Categories

Carbon Reduction

This category recognises initiatives which have achieved significant reductions in the carbon footprint of a university or college. Although carbon reductions in all areas will be taken into account, the category’s ‘centre of gravity’ is with energy efficiency, and applications will be expected to show good progress in this area. (NB a stand alone energy efficiency innovation producing significant carbon benefits could therefore be eligible for this category). There is no presumption that institutions will have participated in the Carbon Trust’s Carbon Management programme, although activities connected with this are certainly eligible. Applications are only likely to be successful if they provide considerable quantitative evidence on the nature of the improvements made, and demonstrate a causal relationship between activities undertaken and improvements achieved. Applications must also demonstrate real improvement, rather than precursor activities such as foot printing or setting of targets. Please note, if your project is a long standing initiative, for longer than 5 years, it may be more appropriate under the continuous improvement category.

This category is sponsored by HEFCE, The Carbon Trust and Salix Finance

Colleges

This category recognises the difficulties which FE and smaller HE institutions have, relative to larger universities, in taking action in many areas. It encompasses any environment-related initiatives which contribute to sustainable development. It is open to all institutions funded by the Learning and Skills Council and/or affiliated with Guild HE. (Note – other categories are also open to FE and HE Colleges and may be a better choice for specific initiatives, such as a green building).

This category is sponsored by the LSC

Continuous Improvement Whole Institution

This category recognises sustained and successful activities to improve the performance of whole further and higher education institutions, campuses, faculties and buildings over a number of years. Project are only likely to be successful if they provide considerable quantitative evidence on the nature of the improvements made, and also demonstrate a causal relationship between activities undertaken and improvements achieved. Initiatives must have been running for at least five years.

Continuous Improvement Specific Area

This encompasses initiatives which have been sustained over a period of years, supported by long-term investment and/or which span a number of areas. One intention is to provide recognition for ‘coalface’ initiatives which may not be high profile, nor deliver great benefits in a single year, but which keep on creating benefits. Projects are only likely to be successful if they provide considerable quantitative evidence on the nature of the improvements made, and also demonstrate a causal relationship between activities undertaken and improvements achieved. Initiatives must have been running for at least five years.

Courses

This category recognises innovative actions with regard to sustainability in undergraduate, postgraduate and vocational courses in FE and HE institutions. Examples of possible application topics include the development of new courses focused on some or all sustainable development issues; adaptation of existing courses; use of practical sustainability-related projects or other practical activities within courses; and work-based learning initiatives.

This category is supported by the Higher Education Academy (HEA)

Green ICT

This category recognises the growing environmental importance of ICT within the sector, and more generally. It encompasses actions within universities and colleges to minimize the energy consumption, carbon emissions, waste generation and other environmental impacts associated with ICT use. The development of hardware and/or software which creates environmental benefits is also included where universities and colleges have played a key role in its development.

This category is sponsored by JISC

Research

This category recognises research activity within universities and colleges which has had tangible effects on practice with regard to mitigation of environmental impacts and/or other areas which fall within the domain of social responsibility (e.g. community development; achieving social inclusion; assisting very disadvantaged people). The effects of the research can be in any country, but the main research itself must have been carried out in, or organized from, the UK. As this is a new category covering a wide range of activities, it will not be easy to judge. Hence, in the first year, the Awards will have a bias towards relatively targeted research where there is a clear cause and effect relationship between the research and outcomes, and where the latter can be clearly demonstrated, preferably by quantified evidence.

Residences

This category recognises initiatives to create environmental and social benefits in any residences (including those owned by private providers) which mainly house FE or HE students. The initiatives must be mainly focused on residences, but can be on a wide range of topics, including green design and refurbishment, energy and water efficiency, recycling, community involvement, improving relations with local neighborhoods, and innovative fund raising for sustainable development. (Note – applications focusing on a new or refurbished residence may stand a better chance of success in this category than in sustainable construction).

This category is sponsored by CUBO

Social Responsibility

This category recognises initiatives by FE or HE institutions which create significant benefits for local communities, disadvantaged groups, and society as a whole in either the UK or developing countries. As well as specific initiatives, this category includes institutions taking a leading and visionary role in multi-partner activities such as community development or urban regeneration. Although all applications will be considered on their merits, the judges will be looking for ‘corporate social responsibility’ type initiatives which have an element of proactive community and social concern, rather than ‘business as usual’ activities which create immediate financial benefit for the institution such as putting on new courses for particular groups. (Note – activities which have a substantial student element should be submitted to the Residences or Student Initiatives category).

This category is supported by Universities That Count (UTC)

Student Initiatives

This category recognises initiatives which have been developed and/or substantially influenced by students. Examples include awareness campaigns, procurement actions, and volunteering activities organised by unions, societies and similar organisations within FE and HE institutions, the general sustainability activities of students’ unions, and specific initiatives or campaigns by national student bodies. Activities aimed at changing student awareness and behaviour by universities and colleges themselves are also eligible, provided that there is evidence of substantial student involvement.

This category is supported by NUS Services

Sustainable Construction

This category recognises new or refurbished buildings or campuses in further or higher education which have good energy and environmental performance. As such buildings sometimes fail to perform to their design specifications, evidence of actual performance in practice, and ideally of a post occupancy evaluation to identify problems and means of improving them, will be given special weight in judging. Applications featuring refurbished buildings are especially welcomed, and the difficulties of achieving similar levels of performance to new build will be taken into account in the judging process.