GGAA 2012 - Continuous Improvement - University of Tasmania - Highly Commended

UTAS Continuous Improvement exemplified by the Academic-Operations Sustainability Integration Program (AOSIP)

The University of Tasmania (UTAS) sustainability vision is to integrate a comprehensive sustainability plan, which is engaging and connects operational and academic interests, into core business activities. In early 2010, projects were undertaken to demonstrate the value of synchronising academic and operational sustainability goals.

These successful efforts then grew into the Academic-Operations Sustainability Integration Program (AOSIP), which formalises a key UTAS objective ‘to integrate the mutual objectives of UTAS’ environmental management and academic programs using sustainable infrastructure and service needs as an opportunity for cross disciplinary teaching, learning and research as well as supporting and accessing the sustainability knowledge base of students and academics.’ Through a grounded approach of linking theory to real-world sustainability issues on campus and to skills in demand by employers, AOSIP motivates students to be active in their own learnings.