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RCE Severn 

RCE Severn is a Regional Centre of Expertise (RCE) in Sustainability Education. The centre is endorsed by the United Nations University and is one of 62 similar centres throughout the world.

Based in Cheltenham at the University of Gloucestershire, the RCE has been set up to assist the Severn area in moving towards sustainable development through a process of learning, participatory engagement and partnership building.


RCE Severn exists to provide a platform for partners to work together to develop and implement innovative projects and programmes in sustainability education. RCE partners can learn from each other as they engage in sustainability education initiatives, and by working together, they can achieve outcomes beyond what it is possible to achieve by working in isolation. The RCE builds capacity to implement change to address global and local sustainability challenges by:

  • Building a consortium of partners from the voluntary, public, education and businesses sectors; linking stakeholders skilled in learning, education, communication, journalism and public engagement
  • Facilitating shared learning opportunities among partners
  • Collaborating on joint projects
  • Joint bidding for projects
  • Raising awareness of sustainability issues in ways which build the capacity, skills and knowledge to bring about long-term and sustained change
  • Supporting opportunities for gaining first hand experience of sustainability through volunteering and work placements with RCE partners
  • Complementing and adding value to existing initiatives and networks, extending these to provide cross-sectoral and cross-regional learning 

Download the RCE brochure (PDF)

RCE Severn participates in 4th European RCE Conference in Munich, December 2010

Carol Rabbette, RCE Severn Coordinator, attended the 4th EU RCE Conference, hosted by the BenE Munchen, from 1st to 3rd December 2010. More  

Sustainable Transport Forum

University of Gloucestershire, 30th November, 2010.

‘Getting There; Exploring the challenges, opportunities and best practice in higher and further education’ was organised by RCE Severn and University of Gloucestershire and was the second in a series of national forums designed to tackle key sustainability issues.
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RCE Severn fosters partnership with Westonbirt, The National Arboretum

In September 2010 the Arboretum signed a Memorandum of Understanding with University of Gloucestershire to formalise the existing working relationship between the two organisations, a collaboration which has been supported and nurtured by RCE Severn. 
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Masterclass on Entrepreneurship for Sustainability, 11th June 2010

Developed by RCE Severn, the Sustainability Team and the Centre for Enterprise & Innovation, this masterclass by Elisabeth Bittner formed part of our World Environment Week celebrations. More

World Environment Week Events, 5th - 12th June 2010

The Sustainability Team at UoG celebrated World Environment Week 2010 by promoting a range of events being organised by staff, students and partner organisations, including events that RCE Severn Partners organised in the region. More

Joint RCE and IRIS Seminar

Last Turtle Standing: the use of still and moving images in conservation, education and communication – Dr John Blewitt from Aston University presented his findings at a seminar on 11th March at Francis Close Hall. More

Young People and Sustainable Schools Project Planning Day

Tuesday 9th February 2010
RCE Severn’s Young People and Sustainable Schools Working Group met for a Project Planning Day on Tuesday 9th February, 2010 in the Centre for Active Learning at Francis Close Hall at the University of Gloucestershire. For more information contact rcesevern@glos.ac.uk

RCE Severn participates in 3rd European RCE Conference in Graz, December 2009

Carol Rabbette, RCE Severn Coordinator, attended the 3rd EU RCE Conference, hosted by the University of Graz, from 16th - 18th December 2009. More

'Are we there yet?' Journeys of Student Engagement in Sustinability

3rd November 2009

This national forum to share good practice and explore opportunities for improving student engagement in sustainability within higher education was held at University of Gloucestershire on 3rd November 2009.  More

'The Handbook of Sustainable Literacy' published
'The Handbook of Sustainability Literacy: skills for a changing world’ has now been published in paperback. RCE Severn was involved as a co-sponsor of the initial Sustainability Literacy workshops offered at the Universities of Plymouth and Gloucestershire in 2008. More

RCE Working Groups being established
The first meetings of two RCE Severn Working Groups were held in July 2009. More

RCE Severn governance arrangements agreed March 2009
Governance arrangements for RCE Severn were agreed in March 2009, with the first Steering Group meeting occurring in May 2009. More

RCE Severn at the UN Global ESD Conference in Bonn
Professor Daniella Tilbury, Director of the RCE Severn, participated in the UN Global ESD Conference in March 2009. More

Invitation to March 2009 European RCE meeting in The Netherlands
Partners of RCE Severn were invited to attend a meeting of European RCEs which took place at the Open University in Heerlen, The Netherlands, on 4th and 5th March. More

Report from European RCE networking meeting in Limerick December 2008
At this two-day meeting, which was hosted by RCE-Ireland partners from a number of RCEs across Europe were able to learn from each other's experiences. More

RCE Severn Partners Meet for the First Time
The RCE Severn partnership met for the first time at Oxstalls Campus, University of Gloucestershire on the 1st October. The meeting brought together partners from government agencies, business and industry, NGOs, the media as well as schools, further and higher education. More

RCE Severn Christmas lecture


14th December 2010

We’d like to invite you to the RCE Severn Christmas Lecture, a free event which is being held at University of Gloucestershire on Tuesday 14th December. ‘Homo Sapiens Report, the Future of Humanity’ will be a compelling and highly visual lecture by Oscar-winning Michael Wadleigh and Birgit Van Munster. It will promote an objective view of us humans and the complex problems we face in the coming centuries. Places are limited so early booking is advisable – to book a place please email Ms Seek Pang on spang@glos.ac.uk. More

Sustainable Landscape Series 2010/11
The Sustainable Landscape Series 2010/11 is starting at the beginning of November at the University of Gloucestershire, Cheltenham. Sponsored by Arup Landscape & the Landscape Institute South West, it is a free public lecture series exploring sustainability, sustainable development and sustainable living.

Graduate Challenge
RCE Severn partners with premises in Gloucestershire are invited to submit applications for suitable projects that could be delivered in 2010 by a recent Higher Education graduate through a four-month free placement that fulfils a project brief designed by the business, with additional training and support provided by the University and Gloucestershire First. Please see www.graduatechallenge.co.uk for more information and the application form.

University of Gloucestershire, The Park, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL50 2RH. Telephone +44 (0)844 8010001.