University of Exeter win for Excellence in Student Leadership at ISCN 2014 Awards

4th June 2014

The pressing need for sustainability is one of the society's greatest challenges. For this reason, top-tier universities from across the world have joined forces through the International Sustainable Campus Network (ISCN), to incorporate sustainability in their teaching,research, and campus operations.

Every year, thought leaders and change agents come together at the ISCN conference for a unique opportunity to exchange perspectives and form global partnerships in pursuit of sustainability. This year's conference was hosted by Harvard University and MIT, founding members of the ISCN and forerunners in campus sustainability. EAUC CEO, Iain Patton, is there to represent the EAUC and it's Members.

The 2014 theme, "Pushing Boundaries: Leveraging Collective Action for Global Impact" featured sessions focusing on the following topics:

· Innovation – Pushing boundaries to generate new ideas
· Collaboration – Leveraging collective action
· Scalability – Impacting globally
· Metrics – Measuring outcomes

Each session featured a panel of experts from Harvard University, MIT, and organizations around the world. Panelists including Kent Larson, Robert S. Kaplan, Jan Sadlak, and Bill Clark, provoked participants from universities across Asia, North and South America, Africa, Australia, Europe, and the Middle East, and sparked lively discussions that proved intellectually stimulating.

One of the most anticipated events was the sixth annual ISCN Sustainable Campus Excellence Award Ceremony on June 3rd. These awards recognize universities for exceptional sustainability efforts in campus planning, integration with academics, student leadership, and exemplary building projects. Matthew Gardner, of the ISCN Secretariat remarks, "This year's award winners have clearly demonstrated that the energy and ingenuity found in higher education can be used to solve the challenges of sustainability. It is an honor for us to provide global recognition for universities who are committed to sustainability and leading the way to a brighter future.

The winners of the 2014 ISCN Sustainable Campus Excellence Awards are:

· Excellence in Building: Shandong Jiaotong University (China)

· Excellence in Campus: University of Gothenburg (Sweden)

· Excellence in Integration: University of Washington (United States of America)

· Excellence in Student Leadership: University of Exeter (United Kingdom)

The awards are open to any college or university worldwide that has developed outstanding planning, construction, or educational projects that promote sustainability on campus and in the surrounding community. Each year, an international panel of experts serve on the jury to review award applications and select the ISCN Award winners.

About the ISCN:

The ISCN provides a global forum for universities pursuing sustainability across their educational and research missions, and operations. ISCN Members commit to sustainability principles and report their performance according to the ISCN-GULF Sustainable Campus Charter which was jointly developed with the World Economic Forum's Global University Leaders Forum. Founded in 2007, the ISCN features international awards, conferences, and working groups to promote best practice exchange. More information on the ISCN and its Members, can be found at www.international-sustainable-campus-network.org/.