Beth Reichwald Nicola Corrigan

University of Exeter Kingston University

AUA

Learning From Australia – Engaging Staff and Students in Sustainability

“Sustainability implies that the critical activities of higher education institution are (at a minimum)

ecologically sound, socially just and economically viable, and that they will continue to be so for future

generations” Association of University Leaders for a Sustainable Future

“It is also important to recognise that while students clearly learn much from formal courses they are also influenced to a large extent by more informal learning experiences and passively by the surroundings within which they are placed”Filho and Carpenter, Sustainability in the Australasian University Context

“The goal has to be the development of values, attitudes, behaviour and critical thinking skills that will motivate students to demonstrate a personal and life-long interest and responsibility, and an active involvement in sustainability issues and in the environmental decision making process as part of their lives”Filho and Carpenter, Sustainability in the Australasian University Context

Sustainability @ MQ

MQ 15 Actions Towards Sustainability• campus management and operations • teaching and learning • research • human resources and personnel • reporting and accountability • procurement • planning and development • awareness and recognition.

video http://www.mq.edu.au/sustainability/

Sustainability @ MQ

Objective: Incorporate sustainability into induction and professional development

• Induction

• Contractors

• Senior Management Training

• Code of Conduct

• Part of job description – future employee qualities

Human Resources and Personnel

A Monash Green Office

…play your part in greening Monash!

1. Purchases environmentally responsible paper, remanufactured printer cartridges and other preferred products

2. Purchases socially responsible locally-produced, fair trade and organic products

3. Reduces paper usage

4. Reduces energy usage

5. Uses durable crockery, cutlery, cups and bags

6. Recycles just about everything

7. Promotes sustainable transport

8. Promotes environmental responsibility

9. Promotes wellbeing

10. Monitors environmental progress to strive for innovative, best practices solutions to environmental issues

The SUstainable Campus projects

Environmental Strategies Team• Building Green• Greenhouse Planning• Saving Energy• Saving Water• Avoiding Waste• Sustainable Transport• Conserving Biodiversity• Environmental Risk• Student Projects

Engaging Students – Student Projects

Triple Bottom Line: Options for the University of Sydney:

• social, economic and environmental aspects of performance as an Higher Education Institution.

• The work outlined a phased-in approach for its application at the University of Sydney

Advanced Engineering students participated in a final year thesis projects:

• Examine the cost and feasibility of available options to “drought proof" the campus

• Assessment of the environmental features of proposed buildings

Program objectives:1. Enable students to translate their interest in and passion for the environment

into effective, focused environmental change;2. Impart to students an understanding of the environmental change field and

their potential place within it; 3. Create future environmental leaders; 4. Supply skilled environmental change agents to host universities and the job

market; 5. Enhance the employability of participating students in the environmental field,

and to link them to relevant professional networks.

Quality of Outputs• 700 training hours delivered • 280 students trained • 23 separate programs delivered at seven different host universities • 800 days of environmental project work at host universities • 2,324 days of environmental project work at external organisations • Over 20% of student placements have directly generated ongoing work • Over 80% of Green Steps graduates in the job market are working in the environment industry

Workshop

How can case study examples be transferred to the UK?

What would the barriers to implementation be?

How could these be overcome to successfully implement examples?

Does engaging staff and students in the debate matter?

Further Information…

Sustainability at Macquarie University:www.mq.edu.au/sustainabilityEmail sustainability@mq.edu.au Phone +61 2 9850 4221 Sustainability at the University of Sydney

www.facilities.usyd.edu.au/projects/environ/about.shtmlEmail: sustainable@usyd.edu.au Phone: +612 903 65441 Sustainabilty at Monash

http://www.monash.edu.au/green ANUGreen

http://www.anu.edu.au/anugreen