Achievements

Higher Education Academcy - Green Academy 

Following from the review of sustainability in the curriculum, and in support of our commitment to embed sustainability principles in the curriculum and support research in relevant areas, the University of Worcester has been selected to pilot an innovative change academy programme.  Worcester was selected, after a competitive bid process amongst UK universities for a Higher Education Academy (HEA) project on Sustainability in education.  Worcester along with Nottingham, Bristol, Canterbury Christchurch, Swansea, Keele, Wales Trinity St.Davids and Southampton were selected for the oversubscribed “Green Academy”.  The project will bring a focus on sustainability literacy across Institutes and disciples.

  • There will be opportunities to introduce novel ideas to enhance student capabilities for a future environment where more and more jobs will come from non-traditional areas.
  • There are already some exemplary practices around the University which will also be highlighted with the institution and nationally.

Once again the University has been awarded 'First class honours' for its ranking at number three in the 2011 People & Planet's Green League.

The league table, published by the Guardian, compares the stranght of the Institution's environmental initiatives and performance, but also the scope and ambition of the University's plans for improvement.

The University of Worcester became England’s first university to be awarded EcoCampus Platinum for the entire organisation in June 2010.

This was in recognition of the University’s commitment to continually improving its environmental performance through a range of initiatives and in a structured way.  The University achieved a Bronze award in early 2008 and later that year secured Silver. In November 2009 the University was the first in England to be awarded Gold. The University was re-awarded platinum accreditation in May 2011 for the entire University, including for the first time City Campus and the second phase of the Garage. 

Worcester Students’ Union was awarded Silver in 2012 Sound Environmental Impact Awards.

The Sound Environmental Impact Awards assess how well Students’ Unions are performing across a range of environmental factors. In 2009 Worcester Students’ Union scooped a Bronze award, and in 2010 went further to score a Silver award, one of only 12 unions nationally to do so. The Union had to meet a number of essential criteria, including energy and water consumption, recycling, and raising awareness of green issues. This achievement has been reinstated in 2012.

The University of Worcester was first awarded Fairtrade Status in 2010 and is now accredited until 2013

The award, from the Fairtrade Foundation, recognises the University’s commitment to supporting sustainable development in the developing world.The University sells a wide variety of Fairtrade products across its cafes, canteen and Students’ Union shop, including tea and coffee, sugar, fruit juices, bars and cookies. All coffees used by catering for hospitality and conferences are also Fairtrade. By buying a product with the Fairtrade mark, it guarantees a price that covers the cost of production, a social premium for producer groups to invest in business or community development, long-term trading relationships and advanced payments.

Gold award at the 2009 Green Apple Awards

A scheme to encourage students at the University of Worcester to recycle their has won a Gold award at the 2009 Green Apple Awards for Environmental Best Practise. The joint initiative between the University and Worcester City Council was launched in 2008 and saw a number of large green and black bins placed around campus, which are emptied by the City Council as part of its recycling scheme. The City Council and the University worked closely together, in designing awareness raising stickers and organised joint visits to all student flats to explain exactly what and how to recycle.