Green Gown Awards 2016 – Learning and Skills – University of the West of England – Winner

Our Green City: Global challenges, Bristol solutions

Our Green City celebrated and showcased UWE academics and Bristol based sustainability organisations to develop public understanding of sustainability issues in Bristol’s year as European Green Capital 2015.  Based on a free, open, online course format, c2000 learners signed-up to gain insight into themes of food, nature, energy, transport and resources through a range of video presentations, tasks, quizzes and community discussion forums. 

Our Green City enabled UWE Bristol to engage widely with our local Authority, the business community, and the Bristol Green Capital Partnership.  Our Green City featured the work of 14 academics, 24 organisations and reflected a strong educative element for Bristol 2015. 

The learners have given the project high levels of praise, reflecting on how they have been supported to create changes to their communities, whilst funders have reflected on how the project has brought academic insight closer to people in the Bristol city region and beyond.

Top 3 learnings

1 Using a community development approach to using ‘real world’ partners as case studies brings learning to life

2 Develop and support academic practice as a way to secure the buy-in of colleagues (internal engagement)

3 Spend time with funders, understand their priorities and respond to what they need, rather than what you want them to need (income generation). 

Videos

• Our Green City: Global challenges, Bristol solutions (click to hide)