Green Gown Awards 2016 – Student Engagement – University of Southampton – Highly Commended

Educating Global Citizens: The UK’s first international student sustainability research symposium

The UK’s first international student sustainability symposium gathered 101 delegates on the 15 April 2016 to celebrate and showcase undergraduate and postgraduate research that is changing the world for the better. This was an initiative for students and led by students, as they took on roles presenting their research, chairing presentation sessions, sitting on the judging committee and delivering the social media strategy on the day.

Through peer-to-peer learning and broad presentation themes, the 101 delegates developed their employability skills, broadened their understanding of sustainability and demonstrated how student research is changing the world for the better. This symposium provided a unique education experience for students at a point where the formal curriculum and research intersect, developing graduates that are global citizens with the skills, literacy and confidence to contribute positively to the world.

Top 3 learnings

1 Student leadership is critical for delivering student-focused initiatives

2 Don’t underestimate what students can achieve when given the opportunities to lead

3 To reach a community of 30,000 people, a multi-platform communication strategy is critical.