Learning that Grows zine: the story of a co-created King’s sustainability module

During Spring 2026, King's College London BA International Relations and Sustainability Education Assistant, Adithi Sathiyan alongside King's Alumnus and SOS UK Project Manager, Oliver Yu Hurst, came together to co-design a creative zine documenting the evolution of the Sustainability & Climate Module. This is an interdisciplinary online extra-curricular course which has been co-created by over 60 students, staff, and Alumni with over 3500 students enrolled since 2021.

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In the words of Adithi Sathiyan:

“This module not only taught me about sustainability but intrinsically changed how I see my role within it. What began as an extracurricular experience in my first year became the foundation for everything that followed: from leading the Take Action Team and supporting the Sustainability Seminar Series, to climate campaigning for Fossil Free Careers and stepping into student leadership at KCL Students' Union. This zine is more than a mere reflection of a module; it showcases what becomes possible when students are genuinely trusted as partners in shaping education.”

A creative application of bespoke support

The zine was borne through reflecting on the past, presents and futures of this dynamic module and an innovative application of bespoke support as part of King's membership of the Responsible Futures programme.

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It features creative mapping of the module's evolution from an idea produced during a hackathon to a full-on e-learning course, seminar series, and even an exhibition on campus as well as several testimonials from module co-creators and former and current King's staff on the impact it is had on their personal and professional lives.

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The zine is therefore a go-to source of inspiration for other institutions who seek to create genuine student-as-partner models and co-creation of social, economic and environmental justice and sustainability in the informal curriculum and beyond.

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Five Responsible Futures criteria have acted as a catalyst for the zine:

• POC005 - The partnership has made sufficient staff or student resource available to substantively progress the issues related to Responsible Futures.

• IN008 - There are good levels of informal curriculum activity that support the aims of Responsible Futures.

• IO002 - The partnership has reflected on and identified demonstrable positive progress in relation to its institution-wide collaborative approach.

• IO003 - The partnership has reflected on and identified their short-term impacts and outcomes in relation to positive outcomes for students.

• IO004 - The partnership has reflected on and identified their long-term impacts and outcomes in relation to positive outcomes for students.

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Explore the creative zine, Learning that Grows: A creative zine on the journey of the Sustainability & Climate Module