Green Gown Awards 2014 - Leadership Award - Professor John Brooks - Finalist

Vice Chancellor, Manchester Metropolitan University

Professor John Brooks has been dedicated to his vision of the University for World-Class Professionals. A £350m sustainable development investment has supported that vision, today realised in a sustainable university with a positive environmental and social impact and is testimony to his passion and determination. As an exemplar for redevelopment, the realisation of this vision has delivered a sustainable estate, strong community and neighbourhood linkages and boosted local employment.

The benefits to the University have been: increase of 17% in applications since 2012 and strong rise in league table position; high quality infra-structure and human capacity to resource the Sustainability Strategy; transformational local community engagement and sustainable partnerships; strong exemplar for the sector in leadership and engagement; measureable boost to local employment and apprenticeships, enhancing skills and targeted on the Birley regeneration; environmental sustainability placed alongside graduate employability and global citizenship as core priorities.

Top 3 learnings

1 Wide and engaging – the Vision has extended beyond MMU to increase positive regional economic and social impact in support of the city’ regions regeneration programme
2 Community Cohesion – exemplar Multi-agency Regeneration group has been able to showcase positive environmental impacts during development
3 Passionate students – the VC has engaged with the passionate and challenging voice of MMU students to deliver on environmental commitments

Videos

• Professor John Brooks Vice Chancellor, Manchester Metropolitan University (click to hide)