Challenging Connections

19th January 2015

We can’t talk credibly about sustainability if we don’t include all voices in the debate

This year for the first time the EAUC’s Annual Conference, 'Challenging Connections', will provide a formal stage for all of the voices in the tertiary education sector so that they can inspire and challenge one another, and forge new connections. 

The most comprehensive sustainability event in tertiary education has a new format this year. Three complementary summits will run alongside the two-day core programme – the Student Sustainability Summit the day before the main conference starts, the Further Education Sustainability Summit running parallel to day one and the Transformational Leadership Summit, running parallel to day two.

With contributions from University of British Columbia, Unilever, Rolls-Royce, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Global Universities Partnership for Environmental Sustainability (GUPES), the EAUC hosts a next-generation sustainability conference which breaks the boundaries, makes new connections, introduces new voices and unites students, academics, leaders and sustainability professionals in one powerful whole-sector international event.

Delegates at the Further Education (FE) and Transformational Leadership Summits will start and finish their days with the main conference delegates for the keynote speeches.

A comprehensive programme

Taking place on 23 March, the day before the EAUC conference starts, the Student Sustainability Summit is a day dedicated to inspiring and empowering students to take action. The powerful partnership of the EAUC, NUS and People & Planet brings you a summit not just about creating new leaders today, but focused on embedding sustainability into the core purpose of our education system. We hope you will encourage your students to attend - why not sponsor their place for only £25?

On 24 March, Day One of the main conference programme is themed around the LiFE priority of Estates and Operations. Running parallel is the inaugural FE Sustainability Summit, an EAUC and Association of Colleges (AoC) partnership. Starting and ending with the main conference keynote presentations, the day will feature an impressive line-up of speakers and workshops discussing, debating and showcasing sustainable development strategies and action within the FE sector. Feel free to dip in and out of the summit and the main conference workshops.

Day Two of the conference is on 25 March and puts the spotlight on the remaining LiFE priority areas of Partnership and Engagement, Learning, Teaching and Research, and Leadership and Governance. Taking place at the same time is the Transformational Leadership Summit at which senior leaders and managers can be the first in the UK to experience the Core Business Integration of Sustainability (CBIS) Executive Programme, developed at the Harvard University Center for Health and the Global Environment.

Find out more and register

You will find out more about each of the Summits and Conference days on the dedicated Conference website. You can attend any of the Summits or conference days and have the ability to access all of the workshops and sessions running that day. Or get best value by booking both days and the gala dinner. Take a look at the prices and packages.

We're really proud of this year's programme and the connections we've made in putting it together. We hope you'll join us in March.