HEFCE’s Vision: supporting sustainable development in higher education.

11th October 2010

At the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), sustainable development forms an integral part of our strategy for the future development of the higher education sector.

The HEFCE vision is that:

“Within the next 10 years, the higher education sector in this country will be recognised as a major contributor to society’s efforts to achieve sustainability – through the skills and knowledge that its graduates learn and put into practice, its research and exchange of knowledge through business, community and public policy engagement, and through its own strategies and operations.”

Some universities and colleges are already significantly reducing the environmental impact of their operations, as demonstrated by the Green Gown Awards, the Universities UK publication Greening spires: universities and the green agenda, and data on the environmental impact of HE estates. However, the momentum for change needs to continue and increase if higher education is to maximise its role in helping society meet the challenge of sustainable development.

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