Climate Emergency. Preamble: Motion: Motion: Preamble:
Climate Emergency. 23 1. INTRODUCTION This is the University of Aberdeen’s Outcome Agreement with the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) for 2021-22. It sets out the University’s commitments to delivering outcomes prioritised by the Scottish Government via the SFC, relating to Students, Research, and to Economic Recovery and Social Renewal. As with the Outcome and Impact Framework published in early 2021 in response to Covid-19, this document is written at a time when the University, as with the sector at large, continues to work under constraints resulting from the pandemic, while in parallel, working to mitigate the adverse effects of Brexit on the sector. The University has also been working to begin delivery of its landmark strategic vision, Aberdeen 2040, published in March 2020 just prior to the first major lockdown. Aberdeen 2040 provides a framework to the University for its longer-term contributions to recovery from the pandemic and to society more broadly, and sets out a road map for institutional priorities over the coming years. This document outlines in detail a range of measures the University has and will take to mitigate the ongoing impacts of Covid-19 over the short to medium-term, while in turn positively impacting the wider recovery. Under the priority Outcomes referenced above, this Agreement addresses a number of key areas, setting out the different activities, initiatives and actions it will continue to take forward over the coming years. These areas are as follows: • Outcomes for Students • Fair Access and Transitions • High Quality Learning, Teaching and Support • Partnership, Participation and Student Experience • Learning with Impact • Public Health Emergency • Equalities and Inclusion • Research Sustainability • Outcomes for Economic Recovery and Social Renewal • Responsive Institutions • Confident and Highly Capable – Work Ready Graduates • Knowledge Exchange and Innovation • Collaboration • Climate Emergency It should be noted at the outset that while this document focuses primarily on the Scottish context, the strategies, actions, standards and services taken forward and provided by the University to staff and students both during the pandemic and on an ongoing, permanent basis, are also applied to staff and students studying as part of the University’s provision in Qatar, where applicable. The refined Table of Measures provided by the SFC at the start of the exercise is attached as Appendix
1. This provides up-to-date data against each measure inc...
Climate Emergency. The college continues to make progress in this area. With capital funding from SFC, we introduced LED lighting and insulation in teaching areas and student communal areas. We also introduced instant hot water heaters in the kitchen and student toilets in the main building and in student communal areas. Roof and window repairs throughout the main building have also reduced energy costs.
Climate Emergency. The UWS Strategy commits us to tackling the UN Sustainable Development Goals as well as becoming a leading University in climate change and resilience through research and enterprise activity. The vision for UWS is to be among the global leaders of excellent, relevant and purposeful research aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. UWS has committed to placing the SDGs at the heart of Strategy 2025. The UWS Vice- Chancellor and Vice-Principal Research Innovation and Engagement have both signed the UN Sustainable Development Goals Accord in 2021, demonstrating the University’s commitment to sustainability and building on existing research and education strengths. In academic year 2020 – 21, the University saw a 19% year on year reduction in carbon emissions and 70% drop from the 12/13 baseline year. Chemical free cleaning has been introduced across campuses and through the University’s partnership with Coffee Conscience 349 trees have been planted. UWS was runner up in the Guardian University Awards Sustainability category and ranked within the top 200 universities in the Times Higher Education Impact rankings. The University’s Shaping Communities and Society thematic plan and steering group will focus on and monitor the implementation of initiatives and projects planned to reach UWS commitment to reach net zero in operations by 2040. UWS has had a number of notable Knowledge Exchange and Innovation (KEI) successes in AY21/22 and plans to maintain this trajectory of growth. However, the plan is reflective of the current external environment. During Covid-19 and in the post pandemic world it is important to strike the right balance to maintain focus on our key strengths. This plan supports the continuation of a range of income generation and support activities which have demonstrably delivered successes including: • Sector-leading KTP programme and growth of the UWS KTP centre • UWS CPD Centre: which has increased International and UK-based income from CPD, with the Upskilling and National Transition Training Funds acting as catalysts for growth • The Carbon Champions Community Renewal Fund project awarded by the UK Government to UWS via South Ayrshire Council. Carbon Champions Project (xxx.xx.xx) • Expansion of UWS’ Student Innovation Hub Student Enterprise | StudentInnovationHub (x0xxx.xx.xx) to include more students and more programmes than ever. This plan is supported by the University Innovation Fund (UIF) but will be more than matched by othe...
Climate Emergency. “Institutions take urgent action to help reduce or halt climate change, avoid irreversible damage, and support environmental sustainability measures.”
5.5.1. Universities demonstrate innovative approaches in their response to the climate emergency, showing transformative leadership and the empowerment of the sector communities, building capacity in institutional structures across the sectors, developing a placed-based approach to the climate emergency.
5.5.2. Universities outline how they are engaging with the Sustainable Development Goals. Measure 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23
Climate Emergency. Institutions take urgent actions to help reduce or halt climate change, avoid irreversible damage, and support environmental sustainability measures.
