Sustainability team from UoG are headline speakers at Quality Matters 2021

Students and staff from the Sustainability team at the University of Gloucestershire will share their expertise as headline speakers at a national education sector event.

The Quality Matters 2021 Conference on 20-21 October is aimed at student officers, senior student representatives, SU staff and quality professionals in universities.

Dr Alex Ryan (Director of Sustainability) and Miriam Webb (Sustainability Engagement Manager) will be presenting with students Will Weaving (Live Smart Co-ordinator) and Nikki Rimell (Sustainability Communications Officer).

The team were invited to headline on Education for Sustainability, recognising the growing importance of sustainability in graduate skills profiles of the future.

Their session ‘Co-creating Sustainability Learning – closing the gaps’ will share insights into how the University partners with students in its work to integrate Education for Sustainability (EfS) into course experiences and how its Live Smart programme empowers students to collaborate and lead change across the University.

The University is known for setting the pace on curriculum innovation in sustainability and was a member of the QAA/AHE expert group that produced new national guidelines in this area in 2021.

The QAA/AHE guidance on Education for Sustainable Development urges the sector to develop an applied professional competence in sustainability across the future curriculum in the face of accelerating environmental change.

The University’s approach connects its sustainability learning and research to good environmental practices on campus and collaboration with its local communities.

Last week, it announced a bold strategy to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2030, combining heating decarbonisation projects with action on energy efficiency, travel patterns and purchasing decisions.

As part of the CheltenhamZero partnership, its Masters in Graphic Design students created visual and brand communications to promote the initiative and were invited to display their work at the 2021 Green Grads and Planted Exhibition in London.

A pioneer and leader of sustainability in higher education and the region, the University’s previous carbon strategy (2010-2020) achieved a 47% drop in emissions by 2019 that rose to 63% by 2020 – surpassing its target of 40% by 2020.

Its academic expertise has been recognised with a range of commendations, including a UK Green Gown award in 2019 for Research with Impact and an International Green Gown award in 2020 for Learning and Skills.