UTC Year 2

Universities That Count Annual Report – Sector Performance 8% up on last year

 

Universities that Count (UTC) is the sector’s own, quality assured Environmental and Social Responsibility (ESR) benchmarking programme designed specifically for universities and has just completed a successful second year, with increased participation in the Environmental and Social Responsibility (ESR) Index and improved sector average scores in both the ESR Index and the more focussed Environment Index. The Higher Education (HE) sector overall has improved its performance significantly over last year’s sector average of 67% to this years sector average of 75% and is much closer to the business average of 86% indicating excellent progress for Higher Education in just two years. The Environment Index saw an increase on last years average from 62% to 70%.

The Universities that Count Index has proved it can be a powerful tool for change for many institutions, indeed it is our intention that it should help to create a step-change in the way universities respond to environmental and social issues. We are delighted to see institutions gaining value from their participation and would like to take this opportunity to join them in celebrating areas of strength as we announce the first year of public disclosure for the programme.

In the Annual Report you will see that UTC has, for the first time, published its results in line with the social responsibility movement’s principle of transparency to the public. The Results Tables list participants in bands – Gold, Silver, Bronze and Participant – and award credits for Excellent (75%+) and Outstanding (90%+) scores in specific sections of the Indices. We are delighted that most universities gained these credits. In June 2010 the Times Higher Education commented that “Sustainability is about more than carbon emissions and waste. Universities are hothouses of scholarship and teaching, and as such have a critical role in inculcating sustainability in young people. This year, for the first time, Times Higher Education [published] data from the Universities that Count (UTC) benchmarking scheme to highlight best practice in sustainable teaching and learning.” In their article they named the “top five performers in sustainable curricula [and used] these examples [to] show universities striving to achieve sustainability and making innovations.”

This years report has been produced in a segmented format below to ensure that you can select the most relevant part for you:

a. Summary Report
b. Concise Review: for those that would like to learn more about the Universities that Counts programme and an overview of year two performance
c. Detailed Review: for those that participated in year two of the Universities that Count programme and would like a more in depth look into the results
d. Full Annual Report: combination of (b) & (c) above

Universities that Count engages with various HE sector organisations such as the Association of University Procurement Officers, Universities HR, the National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement, the Association of Heads of University Administrators, the Association of University Directors of Estates as well as all four UK funding councils and has proved it can be a powerful tool for change for many institutions. Indeed it is our intention that it should help to create a step-change in the way universities respond to environmental and social issues. We are delighted to see institutions gaining value from their participation and would like to take this opportunity to join them in celebrating areas of strength as we announce the first year of public disclosure for the programme. Next year we hope every university in the UK will stand up and be counted and will soon be calling for entries to the Year Three scheme.