University of the West of England, Bristol
News
April 10, 2015
In 2015, UWE Bristol & Students’ Union came together to join the Responsible Futures programme, striving to embed sustainability into the student learning experience. The partnerships’ initial Responsible Futures audit took place in 2016/2017 where they achieved the Responsible Futures accreditation. The partnerships dedication and hard work have led to re-accreditation in successive periods of 2019/2020, 2021/2022 and most recently for 2023/2024.
Host Partnership
The partnership has taken on the role of host partnership in 2019/2020 and in 2022/2023. The partnership has delivered host partnership webinars on topics such as:
- Senior Leadership for Responsible Futures
- Preparing, participating and reflecting on the audit accreditation
Highlights of work
- RF accreditation 2016 news
- UWE Bristol and The Students’ Union at UWE win award for embedding sustainability
- Case study: Climate Conversations and Cake (3cs)
Host Partnership blogs:
Self-defined criteria 2016
- Principles of Responsible Management Education (PRME)
Self-defined criteria 2021
- Whole-institution approach to tackling homelessness in Bristol and progressing SRS
Self-defined criteria 2023
- Working with the Global Goals Centre
Key Contacts
The main contact for the partnership is Georgina Gough and the SU lead contact is Rachel Colley. The partnership is steered by the Responsible Futures focus group, a dedicated team committed to driving sustainable initiatives. If you'd like to learn more about the work at the University of the West of England Bristol, please get in touch and we'd be happy to provide further information or make introductions.
"We are thrilled to be awarded the Responsible Futures accreditation for the fourth academic year in a row. It is paramount to the dedication and passion that the partnership has to embedding sustainability into the student experience. As VP Community and Welfare at The Students’ Union and the president lead on sustainability, it is an honour to be part of this work.” Fayaz Kareem, Vice President Community and Welfare at The Students’ Union 2023-24.
“The Students’ Union at UWE is our key partner in delivering on our commitment to provide all students with education and practical opportunities to engage with sustainability. The effectiveness of the close working relationship is evidenced by our partnership being awarded the highest ever score in the NUS Responsible Futures Accreditation and multiple Green Gown Awards, in2023 winning the prized Sustainability Institution of the Year award as well as being awarded Highly Commended in our joint SU/UWE Circular Economy in Action submission under the Creating Impact category. The Students’ Union President, Vice President and Sustainability Officer sit on the university’s Sustainability Executive Board (USEC) helping to direct, shape and report on the university’s sustainability journey and in particular delivery of the ambitions set out in our 2030 Transforming Futures Climate Action& Sustainability Strategy. I meet with student representatives and SU colleagues on a regular basis to discuss operational progress on issues arising at USEC and from SU engagement activities, and to ensure that the student voice has direct access to the University's leadership team. The SU president is a formal member of the University's Board of Governors. The Green Team in The Students’ Union goes from strength to strength and via the SU Student Ideas initiative numerous sustainability related initiatives have been raised for deliberation and decision by the university's senior leadership. We will continue to work in partnership to ensure that the aim of all UWE students being able to engage with the ideas of sustainability in their PG or UG degree continues to be realised for the benefit of our future graduates who will be better prepared for the sustainability challenges they will confront in their professional and private lives.” - Paul Roberts, Head of Sustainability at UWE Bristol
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