{"id":9400,"date":"2026-01-23T11:50:43","date_gmt":"2026-01-23T11:50:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.cardiff.ac.uk\/education-development-toolkit\/?page_id=9400"},"modified":"2026-04-07T10:40:06","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T09:40:06","slug":"sustainability-and-living-labs","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/sites.cardiff.ac.uk\/education-development-toolkit\/theme-overview\/sustainability\/case-studies\/sustainability-and-living-labs\/","title":{"rendered":"Sustainability and Living Labs"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"post-9550 media-9550\" class=\"image align-none\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/sites.cardiff.ac.uk\/education-development-toolkit\/files\/2026\/04\/pexels-a-darmel-7710208-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n<p><strong>What is a \u2018Living Lab\u2019?<\/strong>\u00a0\u200b<\/p>\n<p><em>\u00a0A <\/em>Living Lab can be defined as<em> \u201c\u2026<strong> where real-world sustainability challenges are formally addressed in stakeholder partnerships.<\/strong> A Living Lab encourages co-creation &amp; co-implementation of transformations through transdisciplinary efforts, over a series of learning loops, to sustainably develop a geographically-bounded test-bed.\u201d\u202f<\/em>\u00a0\u00a0\u200b<\/p>\n<p>The concept of Living labs is explicitly embedded within the University\u2019s strategy \u2018Our Future, Together\u2019.\u00a0\u00a0\u200b<\/p>\n<p><strong>Why should students engage with a \u2018Living Lab\u2019?<\/strong>\u00a0\u200b<\/p>\n<p>The need for students to engage with the grand challenges facing society as well as enabling the university to move towards its ambition of being socially responsible. By enabling students to engage with living labs \u2013 we are seeking to engage them with grand challenges and as we work towards enabling living lab projects from beyond our campus our students and academics will also be able to respond to challenges from the third sector, industry and community groups, supporting our\u00a0 aim to be a socially responsible University.\u00a0\u200bLiving labs<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Recommend solutions to a real-life problem\u200b.<\/li>\n<li>Can be framed around at least one of the Sustainable Development Goals\u200b.<\/li>\n<li>Create change in the researchers own lived environment(s).\u00a0\u200b<\/li>\n<li>Use existing and newly generated quantitative and qualitative data, embracing digital technologies where possible\u200b.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"accordion accordion-accessible\"><div class=\"accordion-section\">\n        <h2 class=\"accordion-section-header-title collapsed\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#content-how-can-i-create-a-living-lab-in-my-module-session-programme-1\"\n        aria-expanded=\"false\"><svg class=\"icon icon-chevron-right\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 19.75 32\">\n    <title>Chevron right<\/title>\n    <path d=\"M6.13,28.28L18.41,16,6.13,3.72,9.84,0l16,16-16,16Z\" transform=\"translate(-6.13 0)\"><\/path>\n<\/svg> How can I create a \u2018Living Lab\u2019 in my module\/session\/programme? <\/h2> <div class=\"accordion-section-body collapse \" id=\"content-how-can-i-create-a-living-lab-in-my-module-session-programme-1\"><ol>\n<li><strong> Establish a Clear Vision<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<ul>\n<li>Define the purpose: sustainability, digital transformation, civic engagement, or interdisciplinary learning.<\/li>\n<li>Align with institutional strategies (e.g., net-zero targets, SDG commitments, digital education goals).<\/li>\n<li>Example: <a href=\"https:\/\/sustainability.leeds.ac.uk\/get-involved\/leeds-living-lab\/\">University of Leeds Living Lab<\/a> focuses on net-zero, biodiversity, and air quality.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ol start=\"2\">\n<li><strong> Identify Campus Assets and Opportunities<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<ul>\n<li>Use the campus as a testbed: buildings, energy systems, green spaces, digital infrastructure.<\/li>\n<li>Audit available data (e.g., energy use, transport patterns, biodiversity).<\/li>\n<li>Example: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gre.ac.uk\/sustain\/living-labs\">University of Greenwich<\/a> offers access to data on utility consumption and wildlife for student projects.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ol start=\"3\">\n<li><strong> Build Partnerships and Governance<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<ul>\n<li>Form a steering group with academic staff, estates, IT, students, and external partners.<\/li>\n<li>Include community stakeholders for civic engagement.<\/li>\n<li>Example: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.timeshighereducation.com\/green-skills\/university-living-lab-harnessing-potential-students-scale-green-skills-sustainability\">University of Manchester<\/a> integrates students into city-wide sustainability projects like the Oxford Road Corridor.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ol start=\"4\">\n<li><strong> Design the Living Lab Framework<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<ul>\n<li>Choose a model: thematic labs (e.g., biodiversity, digital innovation), interdisciplinary hubs, or curriculum-integrated labs.<\/li>\n<li>Define roles, responsibilities, and funding sources.<\/li>\n<li>Example: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.surrey.ac.uk\/institute-sustainability\/innovation-hub\/projects\">University of Surrey<\/a> runs a Sustainability Innovation Hub with community and industry partners.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ol start=\"5\">\n<li><strong> Launch Pilot Projects<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<ul>\n<li>Start with small, visible initiatives:\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Sustainability<\/strong>: food waste audits, biodiversity mapping.