Paul Vare

Dr Paul Vare is a Senior Lecturer in Education at the University of Gloucestershire's School of Education and Humanities, specializing in Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). With over three decades of experience spanning UK, Tanzania, Uganda, and international contexts including UN projects, his work bridges academic research with practical sustainability education initiatives. His career evolved from classroom teaching to community-based environmental education and now focuses on developing educator competencies for sustainability.

His educational background includes:

• BA (Hons) Geography, University of Lancaster (1982)
• PGCE Secondary (Geography/Drama), St Martin's College (1983)
• MPhil in Environmental Learning, University of Bristol (1997)
• EdD on ESD implementation challenges, University of Bath (2014)

Vare's research centers on critical approaches to sustainability education, with particular focus on educator competencies, assessment methodologies, and navigating contradictions in ESD implementation. His recent work examines how art education can deepen sustainability understanding and how to assess transformative learning in complex socio-ecological systems. He developed the influential 'Rounder Sense of Purpose' framework for educator competencies.

His 15 most recent publications (2020-2025) reveal a strong emphasis on practical implementation challenges, with recurring themes of competence frameworks, critical assessment methodologies, and the tension between transformative and transactional approaches to sustainability education. The work increasingly addresses how educators navigate uncertainty and build resilience in turbulent times.

Key professional recognitions include:

• Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
• External Academic Expert to UN Economic Commission for Europe Steering Committee on ESD
• Chair of Trustees for National Association for Environmental Education
• Director of South West Learning for Sustainability Coalition

Vare actively contributes to policy development through external examining roles at University of Malta and London South Bank University, and serves as reviewer for multiple sustainability education journals. His work with student-led sustainability projects demonstrates commitment to connecting academic research with practical school implementation. While not leading a specific lab, his South West Learning for Sustainability Coalition serves as a regional hub for ESD practitioners.