Principle 3 * of the International Sustainable Campus Network (ISCN) tackles the integration of research, teaching, facilities and outreach.

ISCN reports and UCT's own research reports provide information on the research groups that are engaged in interdisciplinary sustainability research. UCT’s strategic plan also looks at the university's goals with regards to social cohesion and inclusivity.

Many courses use participatory and project-based training around campus sustainability – using campus as a ‘living laboratory’. Read more about UCT's postgraduate degrees that tackle the complexities of sustainable development.

Social responsiveness is integral to what UCT wants to instil in its graduates. A number of student bodies have outreach arms:

• Green Campus Initiative (GCI) goes out to schools to spread the sustainability message and to form eco clubs at the schools or in local communities.
• Ubunye – Inkanyezi (Let us shine) has several outreach projects, including TeachOut.
• The Township Debating League and the Students’ Health and Welfare Centres Organisation (SHAWCO)  promote responsible citizenship in the South Africa through health, education and social entrepreneurship initiatives. They run 14 projects and 5 centres in nearby townships and communities.
• Engineers Without Borders activate, generate, use and transfer engineering knowledge that benefits society.

* Principle 3: To align the organisation’s core mission with sustainable development, facilities, research, and education should be linked to create a “living laboratory” for sustainability.