Research institutions are the main source of the innovation and discovery that drives our global economy, produces advances in our standard of living and helps us understand the world around us. The integration of sustainability into the research we do and the way research is carried out can have a huge impact on the behaviours of researchers but also the outputs and outcomes of the research itself.
For research-intensive institutions the integration of sustainability from the two different perspectives outlined below can have a major contribution in demonstrating the commitment to sustainability but also lead to new thinking and more sustainable ways to achieve new thinking and new breakthroughs.
1. Sustainable Research: This relates to research that is set-up and/or delivered in a way that minimises environmental or sustainability impacts. For example, research projects that actively employ methodologies that minimise environmental impacts such as employing teleconference or video conferencing rather than extensive travel, or research that minimises carbon impacts through use of highly energy efficient equipment
2. Research into Sustainability: This describes research that contributes to or develops knowledge or understanding of some element of sustainability. For example, research that focuses upon low carbon technologies or provides solutions to environmental problems, or research that investigates some area of sustainability e.g. attitudes to sustainability, pedagogies for Education for Sustainable Development etc.
If you could offer research as a resource of the Sustainability Exchange, please get in touch. We work with academics to provide workshop sessions at the EAUC conference and we are now working with the International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education.
Scotland’s universities and colleges have publicly declared their intention to address the challenges of climate change and reduce their carbon footprints by signing the...
The results of a EAUC CaSPr State of the Campus Survey which was sent to those responsible for Estates Management Statistics (EMS) and eMandate returns in each University and...
These guidance documents provide practical advice and information on how to make the business case for sustainable procurement, what the risks are and how a green team could help.
The EAUC lead a 3 year Defra Environmental Action Fund (EAF) project to provide support to universities and colleges wanting to integrate sustainability into their procurement...
The guide is designed to provide an overall strategy for water conservation through various stages of planning and using a building within colleges.
Handbook for faculty workshops on how to introduce cultural commons and ecojustice issues into their courses
Following on from the successful How to run a successful campaign event hosted by Kirsti Norris on 28 June 2012 at Imperial College London, presentation slides from the day
The Centre for Bioscience was awarded project funding by the HEA ESD group to produce a series of short information sheets to support bioscience teaching staff with...
A resource list on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) from Geography, Earth and Environmental Science (GEES) Subject Centre
This fascinating website contains many useful tips and suggestions on how to recycle just about anything, from hanging files to plastic dustbins, and even old weather balloons!
This book contains the papers presented at the 1st European Conference on Education for Sustainable Development held in Greece, from 5 - 7 October 2007
EAUC Member responses about H&S and Environmental Sustainability policies and if others combine the two.
HEFCE, EAUC, Leeds Metropolitan University and Business in the Community worked together on an important sector benchmarking project between 2005 and 2006
Job description for the Carbon Reduction Officer at Coventry University
This is the job description for the Space Manager at Coventry University
The winners' brochure from the 2010 Green Gown Awards.
A university’s carbon brainprint of research, consultancy or teaching is an estimate of the change in carbon emissions from its known and predicted outcomes in practice.
With 240 applications in 2011, 25% up from 2010, the Green Gown Awards are firmly established as prestigious recognition of sustainability excellence in tertiary education.
Case studies from the winner and highly commended for the Colleges category from the 06/07 Green Gown Awards
Green Gown Awards 2007-8 - winners brochure from the annual awards, recognising excellence in sustainability within the further and higher education sector
Case studies from the Winner and Highly Commended for the Course Content category from the 06/07 Green Gown Awards
Green Gown Awards 2006-7 - winners' brochure from the annual awards, recognising excellence in sustainability within the further and higher education sector
The winners' brochure from the 2005-2006 Green Gown Awards
The winners' brochure from the 2004-2005 Green Gown Awards
Green Gown Awards 2011 - winners' brochure from the annual Awards, recognising excellence in sustainability within the further and higher education sector
This reuse implementation guide has been compiled as part of the HEFCE funded project “Moving Towards Zero-Waste”
In 2004 the European Commission published a handbook to give guidance to the Public Sector on procuring “green” products and services
James Gray Donald and David Selby, University of Plymouth, showcase the work and thinking of environmental educators concerned about the residual mechanism within their field
Materials from a four month ‘Graduate Challenge’ intern project undertaken by Lewis Barber, a Psychology graduate from the University of Gloucestershire
This book, edited by Carolyn Roberts and Jane Roberts, contains 37 chapters exploring different aspects of sustainability within the undergraduate and postgraduate curriculum
Here is a link to find out about the Environmental Champions initiative at the University of Derby.
This resource consists of the environmental policy at the University of Bristol.
Here is a link to the environmental policy at Oxford Brookes University.
The job description here was created for the post of Environmental Officer at City University London. It includes both a role profile and a candidate specification.
This resource consists of the environmental legislation at the University of Bristol.
This resource gives you an insight into the internal Environmental Group's, terms of reference at the University of Bristol.
Written by senior managers for senior managers, this guide provides practical examples to support universities in learning from each other’s work in this crucial area
Development Education Association report - this thinkpiece seeks to trigger, inform and influence the debate about the future direction of lifelong learning
It has become fashionable in some parts of the UK media to portray the scientific evidence that has been collected about climate change and the impact of greenhouse gas emissions
The purpose of this paper is to test the validity of the curriculum auditing tool Sustainability Tool for Auditing University Curricula in Higher Education (STAUNCH).
Notes on DEFRA Workshop – 11th September 2007
Ethica -The Ethical Finance Game is an educational board and role-play game.
This expert review was commissioned as part of Phase II of the Global Monitoring and Evaluation effort for The United Nations Decade in Education for Sustainable Development...
In this resource you can download the ESD & Global Citizenship - A Strategy for Action (Wales).
Plymouth College of Art has developed an information sharing resource; The Sustainability Information Teaching Exchange.
The following presentations are taken from the ‘Equipping Students with the Skills for Our Changing World’ conference.
The second Forum for the Future and UCAS Future Leaders Survey of university and college applicants, exploring their hopes and expectations for the future (2007/8)
Circular Economy video from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation - a mad professor (comedian Steve Punt) questions whether the way we do things now makes sense and asks us to Get loopy!
Forum for the Future and UCAS invited students aged 21 and under, resident in the UK and applying to universities and colleges in 2006, to complete a survey.
Energy Performance Certificates in Scotland - A Guidance Note on Obligations for Universities & Colleges