Challenging Connections: The Role of Tertiary Education in the Transition to Sustainable Cities

By Will Jenkins, Carbon Credentials

Last week the Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges (EAUC) hosted its Annual Conference at Leeds University. Now in its 19th year, the conference brought together over 400 delegates for three days to explore the role of the tertiary education sector in the transition to a low carbon, sustainable economy. The theme for the conference was Challenging Connections, with the aim of encouraging delegates to ‘look again at our connections, our partnerships and the voices we are hearing and those we are not’.

It is clear that the tertiary education sector has a unique role to play in preparing society for the challenges and opportunities presented by climate change. I have summarised four themes that all universities should aim to integrate within their sustainability programmes.

• The University as an Educator
• The University as an Innovator
• The University as a Facilitator of Connections & Partnerships
• The University as a Catalyst for Change

Carbon Credentials was the Headline Sponsor of the 2015 Annual Conference.