Green Gown Awards 2014 - Leadership Award - Professor James Longhurst - Finalist

Assistant Vice Chancellor, Environment and Sustainability , University of the West of England

Professor James Longhurst (Jim) leads the University of the West of England’s (UWE) approach to embedding sustainability into the business of the University, particularly in the curricula. Jim’s enthusiasm and drive has enabled UWE to provide opportunities in the curricula for 90% of UWE students to engage with the ideas of education for sustainable development.

Jim leads the UWE Knowledge Exchange for Sustainability Education initiative and plays a leadership role in the University’s Sustainability Board. Jim led the development of the University’s new Sustainability Plan for 2013 -2020. As chair of the HEA Education for Sustainable Development Advisory Group and the QAA - HEA /Development Group, which produced the recent ESD guidance for HEIs, Jim has led recent development in ESD policy and practice for the HE sector.

In UWE Jim has initiated and led schemes for capacity and capability enhancement amongst individuals and subject communities to embed ESD in curricula and pedagogy.

Top 3 learnings

1 Recognition of the importance of strategic leadership to deliver the cultural change required to embed sustainability within a university
2 Recognising there are different rates of change in different parts of the university. Thus the approaches taken need to allow for different starting points and rates of change
3 Recognising that all disciplines are engaging, and can engage further, with education for sustainable development.

Videos

• Professor James Longhurst Assistant Vice Chancellor, Environment and Sustainability , University of the West of England (click to hide)