Green Gown Awards 2017 - The University of Manchester - Winner

The Sustainability Challenge and 10,000 Actions are unique in scope, scale and ambition. Together they provide the opportunity for all undergraduate students and staff to engage with a comprehensive learning and action-based approach to sustainability.

The Sustainability Challenge is offered to all 8,000+ 1st year students and immerses students in a highly interactive simulation activity, based on building a new campus for a fictitious university. A closing plenary session links the Challenge to the real world, explaining its grounding in current University research and highlights the myriad of other ways in which students can engage with sustainability.

10,000 Actions is the UK’s biggest sustainability initiative launched to higher education staff. It encourages learning and action around key sustainability issues. A learning platform educates staff on key sustainability issues, leading to the creation of a bespoke individual action plan, listing actions that they can take as a University member of staff.

Top 3 learnings:

1 Building in data collection at the beginning of the project reaps huge benefits later on.

2 Engage with colleagues who need to be involved across the institution as soon as possible.

3 Having a comprehensive communications plan with a strong brand helps with engagement.

Videos

• Whole institution sustainability engagement through innovative learning programmes (click to hide)