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Community Engagement<\/strong>: local transport studies, social impact surveys.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Digital Innovation<\/strong>: circular economy tech, immersive learning spaces.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Example: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.liverpool.ac.uk\/media\/livacuk\/centre-for-innovation-in-education\/diy-guides\/living-labs-teaching-resources\/living-labs-teaching-resources.pdf\">University of Liverpool<\/a> created a circular economy lab using plastic waste for 3D printing.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ol start=\"6\">\n<li><strong> Integrate into Teaching and Learning<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<ul>\n<li>Embed Living Lab projects into modules, dissertations, and co-curricular activities.<\/li>\n<li>Use real-time data and campus systems for experiential learning.<\/li>\n<li>Example: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hw.ac.uk\/about\/sustainability\/sustainability-research-and-teaching\/learning-and-teaching\/applied-learning\/living-lab-degree-projects\">Heriot-Watt University<\/a> supports degree-level sustainability projects across disciplines.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ol start=\"7\">\n<li><strong> Evaluate and Share Impact<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<ul>\n<li>Track metrics: student engagement, sustainability outcomes, community impact.<\/li>\n<li>Publish findings and share case studies.<\/li>\n<li>Example: <a href=\"https:\/\/sustainability.ed.ac.uk\/teaching-learning\/living-lab\">University of Edinburgh<\/a> uses Living Labs to influence policy and infrastructure decisions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ol start=\"8\">\n<li><strong> Scale and Institutionalize<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<ul>\n<li>Expand successful projects across departments and campuses.<\/li>\n<li>Secure long-term funding and embed into strategic planning.<\/li>\n<li>Example: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.qub.ac.uk\/about\/sustainability\/teaching\/StudentEngagementandLivingLabs\/\">Queen\u2019s University Belfast<\/a> integrates Living Labs into its Education for Sustainable Development framework.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Living Lab Case Studies at Cardiff University<\/strong>\u00a0\u200b<\/p>\n<p>If you would like to contribute a living lab case study to the Toolkit, please contact <a href=\"mailto:barrittl@cardiff.ac.uk\">barrittl@cardiff.ac.uk<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div> <\/div><\/div>\n<p><strong>Links:<\/strong>\u200b<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/sustainability.ed.ac.uk\/teaching-learning\/living-lab\/what\">Living Labs<\/a>\u200b<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/gw4.ac.uk\/gw4-living-labs-for-net-zero-transformation\/\">GW4 Living Labs Projects<\/a>\u200b<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.open.edu\/openlearncreate\/mod\/oucontent\/view.php?id=173529&amp;section=1.3\">Key elements of Living Labs Open University<\/a> \u200b<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/sustainability.ed.ac.uk\/teaching-learning\/living-lab\/past-projects\">Examples of past Living Labs Projects from Edinburgh<\/a>\u200b<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/enoll.org\/\">European Network of Living Labs<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.advance-he.ac.uk\/knowledge-hub\/education-sustainable-development-within-core-curriculum-and-beyond-living-lab\">Education for Sustainable Development within the core curriculum and beyond: A living lab approach | Advance HE<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"What is a \u2018Living Lab\u2019?\u00a0\u200b \u00a0A Living Lab can be defined as \u201c\u2026 where real-world sustainability challenges are formally addressed in stakeholder partnerships. A Living Lab encourages co-creation &amp; co-implementation [&hellip;]","protected":false},"author":9338,"featured_media":0,"parent":2094,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9400","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"meta_box":{"cu_accordion":"","cu_alert":"","cu_tabs":"","cu_quote":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/sites.cardiff.ac.uk\/education-development-toolkit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9400","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/sites.cardiff.ac.uk\/education-development-toolkit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/sites.cardiff.ac.uk\/education-development-toolkit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/sites.cardiff.ac.uk\/education-development-toolkit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9338"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/sites.cardiff.ac.uk\/education-development-toolkit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9400"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"http:\/\/sites.cardiff.ac.uk\/education-development-toolkit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9400\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9551,"href":"http:\/\/sites.cardiff.ac.uk\/education-development-toolkit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9400\/revisions\/9551"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/sites.cardiff.ac.uk\/education-development-toolkit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2094"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/sites.cardiff.ac.uk\/education-development-toolkit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9400"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/sites.cardiff.ac.uk\/education-development-toolkit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9400"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/sites.cardiff.ac.uk\/education-development-toolkit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9400"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}