The Sustainability department works to increase the awareness of sustainability and social responsibility with students, staff and members of our communities and contributes to sustainable development in all areas of the University.
Sustainability department
The Sustainability department acts as a focal point for all aspects of sustainability within the University and works to develop local, regional, national and international networks to further the sustainability agenda.
The Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive is a member of the university executive and sponsor for sustainability. The University established a Sustainable Development Committee in 2005, which includes student representation, chaired by the Pro Vice Chancellor Research and advises the University Executive Board on all sustainability matters, relating to the campus, community, research and curriculum. The Academic Lead for Sustainability is Dr Heather Barrett. Students are key to our sustainability work, and the joint SU and University Student Sustainability Hub attests to this.
The Director of Sustainability acts as a focal point for all aspects of sustainability within the University and is also:
- Sustainability West Midlands Green Leader
- Chair of EAUC Midlands region
- EAUC inaugural Fellow
- On several regional and national committees in the sustainability field and a Trustee of Change Agents UK.
Sustainability staff
Carbon Reduction and Sustainability Manager
Post vacant, out for recruitment
Full time
Chair of the Energy Committee and member of the University Executive
Rob Bonham
Pro Vice Chancellor, Finance and Resources
Chair of the Travel and Transport Steering Group
Dr Daniel Farrelly
Principal Lecturer in Psychology
Professor of Rural Studies and member of the Biodiversity Steering Group
Professor Nick Evans
01905 855187
n.evans@worc.ac.uk
Chair of the Procurement Steering Group
Kathy Preece
Head of Procurement
Full time
01905 855114
k.preece@worc.ac.uk
EcoHousing Co-ordinator – Project on hold
Please contact Penny Kitchener if you are interested in this role
p.kitchener@worc.ac.uk
Part-time students
A range of roles as Sustainability Mentors, totalling around over 60 posts, including:
Green Impact Project Assistants
Digital Creative Assistants
Learning for Responsible Futures Research Assistants
Carbon Literacy Training Assistants
Wellbeing Walk Leaders
Sustainability roles
Many colleagues play key roles in supporting sustainability and all must enhance environmental sustainability within their job roles. All new staff have a mandatory induction into sustainability, which includes, for example, learning about our 10 Golden Rules for living sustainably. There is a Sway presentation in addition which is promoted to all staff and students. Residential students get a mandatory induction in sustainability, including details of projects and programmes of support. All members of the University community can be involved in further embedding sustainability by joining the Sustainability Forum. A video from the Vice Chancellor, Professor David Green, encourages participation. We have 3 ISO 14001 trained auditors and have begun an ambitious training program, and offer accredited Carbon Literacy Training for all staff and students, co-delivered by our students. See the staff development pages for the timetable for when the sessions run, both in person and online options are available.
We have full-time sustainability, carbon reduction, and waste manager posts supporting the sustainability department. All sustainability department posts are full-time, the Director takes the strategic lead, and the Executive Assistant leads on student and staff behaviour change. The sustainability and carbon reduction manager leads on calculating the University’s carbon data and managing carbon reduction projects – this post has a separate budget.
The department employs over 60 student part-time posts, as Wellbeing Walk Leaders, Carbon Literacy Training Assistants, Digital Creative Assistants, Green Impact Project Assistants and Learning for Responsible Futures Research Assistants. We work with the Residential Life Team students to implement behavioural change, such as Green Campus Revolution. They induct all new students on how to live and study sustainably. There’s an annual budget of £50,000 which includes funding for student-led projects.
Priorities or projects are decided by the Sustainability Development Committee, and all students and staff are encouraged to put forward ideas to help embed sustainability throughout the campus, community and curriculum. Details of current projects can be found within these web pages, many led by students.
Staff and Student Engagement
See our community involvement.