Green Gown Awards 2017 - University of Worcester - Finalist

Go Green Week was a high-profile campaign held in Worcester city centre to highlight to residents and visitors the issues relating to transport, food, recycling, littering and energy saving. It aimed to develop new collaborations and share best practice and learning. 

Students, who form 10% of the City’s population, led the way promoting sustainability in Worcester. A cross Atlantic exchange with American students from our sister city Worcester Massachusetts saw University of Worcester students work alongside American engineering students, local authorities and FE college, businesses and charities to teach the public easy ways to lead more sustainable lives and run more sustainable businesses. They collaborated to create a programme of events and activities for a “Go Green Week” in the City. 

The project gave students an opportunity practice, develop and enhance their enterprising and entrepreneurial skills. This unique collaboration enabled them to be agents of change, to coalesce and galvanise a community and build relationships.

Top 3 learnings:

1 Include students, staff, governors and the local community in developing your vision.

2 We cannot do this on our own. Little by way of innovation occurs in isolation and the University of Worcester is open to collaboration and collaborative models.

3 Create many scaffolding opportunities, so colleagues across the Students’ Union and University can connect with their discipline/area of expertise.  When it’s interwoven and inspirational more people can feel inspired to balance economic efficiency, social equity and environmental accountability.