Evidence from 2022 can be found here: Sustainability: University of Greenwich
3rd July Assessment
1. Does the university publish a strategy for student and staff engagement in sustainable development?
Our Engagement Strategy sets out we will engage our students and staff to bring about positive change throughout all activities and processes.
STUDENT AND STAFF ENGAGEMENT ACTIONS
2a. Are the university sustainability policy and strategy and other student engagement opportunities for sustainability a component of every student induction?
Please see our ESD blog page for more information. A set of slides have been developed to include in student inductions, to help them understand why sustainability is important, what the university is doing and how they can get involved.
These links are sent to students living in halls and private accommodation in their welcome emails:
Being Sustainable in Halls | Documents | University of Greenwich
Being Sustainable in your House | Documents | University of Greenwich
2b. Does the university actively and regularly promote events and activities aimed at increasing engagement?
The list of events can be found here (scroll down to ‘News and Events’)
The university runs the Green Rewards app for students and staff with engagement activities, events etc run monthly to encourage sustainability learning and behaviour.
2c Does the university provide funds for student-led sustainability projects?
Highlighted in our Engagement Strategy (found on the Strategy page) with dedicated information available here on how students and staff can apply for project funding. We invite students to submit ideas which are submitted to our Sustainability Management Committee for funding. We fund projects (such as this) they think are relevant to create sustainability engagement and action. Further examples include:
3. Do all staff inductions cover university sustainability policy, strategy and areas for staff to engage?
All new staff are made aware and required to explore how the university approaches sustainability from a strategic through to practical levels:
- Induction checklist: Staff are required to familiarise themselves with sustainability policy
- Specific sustainability induction documents
- Halls of Residence Assistants: have to attend a 1 hour sustainability talk highlighting the sustainability policy and goals and highlighting how the RAs can cascade information about sustainability initiatives and activities to all halls residents.
- Student Ambassadors: receive sustainable guidance and a full sustainability champion training programme was launched for this group.
4. Are invitations extended to recognised Trade Union representatives by way of membership at committees to which the sustainability strategy, carbon management plan and other relevant strategic areas of sustainable development are reported?
STUDENT REPRESENTATION
5. Is there student representation on university committees concerned with estates, planning, finance and strategic decision making?
- Governing Body: President of the Greenwich Student Union (GSU) is included as the Student Governor.
- Finance Committee: Chief Executive of GSU is in attendance in the meetings.
- Academic Council membership: includes President of GSU and 3 sabbatical officers.
- Sustainability Management Committee: includes GSU sabbatical officer
- Estates Management Board: includes CEO of GSU
STAFF OR STUDENT-LED EVALUATION
6. Does the university conduct a student or staff-led mapping, auditing or tracking exercise of environmental sustainability annually?
- Conducted a Sustainability Annual Survey to collect views from staff and students about the importance of sustainability, which helps the university to plan for the future engagement plans.
- Green Champions Network: Relaunching the platform which is a staff-led and co-created network to create wider changes to the university.
- The University undertakes an annual staff survey including a question focused on sustainability at the institution.
EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Section 10. EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT.
- Does the university demonstrate commitment to education for sustainable development at a high level of strategy or senior responsibility?
The University has recently launched its Curriculum Framework which includes Sustainable Development as one of its Dimensions.
Information relating to the Curriculum Framework and our approach to Education for Sustainable Development can be found here: Education for Sustainable Development | Sustainability: University of Greenwich
The Corporate Strategy (Strategy 2030) states on page 20 that the university will “Create a green and sustainable university and actively encourage and support sustainable development and principles of sustainable learning and teaching practice in curriculum development and delivery.” This is illustrated in the application of the Curriculum Framework which will require all courses to consider all of the Dimensions (including sustainable development) and the courses will be (re)validated to ensure this happens.
The institutional lead for the Curriculum Framework is Dr Jenny Marie, Pro Vice Chancellor for Education, with VCG level responsibility sitting with Prof Jane Roscoe, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Learning and Teaching (as stated on this page).
http://blogs.gre.ac.uk/greengreenwich/education-sustainable-development/
The University’s Academic Council is responsible for ensuring the success of the Curriculum Framework with students represented by our four SU officers on this to ensure our teaching is relevant and appropriate to the needs of our students.
IMPLEMENTING AND TRACKING PROGRESS IN EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
2a. Has the university developed or used a framework or strategy for ESD?
The Curriculum Framework (CF) provides the comprehensive and aligned process to ensure that we not only ensure sustainability is integrated into every student’s learning but it also identifies other Curriculum Framework Dimension areas that are essential to sustainability and vice versa. This was agreed at Academic Council on 23rd June 2021.
