Two Important Updates from HEFCE

Post consultation update from HEFCE on the proposed Revolving Green Fund

[HEFCE writes] We sought the sector's views on the implementation of a revolving green fund earlier this year. The fund which will provide HEIs with recoverable grants to undertake projects that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We have received comments on the proposed application process, project eligibility criteria, assessment criteria and accountability arrangements.

It is intended that there will be two strands to the fund: the institutional small projects fund and the transformational change fund. The institutional small projects fund is to provide HEIs with funds for projects with a relatively short payback period.

A key principle is that financial savings from funded projects are repaid into the ring-fenced fund held by the institution for re-investment in further projects. Once the original project investment is repaid to the fund the institution is free to keep continuing savings to spend on its own priorities. The institution does not have to repay the money loaned by Salix while it continues to invest the money in eligible projects.

It is envisaged that applications to transformational change fund are to be in the region of £1 - 4 million per institution and should aim to tackle larger projects which will transform their approach to managing their energy consumption and reducing emissions.

We plan to invite applications to both strands in June and announce successful projects in October 2008. There will be a second opportunity to apply in spring 2009. The fund will be managed on our behalf by Salix, which has experience of managing this type of fund.

The Revolving Green Fund consultation, published in January, is available on our website at https://www.hefce.ac.uk/pubs/hefce/2008/08_03/

Consultation on the Sustainable Development Action Plan

HEFCE will be publishing a consultation on an updated strategic statement and action plan on sustainable development in the higher education sector on 10 June 2008. It will be available at www.hefce.ac.uk under Consultations.

The consultation will include the following 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 into our policy-making through our approach to sector impact assessment and being open about the reasons for policy choices.

* 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.

Three events will be held as part of the consultation process. These will provide a forum to discuss HEFCE's forthcoming sustainable development action plan. It will also be an opportunity to share experiences of sustainable development and discuss the roles and opportunities open to universities.

The events are to be held in July in London and Manchester; further details are at https://www.hefce.ac.uk/news/events/2008/sustain/