Green Gown Awards 2014 - Continuous Improvement - University of Edinburgh - Finalist

Understanding Our Impact on the World – becoming a socially responsible university

Since launching its Social Responsibility and Sustainability Strategy in 2010, the University of Edinburgh has strived to understand its impact on the world. Through its operations, research, learning and teaching the University contributes to a society in a way that is truly responsible in action and thought.

This has led to the University becoming the first Scottish university to achieve formal recognition in the Food for Life Catering Mark scheme, the first University in Europe to become a signatory of the United Nations Principles of Responsible investment and it celebrated its ten-year anniversary of being a Fairtrade institution in 2014.

The University is home to Learning for Sustainability Scotland, and has now invested a total of £20 million in low-carbon combined heat and power schemes – recently opening its fourth energy centre and district-heating network.

Top 3 learnings

1 Imperative that academic schools and support groups do not work in silos but work collaboratively, share services and exchange best practice
2 Empower staff and students to actively have a role in working towards the objectives of the strategy
3 In an institution where academic colleges and support groups have a high level of autonomy, it is important to have buy in from both senior and middle management to embed Social Responsibility and Sustainability (SRS) within policies and practices.