying real life data to contextualise learning content to providing authentic project briefs for collaborative group tasks.
Empowering staff with sustainability training
During Sustainability Week, the Sustainability Team, in partnership with The Academy introduced a comprehensive sustainability training module for all University staff. Available on the Learnwell platform, the Sustainability and Climate Change module offers foundational knowledge on climate change and adopts a “triple bottom line” perspective, addressing people, planet, and profit. This module underscores the importance of sustainability, detailing practical ways to integrate it into daily work and make positive contributions to the University’s mission. The sustainability training webpage offers additional resources, such as carbon literacy training, key policies, and a curated LinkedIn playlist on topics like the circular economy and sustainability leadership. These resources equip new and existing staff with a strong introduction to sustainability in higher education, covering global and national issues and the University's strategies for addressing them, including the role everyone can play. Throughout the year, the Sustainability Team engaged staff and students in campus-wide activities, including the How Bad are Bananas? carbon literacy game. These initiatives aim to deepen staff engagement, align individual roles with the University’s sustainability goals, and support our Climate Plan targets. Through these efforts, staff are empowered to contribute meaningfully to the University’s journey toward a sustainable and environmentally responsible future.
Supporting refugees into Higher Education
The University of Liverpool signed up to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHCR) Global Pledge for expanding refugee access to Higher Education. The UNHRC, with its global network, aims to expand access to higher education and self-reliance for refugee and host community youth. It has launched this global initiative which recognises the range of essential contributions that can be made by stakeholders around the world. The University is committed to providing up to 4 Asylum Seekers Scholarships each year for undergraduate students who are seeking asylum in the UK or are dependents of 2-3 Humanitarian Scholarships for Masters students who have refugee status outside the UK or for Ukrainian Nationals who have EU temporary protected status. The Humanitarian Scholarships are offered across a wide range of subjects, with one dedicated to law courses funded through the School of Law and Social Justice. In addition, the English Language Centre provides support for students to be equipped with the language skills they need to fully participate in the courses when they arrive in Liverpool. The Humanitarian Scholarship and Asylum Bursary, along with membership of Cara and support for British Academy Researchers at Risk, form part of the University’s commitment to applying for University of Sanctuary status and its commitment to supporting global humanitarian initiatives.
Prestigious student internships
University of Liverpool Chancellor and United States District Judge, Wendy Beetlestone, selected two students from the Liverpool Law School to undertake a prestigious 2024 summer internship in the chambers of Judge Beetlestone at the United States District Court in Pennsylvania. The internship offered the successful applicants’ first-hand exposure to real-world cases, legal research and the inner workings of the US District Court. Students were fully immersed in a dynamic working environment, allowing them to develop their workplace legal skills. The students were selected as part of a competitive application process with students from the School of Law and Social Justice. An alumna of the University, Judge Beetlestone graduated with a BA (Hons) in Philosophy in 1984. She embarked on a career as a TV journalist before entering the legal profession a decade later. In 2014, former President Barack Obama nominated her to serve as a District Judge, presiding over civil and criminal cases involving the US Constitution, federal statutes, and certain disputes between citizens of different states.