Previously the University has applied Responsible Futures Framework in addition to the undertaking of significant ESD research and analysis projects to understand and develop ESD approaches relevant to the organisation and its students. This work has been presented and endorsed by the University’s Academic and Quality Standards Committee and the Sustainability Management Board. A comprehensive online ESD toolkit is being developed for all staff to apply and is consulting with a wide range of users to ensure it meets the needs of our responsibilities and those of our students. This work has proved valuable in the development of our current ESD framework.
The university has mapped ESD impact and activity areas across teaching and learning operations. – This was done through the Responsible Futures programme and has been captured through our ESD research and analysis work since January 2015 (presented to the AQSC). (These detailed reports submitted to AQSC in 2015 and 2016 have not been updated to our website. If these are of consideration for this University League submission please contact s.t.goldsmith@gre.ac.uk.) Furthermore research undertaken by students via the Sustainability Hub in support of Responsible Futures provided a comprehensive and mapped understanding of sustainability provision in over 1000 programmes offered by the university. The University has been using Sulitest for the past 3 years to support the sustainability literacy of our students.
The university is networking and sharing best practice in a self-defined community – The University collaborates and engages internally and with external bodies. This includes the Environmental Association of Universities and Colleges and the London Universities Environment Group (of which we are members), plus attending relevant conferences, and EAUC’s Sustainability Leadership Lab. Within the University we have set up an ESD ‘Community of Practice’ to enable our staff and students to share insights, ideas and resources to enable more effective learning about sustainability and its integration into the curriculum. We have been running a series of UN Sustainable Development Goal focused workshops to engage and support our academic communities and provide this training ad-hoc to our faculties as 1 hour and 1 day training programmes.
As noted on this site the CF ESD group has been instrumental in developing the content of the CF ESD Dimension in addition to ensuring appropriate and sufficient learning and development resources are available for teaching staff and students to ensure we teach sustainability effectively. Our academic and student training offer can be viewed and accessed here, with the ESD Resource Bank available here. All supported by our Moodle Resource.
2b. Does the university have a mechanism for reviewing and reporting on progress of the integration of Education for Sustainable Development into the curriculum with named person(s) responsible for progress?
Pro Vice Chancellor for Education , VCG responsibility is with Jane Roscoe, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Learning and Teaching (as stated on this page).
The framework is used when considering the design of new programmes and for reviewing and revising existing programmes. Programme Approval Committee (PAC) will provide feedback on how the programme team envisage the programme meeting the dimensions at the authorisation stage. The Curriculum Framework is part of a curriculum design workshop offered to the development team for all new programmes. Fit to the framework will also be considered by approval panels. For 2022/23 the framework will also be incorporated into Annual Programme Reviews. (see this page.) All programmes will have to complete programme approval templates requiring evidence of the integration of sustainability into all courses that need validating and revalidating. The Curriculum Framework will be reviewed every three years to ensure it is effectively delivering on sustainability and the other Dimensions.
SUPPORTING ACADEMIC STAFF
3. Does the university make available support AND training to help all academic staff integrate Education for Sustainable Development into the curriculum by either?
This page highlights that training is available to support staff interested in ESD. It includes links to training we provide individuals and groups, links the ESD Moodle site that includes learning materials and other resources plus our ESD Resource Bank.
We have been utilising the opportunities for teaching across our curriculum using the UN Sustainable Development Goals and have utilised these in training workshops for academics
Sustainability was one of the four key themes as part of the UoG Shift Conference in 2022, open to UoG and university and other educational experts from national and international HEIs. Many papers, and professional development presentations were given focused on ESD.
The university hosts an Education for Sustainable Development Community of Practice, meeting every 3 months to showcase how sustainability can be integrated into the curriculum.
EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ACTIONS
4a Does the university promote real-world learning of skills for ESD, through the use of its setting as a ‘Living Lab’?
Much evidence can be found on this page
Coursework linked to sustainability projects within the university/estates department. The Estates Department provide guest lectures to relevant departments including Building Services, Architecture, Engineering, Primary and Early Years education, Business, Public Health and Environmental Conservation for example. An example of the resources available online that we use include this. We work with our academics to deliver training and support for our students in our Environmental Management System Audits to give them experience in undertaking real life ISO 14001 audits which are reviewed by the SDU team. Course work, including placements are encouraged and delivered for example via the SDU. We’ve supported and provided lectures for Marketing students for example where they were given a project brief to ‘sell’ the concept of free water to our café customers to discourage the purchase of single use plastic bottles. Programmes such as this utilise the estate for research and learning purposes. The Estates Department made a requirement of one of our major contractors to ensure that the construction space is available for teaching, research and learning for students and academics. Staff are encouraged to utilise our Estate as a ‘Living Lab’ as illustrated in these pages. We also not only support our own Greenwich Students but engage and support students from other universities interested in how sustainability and the work we are doing can contribute to their learning.
