PRESS RELEASE
Thursday 3 July 2014
Green Gown Awards 2014 Finalists announced
102 finalists
62 institutions
1,076,734 students
In its 10 year history, to-date, the Green Gown Awards are proud to have recognised 93
winners, 130 highly commended, 553 finalists and 1,412 applicants. Who will be crowned
the 100th winner?
With 102 motivational and inspiring sustainability projects representing 62 educational
institutions across the UK – with a combined student population of 1,076,734 students - the
EAUC is delighted and proud to announce the Green Gown Awards’ Finalists 2014 - all
vying for the most prestigious recognition of best practice within the tertiary education sector.
Now in their tenth year, the Green Gown Awards recognise the exceptional sustainability
initiatives being undertaken by universities, colleges and the learning and skills sectors
across the UK. With sustainable development moving up the global agenda, the Awards are
now established as the most prestigious recognition of sustainability excellence within the
tertiary education sector, as well as the environmental sector.
2014 has proven to be another excellent year for applications to the Awards. With 180
applications received across 14 categories, there were some clear category favourites. The
top 3 categories representing 40% of the overall applications were; Student Engagement
(19%), Carbon Reduction (11%) and Courses and Learning (10%). Interestingly we have
seen a surge of applications from Scotland – up by 136% and representing 14% of the
submissions. 84% of the applications represent HE and 16% represent FE.
The newly introduced “Leadership Award” - sponsored by the Leadership Foundation for
Higher Education – is exclusive to senior strategic leadership at a tertiary education
institution and recognises individuals at the most senior level in institutions and those
operating alongside them in senior leadership team positions including institutional
governance. Nominees are put forward by their peers and we are delighted that together
with the “Sustainability Champion Award” these 2 Awards recognise unique individuals who
are shaping the future of sustainability.
“It is fantastic to see more institutions than ever being finalists – the strength and
quality of applications is truly inspiring. The breadth of activity within the sector
shows that sustainability really does bring positive impacts, both on the institution,
their staff and students and the wider community. These finalists are proof that where
institutions take sustainability seriously they are reaping the benefits.” says Iain
Patton, Chief Executive of the EAUC.
Stage one applications for the Awards closed in June and a judging panel, consisting of over
80 representatives from the diversity of the tertiary education sector and experts in the
various fields, provided a shortlist of entrants – the Finalists. These Finalists are now asked
to submit their Stage 2 applications with a deadline in September. The winners of the Green
Gown Awards 2014 will be announced at the Green Gown Awards’ Ceremony to be held
at Whitworth Hall, The University of Manchester on Monday 3 November 2014.
The Green Gown Awards provide universities, colleges and the learning and skills sector
with benchmarks for excellence and are well respected by governments, funding councils,
senior managers, academics and students alike. The on-going popularity of the Green Gown
Awards in the UK, which are administered by the EAUC and governed by a cross agency
steering group, is further enhanced by its international presence: The Australasian Green
Gown Awards have been established since 2010 and are run by Australasia Campuses
Towards Sustainability (ACTS). The International Green Gown Awards will see the UK
winners from the “Continuous Improvement”, “Social Responsibility” and “Student
Engagement” categories going head-to-head with the winners from Australasia. The
International winners will be announced at the ACTS Annual Conference, taking place at the
University of Tasmania on 6 November 2014.
Sharing excellence with over 160+ inspiring case studies and videos from previous
winners
As the ethos of the Green Gown Awards is to ensure the lessons and examples of good
practice within the tertiary education sector are shared and replicated in other institutions or
can serve as an encouragement to others to initiate new projects, a library of case studies
and videos from previous Green Gown Finalists is widely promoted and offers a wealth of
motivational resources. To access this please visit:
http://sustainabilityexchange.ac.uk/about/green-gown-awards/about.
Green Gown Awards’ Ceremony 2014 – Monday 3 November 2014
As has become customary, we are pleased to announce that we will be holding the Awards’
Ceremony in a sector venue - the stunning Whitworth Hall, located at the heart of The
University of Manchester’s Oxford Road campus. It is situated within the neo-Gothic
Whitworth Building, regarded as the most prestigious of University buildings, where
University graduation ceremonies and all high profile dinners and events are hosted.
It is a listed building but despite its age and grandeur, the University has worked hard to
bring it in line with the University’s sustainability policy and is credited as being one of the
first universities to install fully recyclable LED lighting into a listed building back in 2009. This
has reduced the lighting bill for the building by almost 50%.
