The Australian National University’s ‘Campus as Classroom’ initiative brings students directly into the University’s operational sustainability work through work-integrated internships, course-embedded projects and collaborative learning opportunities. The program treats the campus as a living classroom, where students contribute to real institutional sustainability challenges while developing practical skills for future careers.

Through co-designed projects, students work alongside professional sustainability staff to investigate, shape and deliver work that supports ANU’s environmental goals. The program connects students from diverse disciplines with applied sustainability practice, helping them understand how climate action, resource efficiency, behaviour change and governance are addressed within a complex organisation.

By combining academic learning with meaningful operational contribution, the initiative builds student confidence, strengthens sustainability literacy and expands the capacity of the University’s sustainability team. It demonstrates a practical model for engaging students as partners in institutional change, not just participants in sustainability activities.