Sustainable development: the role of higher education and HEFCE CHES Annual Conference 6 July 2009 Joanna Simpson Senior Higher Education Policy Adviser

Sustainable development: our vision 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. Sustainable development in higher education (HEFCE 2009/03)

Sustainable development in higher education – July 2005 Strategic review – Great deal has been done – diversity of approaches – Momentum for change needs to continue and increase – Confirmed that our non-prescriptive approach is the right one Revised SD strategy and action plan The journey so far…

What we can achieve through partnerships Catalyst and facilitator Support roles Engaging with stakeholders to bring about policy synergies Building the capacity of people Sharing and supporting the development of good practice Rewarding more sustainable behaviour

Challenges Fulfilling higher education’s role What is HEFCE’s role? Perception that society isn’t moving fast enough, so what can HE do? – Show leadership – What can we as a sector do to effectively harness and increase the drivers?

Lead internationally Vital role in helping meet Government’s 2050 climate change target Publicise performance Justify and protect investment? Opportunities for the sector

provides funding for all HEIs in England to support a broad range of knowledge exchange activities resulting in economic and social benefit to the UK not only with private sector – also public sector and charities, community groups etc innovation is the (only!) way to achieve an efficient, sustainable and low-carbon economy Higher Education Innovation Fund

£3.5 million Carbon Connections Development Fund supports organisations with innovative projects 27 funded projects key criteria – carbon reductions – innovation – knowledge transfer – sustainability Carbon Connections at UEA

Centres for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) – C-SCAIPE - Kingston University – Centre for Sustainable Futures - University of Plymouth Higher Education Academy Facilitate collaborative working and promotion of good practice Senior management commitment HEFCE’s role in ESD

University of Bradford aims to promote and embed learning about ESD to all students regardless of discipline 3 curricula model for ESD – Formal curricula – Informal curricula – Physical curricula Ecoversity: learning and skills

2008 grant letter All institutions should have plans to reduce carbon emissions Plans to reduce carbon emissions will be a factor in future capital allocations Key Performance Target To develop during in consultation with stakeholders a realistic strategy and target for carbon reductions which are sufficient to ensure satisfactory progress towards the government targets of reducing carbon emissions by 80 per cent against 1990 levels by 2050 and at least 34 per cent by Carbon reductions

Carbon reduction strategy and target Key deliverables – a 1990 baseline established using scientifically based methods – recommend appropriate carbon reduction target/s for the sector – How to measure progress – strategy for achieving this target – guidance for institutions in developing carbon plans. Consultation – Summer 2009

Revolving Green Fund Partnership between HEFCE and Salix Finance £30 million over 3 years Recoverable grants to undertake projects which reduce greenhouse gas emissions Proven technologies and innovative projects 44 institutions have already received a share of £25 million

Building good practice

Corporate Responsibility benchmarking and reporting programme specifically for the HE sector Based on the Business in the Community Corporate Responsibility Index Encourage the sharing of best practice and celebrate performance improvement throughout the sector University of Gloucestershire along with the EAUC and BiTC Universities that Count

Corporate Social Responsibility Policy – ISO14001 – Carbon Trust Standard Annual CSR report Key objectives – Business ethics – Managing our environmental impacts – Procurement – People – In the community – Working with the sector HEFCE’s own operations

Further information Joanna Simpson