"Social responsibility and sustainability are part of only three core goals we have at
Manchester, sitting equally alongside our commitment to world-class research and
outstanding learning. Building on the recognition we have received through the EAUC
Green Gown awards in recent years, we are delighted to be hosting colleagues from
the tertiary education sector for this prominent annual event in the higher and further
education calendar." says Julian Skyrme, Director of Social Responsibility, The University
of Manchester
For more information visit http://www.eauc.org.uk/ceremony
The Green Gown Awards 2014 are kindly supported by the following organisations:
Further information about the Awards Ceremony and ticket sales can be found at
www.greengownawards.org.uk
Further information about the Green Gown Awards Australasia can be found at
http://www.acts.asn.au/initiatives/ggaa/2014-ggaa/
To learn more about the Green Gown Awards and the Awards Ceremony, contact Helen
Exton at greengown@eauc.org.uk
END
Notes to the Editor
Media contact: Helen Exton, Event Manager, greengown@eauc.org.uk, 07531 244208
Media pack: http://www.eauc.org.uk/gga_media_pack
The list of the Green Gown Awards 2014 Finalists:
Best Newcomer
Ayrshire College - Award winning partnership working in the great outdoors
Dundee and Angus College - Dedicated to raising awareness. Aspiring to reduce emissions
Glasgow Caledonian University - reCYCLE: a Glasgow Commonwealth Games legacy project
Goldsmiths, University of London - Catching the carbon culprits; energy, lights, heat
Uxbridge College - E-Collegey at Uxbridge College
Carbon Reduction – supported by SALIX
Bournemouth University - BU CMP: achieving an absolute reduction in the context of strong growth
Coleg Gwent - The College ‘Eco’ Footprint
Lancaster University - Using Lancaster’s best free resource - Lancaster University wind turbine
Newcastle University - Newcastle University go smarter to work: Shifting attitudes and behaviour
towards sustainable travel
University of Oxford - Oxford University Bodleian Libraries team read between the lines looking for
£100,000
University of Reading - Delivering science lab safety and comfort sustainably
University of Salford - State of the art carbon savings
University of Salford - Creating a carbon saving case study on campus
Construction and Refurbishment
Coleg Gwent - The BGLZ Campus
Durham University - Durham Business School
Nottingham Trent University - A seamless transition between old and new
University of East Anglia - The Julian Study Centre
University of Edinburgh - Transformation of Edinburgh’s Old High School into an award-winning,
low carbon hub
University of Exeter - Revolving Green Fund turns Cornwall House on its head
University of Portsmouth - The University of Portsmouth Data Centre
University of Worcester - Historical building with a celebrated past providing new inspiration and
outstanding accommodation
Continuous Improvement: Institutional Change#
Aston University - Aston Go Green
Ball State University - From the ground-up: a whole-systems approach to institutional change
Blackpool and The Fylde College
- Involvement, understanding and passion – Blackpool
and The Fylde College’s journey to sustainability
Keele University - Greening Keele through hearts and minds: making sustainability part of all
activity
London School of Economics - LSE: sustainability embedded
Loughborough University - Loughborough’s Environmental Decathlon - embedding environmental
management through competitiveness
University of Edinburgh - Understanding our impact on the world - becoming a socially responsible
university
University of Gloucestershire - The map is not the territory: from strategy to reality at the University
of Gloucestershire
University of Strathclyde - Sustainable Strathclyde; a slow but sustainable success journey
Courses and Learning
Aston University - The Aston MSc Social Responsibility and Sustainability – developing responsible
leaders of tomorrow
Cranfield University - Framework for a sustainable future: integrating technology, environment and
management in policy-making
Dumfries and Galloway College - Linking environmental issues to the care curriculum
Nottingham Trent University - Food for thought - sustainability in practice
Plymouth University - Nursing sustainability by design: embedding healthcare sustainability in
curricula through interdisciplinary learning
South Devon College - South West Energy Centre, training for a bright future in the Low Carbon
Sector
The University of Nottingham - Driving for change with an Open Online Course: Sustainability,
society and you
University of Edinburgh - Geoscience Outreach: A sustainable course for sustainable learning and
enterprise
University of the Arts London - London College of Fashion: Weaving sustainability through flexible
learning fashion courses
University of the West of Scotland - Using Green Impact as a learning tool to embed sustainability
into teaching
University of Worcester - Tree huggers, liars and economic collapse? The challenge of
sustainability
Enterprise*
Coventry University - ReFreshed UnLtd - from counterfeit to classroom
Plymouth University - The Peninsula Dental Social Enterprise
University of Gloucestershire Students’ Union - Empowering students for sustainability through
social enterprise at the University of Gloucestershire
University of the Arts London – Centre for Sustainable Fashion: Nike Making Project
University of Worcester - Our space your place – developing sustainable graduate enterprises
Facilities and Services – supported by SODEXO
Sheffield College - The Green Trail
