Green Gown Awards 2015 - Best Newcomer - University of Wales Trinity Saint David - Winner

INSPIRE@UWTSD – an institutional approach to delivering sustainability through our culture, curriculum, campuses and community

UWTSD aims to develop reflective graduates and practitioners who can make a difference in society. Through a system-based approach, the university delivers educational pathways promoting learning and social responsibility that meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Through INSPIRE, the whole university’s operations are now subject to Key Performance Indicators to test this approach across all the university’s activities.

Prior to establishing INSPIRE in 2012, UWTSD had no previous history of involvement in sustainability. Now, three years on, INSPIRE has won the Guardian Award for Sustainability in HE in 2013, the Soil Association Gold Catering Mark for its support for local producers in 2014 – and in 2015, UWTSD rose from 113th in the UK and a 3rd class degree, to a 1st class degree and 8th in UK and 1st in Wales in the People and Planet University League.

Top 3 learnings

1 There needs to be university wide commitment from the governors, staff and students to effect systemic change

2 There need to be metrics to measure the success of the initiative that work within the culture of the university and enable regular reporting at key meetings e.g. Senate, University Council, Senior Directorate and Senior Management Team

3 There need to be opportunities for staff and students to re-interpret the commitments in their own discipline settings.

Videos

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