Funding is available for both student and staff living lab projects.
4b. Does the university support and highlight School, Faculty or Research team projects for Sustainable Development?
b. Does the university support and highlights School, Faculty or Research team projects for Sustainable Development?
See evidence above (4a) that will relate to this question.
5.a Does the university offer multiple scholarships for the full duration and cost of the degree programme, or a full fee waiver, for people in the process of seeking asylum?
Yes: The Sanctuary Scholarship | Bursaries | University of Greenwich
5.b Does the university offer multiple scholarships for the full duration and cost of the degree programme, or a full fee waiver, for people with refugee status or humanitarian protection?
The Sanctuary Scholarship | Bursaries | University of Greenwich
5.c Does the university offer multiple scholarships for the full duration and cost of the degree programme, or a full fee waiver, for people with other limited forms of leave to remain in the UK?
The Sanctuary Scholarship | Bursaries | University of Greenwich
The university publishes policy and support options in place to help enable equal participation of long-term UK residents with irregular migration status in University life. This is through our International Student Advice Service and admissions policy: https://www.gre.ac.uk/visa/during-your-studies/international-student-advice-service / https://docs.gre.ac.uk/rep/sas/admissions-policy-and-procedure
The university provides and publishes options for administrative support to long-term residents in the UK with irregular status through our International Student Advice Service: https://www.gre.ac.uk/visa/during-your-studies/international-student-advice-service
5.d Does the university offer support for living costs equivalent to that received through student finance to any of the groups in Education for Sustainable Development questions 5.a-5.c?
Yes: The Sanctuary Scholarship | Bursaries | University of Greenwich
5.e Does the university include any of the groups mentioned in Education for Sustainable Development questions 5.a-5.c in their Access and Participation plan?
Access & Participation Plan | Documents | University of Greenwich
The university also encourages staff and students themselves to provide extra support to refugees: Support the Refugee Student Bursary at the University of Greenwich | Articles
ETHICAL INVESTMENT POLICY
1a. Does the institution have an active, robust and publicly available Ethical Investment Policy reported on at senior level?
https://docs.gre.ac.uk/rep/finance/long-term-investment-policy
https://docs.gre.ac.uk/rep/finance/treasury-management-policy
1b. Specifics within the policy:
Additional scores will be added for each of the following areas included in the policy: Score 15%
2. COMMITMENT, IN POLICY, TO SCREEN OUT SPECIFIC SECTORS:
2a Fossil fuel companies
https://docs.gre.ac.uk/rep/finance/long-term-investment-policy
https://docs.gre.ac.uk/rep/finance/treasury-management-policy
2b Arms companies
https://docs.gre.ac.uk/rep/finance/long-term-investment-policy
https://docs.gre.ac.uk/rep/finance/treasury-management-policy
2c Border industry companies
https://docs.gre.ac.uk/rep/finance/long-term-investment-policy
2d Companies in violation of international law
https://docs.gre.ac.uk/rep/finance/long-term-investment-policy
3. IMPACT INVESTMENT / (RE-)INVESTMENT OF DIVESTED FUNDS
https://docs.gre.ac.uk/rep/finance/long-term-investment-policy
3 Commitment to invest in low-carbon / renewable energy companies or funds.
OR
3 Commitment to directly invest in community-owned renewable energy and/or renewable energy projects on campus
https://docs.gre.ac.uk/rep/finance/long-term-investment-policy
4. ETHICAL BANKING
4a. Does the institution have a robust and publicly available Ethical Banking Policy reported on at the senior level?
https://docs.gre.ac.uk/rep/finance/treasury-management-policy
4b. Does the policy exclude banks financing fossil fuels?
No
5. TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY:
The University website collates information in one place about investment practices and procedures in such a way that facilitates greater transparency and access to information for students, staff and the general public.
1% will be awarded for each of the following being easily accessed through a clearly identifiable section of the university website:
5a Ethical Investment Policy.
Sustainability strategy | Sustainability | University of Greenwich
Policies and strategies | About the university | University of Greenwich
5b Annual list of investments.
5c List of committee members that oversee investments.
5d Meeting minutes that provide updates on investment policy reviews and divestment/investment status if relevant.
5e Ethical Banking Policy.
17th July:
SUSTAINABLE FOOD POLICY
1. Does the university have a publicly-available sustainable food policy (or a Sustainable Procurement Policy which integrates sustainability criteria for food) that is reported on annually at a senior level of the university?
Our Sustainable Food Policy (and separate Fairtrade Policy) are located on this page: Sustainability strategy | Sustainability | University of Greenwich and can be found on the university’s Policies pages under the heading Sustainability Policies and strategies | About the university | University of Greenwich
CONTRACTS
2 Does the university’s sustainable food policy require that sustainability standards are embedded in tenders & contracts with external contractors?
