CUT has developed and implemented an institutional, custom-built, open-access assessment tool to evaluate sustainability literacy and knowledge across all students.
It is a custom-built, publicly accessible, open-access platform that combines the University of Auckland SDG Keywords Dictionary Project with advanced Natural Language Processing (NLP) techniques. The tool enables students to analyse and classify written content according to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), supporting both the development and assessment of sustainability literacy through active engagement.
The tool serves as a core assessment mechanism, complemented by curriculum-embedded evaluation across disciplines. Formative assessments (e.g. feedback exercises, group discussions, reflective assignments) support continuous learning, while summative assessments evaluate students’ ability to address real-world sustainability challenges with evidence-based and ethically grounded solutions.
A key component is project-based learning, where students design sustainability interventions (e.g. circular economy models, energy-efficient systems, inclusive urban solutions). Assessment criteria are explicitly aligned with SDG competencies, including systems thinking, interdisciplinarity, and social responsibility.
Furthermore, CUT utilises data-driven tools to map sustainability-related student work, enabling longitudinal tracking of sustainability literacy and impact at both individual and institutional levels. The tool enables quantifiable measurement of sustainability literacy across SDG categories.