Climate Emergency. Xxxxxxxx and Xxxxxxxx College continues to be a leading voice in green skills development to help tackle climate change and are dedicated to making our ideas a reality that will benefit students, staff and the wider region. Our Green Skills Academy offers a range of courses focused on sustainability and green technology to allow people to upskill or retrain for employment in a net zero future. Green Skills Academy Our Green Energy Hub continues to promote sustainable economic growth, increased air quality and other aspects of environmental forward planning within the region. The technology provided by the hub will allow access to a significant range of practical solutions to the challenges of heating, power, and water supply.
Climate Emergency. The Statement of Ambition 2030, which sets out the College’s long-term ambitions and aspirations as the country recovers from the pandemic, was launched in August 2021. The overall Statement for 2030 has three underpinning ambitions: In addition to the Statement of Ambition, a Refresh and Renew Plan 2021-24 has been developed which identifies key strategic objectives for the next 3 years that will support economic and social recovery and contribute to achieving the three Ambitions. Embed a culture of open leadership and empowerment where staff and students feel valued, their voices are heard, and they are involved in decisions which affect them. Provide an inspirational college experience which supports and enables students to overcome the disruption to learning caused by the pandemic and to successfully progress on their learning journey. Embed diversity and inclusion in all decisions, and support staff and students by providing accessible opportunities to learn, work and develop. Focus on being a high-performing College underpinned by excellence in stewardship, effective risk management and the highest standards of corporate governance. Respond to the climate change emergency by being environmentally responsible, embedding sustainability in our learning and teaching and business operations. Work with partners, including businesses, to co-create a portfolio of learning and skills that is relevant, dynamic, flexible, and responsive to employer and industry needs, to current and future skills requirements and contributes to social and economic recovery. Develop and support staff and students to work and learn in new and innovative ways to enable excellence in all aspects of learning and teaching and service delivery.
Climate Emergency. The Council has a clear strategy for addressing the Climate Emergency and we would expect the funder to support the Council’s Climate Change principles. The focus on Sport, Play and Youth provision through this allocated funding will concentrate on localised opportunities that we would encourage access to through sustainable modes of transport. Both parties will operate within the Council’s Health & Safety Policy and processes. Any accident/incident will be reported to the Council’s SLA lead and appropriate on-line accident forms completed. If providing food, the council will demonstrate clear understanding of and demonstrate certificates in Food Hygiene, Allergen Awareness (based on the latest allergens & labelling law) and risk assessment for the preparation and serving of food. All of the above will be delivered by the council, on behalf of the funder, across all associated provision.
Climate Emergency. 3.1. The University of St Xxxxxxx places environmental sustainability and responding to the climate emergency at the heart of all we do. Our leadership team has committed to developing ‘Sustainability’ as a theme in the forthcoming University Strategy 2022-27 and to becoming Net Zero by 2035.
3.2. Our approach to the climate emergency goes beyond reducing carbon. We are aiming to be ‘Sustainability Positive’ which includes enhancing biodiversity and using our education and research to change the world around us.
3.3. In November 2021, St Xxxxxxx was crowned ‘Sustainability Institution of the Year’ in the EUAC UK and Ireland Green Gown Awards9, which recognise exceptional sustainability initiatives undertaken by universities and colleges. In addition, our ’The Third Generation Project‘ won the award for Student Engagement10.
3.4. We are developing our Eden Campus as a hub for low carbon technologies. We have a Simulation Facility which enables us to model and visualise environmental challenges and their solutions. Through our Industry Club, we engage other businesses and organisations at the Campus.
3.5. A carbon neutral Eden Campus is a significant milestone for the University. The installation of a solar EV facility has been completed – all the electricity consumed in our new professional services building (Xxxxxx Xxxxx House) is generated on the Eden Campus. The combined energy supplies from this new facility and the existing biomass heating network will give us 67% of our needs at Eden Campus by Christmas 2021. The University is investigating funding opportunities to invest in innovative battery technology that would take this self-sustainability for energy above 90%.
3.6. Our innovative solution to building capacity in carbon sequestration will be through a sector- leading nature-based St Xxxxxxx Forest11. In addition to trees, we are looking at other nature- based options such as peatland restoration.
3.7. At the start of academic year 2021-22 we launched StACEES12 - the St Xxxxxxx Network for Climate, Energy, Environment and Sustainability - to build an institutional structure for ambitious, 8 xxxxx://xxx.xx-xxxxxxx.xx.uk/education/vip/ 9 xxxxx://xxx.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xx.xx/green_gown_awards_2021_sustainability_instituti4 10 xxxxx://xxx.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xx.xx/green_gown_awards_2021_student_engagement_unive3 11 xxxxx://xxxx.xx-xxxxxxx.xx.uk/archive/st-xxxxxxx-forest-plants-new-energy-future/ 12 xxxxx://xxxxxxx.xx.xx/ lasting research that p...