The Policy can be found in the above section and key requirements relating to the tender specifications can be found on this page Food & Catering | Sustainability: University of Greenwich
SUSTAINABLE FOOD FRAMEWORK
3. Has the university implemented a comprehensive framework for continual improvement in sustainable food and catering that is regularly audited and verified by an external organisation credible to the sustainable food standards movement and stakeholder bodies?
Yes the university holds Food for Life for its outlets and menus (evidence can be found via the Soil Association and our promotion is via this page: Food & Catering | Sustainability: University of Greenwich and Awards & Accreditations | Sustainability: University of Greenwich
COMMUNITY FOOD
4. Does the university provide space and / or other support for student / staff-led sustainable food projects.
Yes this is mentioned on this site Food & Catering | Sustainability: University of Greenwich and links to this page: Avery Hill Edible Garden | Sustainability: University of Greenwich & Fairtrade
There is provision of space/other support for student / staff-led sustainable food projects including:
The Community Edible Garden
The Landscape Roofs at our Stockwell Street building
Beekeepers at our Apiaries
Further info Food & Catering | Sustainability: University of Greenwich
GOVERNANCE – SENIOR STAFF
- Is sustainability included within the portfolio of responsibilities of a member of the university senior management team? Sustainability strategy | Sustainability | University of Greenwich
DEDICATED AND EXPERT STAFF
2. Who is working on environmental sustainability?
The Team and Contact Us | Sustainability | University of Greenwich
ALL STAFF
3. Does the university supports a staff engagement scheme to involve staff in improving the environmental performance of the university? Staff Sustainability | Sustainability | University of Greenwich
POLICY AND STRATEGY
1. Does the university have a public sustainability policy that has been published or reviewed and updated within the last 5 years?
The University’s Sustainability Policy is reviewed and updated every two years and is audited as part of our ISO 104011 (2015) environmental management certification.
TARGETS AND STRATEGY
2. Does the university work to an environmental sustainability strategy, setting SMART targets for reducing environmental impact [across 8 key areas]?
Construction & Refurbishment, Emissions & Discharges, Community involvement, Biodiversity, Waste management, Travel and Transport, Sustainable procurement, Water
This strategy document illustrates examples of area we set KPI’s underpinned by the SMART methodology. The document has links to other strategies and plans illustrating our approach and progress. These cover Biodiversity & natural Spaces, Emissions and Discharges, Waste management, Water, Travel and Transport, Sustainable Procurements and Engagement (Community).
Audited from 31st July
CARBON MANAGEMENT PLAN
1. Does the University have a publicly available carbon management plan which includes.
Located at the footer of this page.
2. CARBON MANAGEMENT AND SCOPE 3 EMISSIONS
2a. Are scope 3 emissions reported to HESA through the EMR?
Ye
This is included in the HESA EMR submission. We also communicate this information here.
2b. Does the institution have a sustainable travel policy that seeks to reduce emissions from staff travel?
The university has a new Green Travel Plan which includes Scope 3 targets.
2c. Does the university calculate total carbon emissions attributed to residential accommodation (both in-house and externally provided accommodation)?
This is located here.
3. Does the carbon management plan include a baseline and reduction targets for scope 3 emissions calculated in the following areas.?
Located at the footer of this page.
A LIVING WAGE UNIVERSITY
1. Is the University accredited by the Living Wage Foundation as a Living Wage employer?
The university is not accredited to the Living Wage Foundation, however all UoG staff and contracted staff are paid at least the real living wage: Update on our new Integrated Facilities Management (IFM) contract | Articles | University of Greenwich
2. Does the university have a policy that ensures outsourced staff receive the same or equivalent pay and benefits as directly employed staff?
The university does not have such a policy, however, we have worked to ensure contractors pay at least the Real Living Wage and where staff are are TUPE’d then pay, TC’s etc are not eroded.
3. Is the institution a Fairtrade University?
Yes
4. Are the university ITC supply chains covered by Electronics Watch Score
Yes
5. Is the university Signed up to the Can’t Buy My Silence universities pledge?
Yes
6. What proportion of all academic staff are on fixed term contracts?
ENVIRONMENTAL AUDITING & MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
ACCREDITATION TO AN EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
1. Does the university have an externally verified environmental management system (EMS), does it cover the whole university estate and what level of accreditation has been achieved.
Yes.
ETHICAL CAREERS AND RECRUITMENT
ETHICAL CAREERS POLICY
1. Does the institution have an active and publicly available ethical careers policy?
No
1b) Specifics within the policy
NA
3a. Is information about the careers service structure and staff accessible and clear? Score 6%
Employability and Careers | University of Greenwich
3b. Specific elements detailed within the careers service structure and staff information page: