Green Gown Awards 2019 - University of Winchester - Highly Commended

Our Team

Winchester Responsible Futures Team 

The University of Winchester Responsible Futures (RF) Team worked on the National Union of Students (NUS) RF best practice criteria to facilitate change within the formal, informal and subliminal curriculum, including a comprehensive student-led audit. The University’s commitment to embedding sustainability and social responsibility across teaching and other activities was recognised with the NUS’ RF accreditation (completed at a high level within 2 years). Importantly, this was not an initiative just from sustainability champions/environmental officers but a genuine whole institution approach. The Team adopted a fully inclusive, simultaneous ‘top-down/bottom- up’ approach that included Senior Management (the Vice-Chancellor and all Deans), Winchester Student Union, students, academics, professional services, Trade Unions, local charities/community members. Winchester is a values-driven University with sustainability and social justice at its heart. Significantly, the work of the Team helped shape the University’s new 10-year Strategic Vision which aligns with the UN’s Agenda 2030 and Sustainable Development Goals. 

Top 3 activities

• In depth student-led curriculum audit: encompassing the University’s undergraduate curriculum, University values and SDGs.  
• On campus and community based SDG events and activities: involving cross-departmental collaboration. 
• ‘Walking the talk’: developing and embedding strategy, policy and practice in all areas of University life. 

Top 3 impacts

• Embedding sustainability & SDG awareness: through collaborative sustainability statement, curriculum audit, campus activities, University strategy/policies/practice. 
• New Learning and Teaching Strategy: requiring SDG commitment in all University programmes in core modules. 
• Cross-departmental collaboration: with setting up a Sustainability Committee and Sustainability Community of Practice. 

2 reasons we believe we should win

• Genuine, fully engaged whole institution approach to sustainability aimed at embedding SDGs into the formal, informal and subliminal curriculum.  
• The Responsible Futures Team work inspired and empowered collective discussion and action on important sustainability and social justice issues. 

Videos

• Green Gown Awards 2019 - University of Winchester - Finalist (click to hide)