SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT POLICY

Transcription

1 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT POLICY

2 Sustainable Development Policy* The University of Brighton s commitment to Sustainable Development is clearly stated in its Corporate Plan: we recognise that we have much to learn and much to do differently during the period covered by the plan. This is especially true in accepting the challenge of incorporating sustainable development in all that we do, including in the way our staff and students work and learn. This commitment is not restricted to the management of its estates, but extended to each of the six Aims in the Corporate Plan, with specific commitments in every one. This policy has been developed through widespread consultation open to all staff and students, over the period of one year. *incorporating the elements for an Environmental Policy in Section 5 University Sustainable Development Policy 1

3 1. Curriculum To ensure that the curriculum takes full account of the challenges of sustainable development and globalisation. To adapt the curriculum so as to increase the preparedness of Brighton graduates to operate in a complex global context, with an understanding of sustainable development. 1.1 By 2012 the university will have integrated sustainable development and global learning perspectives into new courses where appropriate as they are developed, and into present curricula as courses are reviewed. 75%** of courses going through a formal Review or Course Development process will have produced documentation to show sustainable development issues were considered. 1.2 The university will continue to coordinate a variety of teaching-related sustainable development efforts across the university to ensure fullest involvement and ownership in practice by students and staff in university, community and workplace activity. 1.3 By 2012 all academic staff will be able to request qualified assistance to introduce SD concepts to their students in a one-off, induction-type session. 1.4 By 2012 the number of students having the option for community engagement or formalised volunteering to count towards their formal degree course will increase by 20% **. Comments on the Corporate Plan Objectives for this Aim: The objective of adapting the curriculum is a wide-reaching one, which involves first the raising of awareness of the teaching staff about SD and its concepts, and then the learning journeys of these staff during investigation and uptake of the concepts or not into their student interactions both in content and in delivery. The very principles of SD and academic freedom imply that these processes should not be entirely top-down or predefined, which in turn implies that this objective requires a diversity of actions. 2. Research To develop the University s ethical framework and work in areas that support sustainable development, drawing on a range of disciplines and approaches. To build its ethical framework and sustainable development into research activities in both the content of research and how it is conducted. 2.1 To continue to work towards fully establishing its ethical framework for research and embedding considerations of sustainable development in it. 2.2 To continue to work to develop research monitoring processes which raise awareness of sustainable development content and processes, e.g. by including in research reports or bids an identification of sustainable development content, areas of impact (financial, social, University Sustainable Development Policy 2

4 environmental) and processes (integrated thinking, taking into account different points of view, participation). 3. Economic and Social Engagement To integrate the imperatives of sustainable development in this area of work, becoming a centre of excellence in sustainable development as a significant focus for economic and social engagement activities. The university will also need to ensure a fair system of incentive, recognition and reward for staff excellence in economic and social engagement. 3.1 By 2012 the number of students signed up for university-community engagement projects (including volunteering) will increase by 10%**. 3.2 To continue to work to develop monitoring processes which raise awareness of sustainable development content and processes, e.g. by including in ESE reports or bids an identification of sustainable development content, areas of impact (financial, social, environmental) and processes (integrated thinking, taking into account different points of view, participation). 4. Student and Staff Experience To give students an experience of higher education that is increasingly informed by a critical understanding of global issues and sustainable development 4.1 By 2012 the number of staff and students involved in grass roots fora designed for localised action will increase by 20%**. 4.2 By 2012 all (100%) of staff attending formal group staff induction sessions will have had a specific opportunity to learn about and discuss sustainable development concepts. 4.3 By 2012 all (100%) of new staff (academic and non-academic) will receive basic written information about sustainable development at the university. 4.4 By 2012 a system will be in place to effectively communicate information about sustainable attributes of the physical environment to staff and students. 4.5 By 2012 a system will be in place to effectively communicate information about sustainable transport choices to staff and students. 4.6 In both 2011 and 2012, to have carried out at least one awareness-raising campaign for staff and students on a topic within sustainable development. University Sustainable Development Policy 3

5 5. Physical Environment To apply the principles of sustainable development across the management of the university s estate, with continued reductions in both centrally and individually-controlled energy consumption, at a time of increasing rates of activity. 5.1 By 2011 an action plan to reduce the university s carbon footprint (Scope 1 & 2 emissions) by 50%** by 2015 will be finalised and begin to be implemented. Within this, reductions of environmental impacts of transport, direct energy use and construction and refurbishment activities will be planned for. 5.2 By 2011 the university will achieve the Bronze standard in the Eco-Campus environmental management system (or the equivalent). 5.3 By 2012 the university will achieve the Silver standard in the Eco-Campus environmental management system (or the equivalent). 5.4 By 2012 the university will decrease its water consumption by 2%**. 5.5 By 2012 the university will decrease its general waste production in absolute tonnages by 2%**. 5.6 By 2012 the university will achieve recycling rates of at least 30% from general waste. 5.7 By 2012 the university will reduce the carbon footprint of its own fleet by 2%**. 5.8 By 2012 a system for reporting the monitoring of the Biodiversity Action Plan will be formalised. 5.9 From 2011 onwards all new build projects will endeavour to achieve BREEAM excellent rating or better. Evidence of consideration of sustainable development options will be formally reported From 2011 all new major works in construction and refurbishment will include a requirement in the tender that the contractor set out options to reduce environmental impact of the work 5.11 By 2011 the university will have in place a system to monitor its main purchases of chemicals (e.g. from cleaning fluids and laboratories) By 2012 the university will have an Action Plan to reduce the environmental impact of its chemical discharges. University Sustainable Development Policy 4

6 6. Governance, Management ent and Relationships To articulate and address the obligations of sustainable development in how the university conducts its business. 6.1 By 2012 the university will have open grass-roots fora accessible for all staff and students operating termly on each site. 6.2 By 2012 a review of any need for improved staff and student engagement processes or coordination will have been carried out. 6.3 By 2012 the university will have developed a Sustainable Procurement Policy and established a reporting system to monitor it. 6.4 By 2012 a pre-tender risk appraisal process will be implemented including environmental impacts, for all large or strategic contracts. 6.5 By 2012 a baseline of the environmental impact of our Procurement will be estimated. 6.6 By 2011 a reporting system for the application of the Ethical Investment Policy will have been decided. 6.7 By 2012 a clear line of responsibility for preparing and communicating information about sustainable development, both internally and externally, will be set out. University Sustainable Development Policy 5