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An audience with HEFCE

HEFCE's vision for a sustainable higher education sector in the UK, focusing on action plans, stakeholder engagement, and carbon reduction initiatives. Learn about key findings and funded projects.

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An audience with HEFCE

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  1. An audience with HEFCE Joanna Simpson Policy Adviser EAUC conference 1 April 2008

  2. 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, and through its own strategies and operations. Sustainable development in higher education (HEFCE 2005/28)

  3. Our strategy in 2008 Developing our next action plan • SD steering group • Working with stakeholders • Challenges and opportunities • Public consultation in summer

  4. Proposed objectives • Continue to raise the profile of sustainable development, with the aim that it should become a mainstream part of university and college activities. • Seek ‘win-win’ opportunities for the sector to engage in this agenda by helping to identify sector-wide business cases and benefits for individual institutions. • Promote sustainable development by integrating it in our policy-making processes and being open about the often hard choices made.

  5. Proposed objectives • Demonstrate to stakeholders that HEFCE and higher education institutions are making genuine efforts to promote sustainable development and to develop good practice and tools. • Support sector-led capacity building to pursue this agenda across all of an HEI’s functions. This will be based on existing frameworks and activity and through supporting innovative and novel projects. • Facilitate a carbon reduction culture to significantly reduce carbon emissions across the sector.

  6. Grant letter From Secretary of State, John Denham • 2050 climate change target • Plans to reduce carbon emissions – factor in future capital allocations • Revolving Green Fund

  7. Revolving Green Fund • Partnership between HEFCE and Salix • £30-40 million over 3 years • Repayable grants to undertake projects which reduce greenhouse gas emissions • Proven technologies and innovative projects • Public consultation – deadline 21 April 2008

  8. Strategic review • Great deal has been done – diversity of approaches • Momentum for change needs to continue and increase • Baseline of SD activity • Raise further the SD debate = greater understanding and engagement • Available on the HEFECE website

  9. Strategic review – key findings • approximately two-thirds of institutions are engaged in sustainable development related research • although some institutions are fully committed to sustainability, the level of involvement is uneven • the place of sustainable development in the curriculum is varied and not yet well connected with the skills agenda • environmental performance across the estate is varied and improving performance is an investment challenge, given the age and condition of many university buildings.

  10. Building good practice SD resource guide: www.hefce.ac.uk/susdevresources Leadership, Governance and Management Fund • GreenBuild – University of Bradford & HEEPI • Legacy of the 1960s Estate – University of Bath • EcoCampus – Nottingham Trent University • Reuse in hall – London School of Economics Strategic Development Fund • Sustainable Energy Centre – London South Bank University • Ecoversity StuDent – University of Bradford

  11. HEFCE’s own operations • Corporate Social Responsibility Policy • ISO14001 • Annual CSR report and Environmental Performance Indicators • Main environmental impacts • Business travel and commuting • Energy and water use • Waste management • Procurement

  12. Discussion My questions • What do you think should be the priorities of our next action plan? • Do you have any comments on our proposed revolving green fund? • Do you feel that there are specific areas where we should facilitate the building and dissemination of good practice

  13. Further information http://www.hefce.ac.uk/lgm/sustain/ Joanna Simpson j.simpson@hefce.ac.uk 0117 9317411

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