South Coast Affinity Group - SCAG – Not just a ‘rubbish’ acronym; but a partnership made in
heaven
University of Dundee -The 4 R’s of resources
University of Leeds - Sustainable Garden at the University of Leeds
University of Strathclyde - Embedding highly segregated waste collections while avoiding a riot
University of the West of Scotland - UWS Community Gardens providing living laboratories, social
event space and community engagement
University of Worcester - Bike Loan - mass bike hire on a shoestring
Food and Drink* - supported by TUCO
Plymouth University - Local. Sustainable. Fresh
South Devon College - FUNDamental Food – Smart use of bursary funds
The University of Manchester - Largest university joins co-operative to help small local organic food
producers
University of Brighton - Field to fork, bringing the veg back home
University of Edinburgh - University of Edinburgh’s vision for sustainable food
University of Gloucestershire - Catering with a conscience
Roehampton Students' Union and University of Roehampton – Growhampton
Research and Development
Cranfield University - The Nano Membrane Toilet: a toilet for everyone without water or energy
Queen’s University Belfast - Saving millions of lives by enhancing the solar disinfection of water
(SODIS)
University of Cambridge - A platform for research and action: The Living Laboratory for
Sustainability
University of Huddersfield - Saving the Forest - community enterprise development in SW Ethiopia
University of the Arts London – Centre for Sustainable Fashion: Local Wisdom and Craft of Use
Project
University of The West of England - Developing the CIPS Sustainability Index (CSI)
Social Responsibility#
Hull College - East Hull Voids transform lives
Keele University Student's Union - KeeleSU fashion show: Sustainable fashion
Newcastle University - The big clear out!
The University of Liverpool Guild of Students - Students championing sustainability outreach, with
the Green Schools project
The University of Manchester - The Works – The University of Manchester’s Local Employment and
Skills Centres
University of Aberdeen - Project SEARCH Aberdeen
University of Salford - The Salford Institute for Dementia and becoming a Dementia Friendly
University
University of the Arts London - London College of Fashion: Crafting partnership with St Joseph’s
Hospice
University of Worcester - Your Green Future - new opportunities in a changing world
Student Engagement# - supported by the Scottish Funding Council
Blackpool and The Fylde College - Turbulent times create inquisitive minds
City University London - Green Dragons
De Montfort University - DMU Square Mile
Manchester Metropolitan University - Met MUnch
Redbridge Institute of Adult Education - Inside Outside Sculpture Trail and EcoGarden
University of Bradford - Our Green Energy Challenge
University of Central Lancashire Students’ Union - Sally the Slug - innovative strategies for student
and staff engagement
University of Chester - How to turn the tap off with a trashion show!
University of Exeter Students’ Guild - Students’ Green Unit: students shaping sustainability through
behavioural change
Technical Innovation for Sustainability
De Montfort University - SmartSpaces – putting the smile into energy and water saving
University of Worcester Students’ Union - ENERGIZE WORCESTER - students drive energy
efficiency in their homes and beyond
University of Cambridge - 'Of Engineers and Occupants' - Energy efficiency through innovative
ventilation control
University of East Anglia - Building a demand-side power station
University of the Arts London – London College of Fashion: Not too many irons in the fire
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
Leadership Award* - supported by the Leadership Foundation for Higher Education
Professor Patrick Bailey - Dean of Natural Sciences and Pro Vice Chancellor (Environment &
Sustainability), Keele University
Professor John Brooks - Vice Chancellor, Manchester Metropolitan University
Professor Daniella Tilbury - Dean of Sustainability, University of Gloucestershire
Professor James Longhurst - Assistant Vice Chancellor, Environment and Sustainability, University
of the West of England
Sustainability Champion - supported by The Energy Consortium
Ian Rowe - Health, Safety and Environmental Manager, Coleg Gwent
Keith Holmes - Facilities Manager, School of Art and Design, Coventry University
Shane Foster - Head of SchooL, Construction and Green Energy Skills, Hull College
Jonathan Cresswell - Assistant College Manager, College of Engineering, Mathematics and
Physical Sciences, University of Exeter
Roisin Lyle-Collins - GUEST (Glasgow University Environmental Sustainability Team) coordinator,
University of Glasgow
Emily Rye - Environmental Coordinator, University of Huddersfield
Diana Baker - Student (BSc Environmental Management), University of Salford
Rachel Clowes - Embroidery Technician, London College of Fashion, University of the Arts London
Joel Cardinal - Head of Energy and Sustainability, University of Warwick
* New for 2014 # Included in the International Green Gown Awards
A list of the organisations represented on the Green Gown Awards 2014 judging panel can be
found here: http://www.eauc.org.uk/judges
Green Gown Awards 2014 steering group members are:
Association of Colleges
Association of Heads of University Administration
Association of University Directors of Estates
British Universities Finance Directors Group
Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges
Higher Education Environmental Performance Improvement
Guild HE
Higher Education Funding Council for England
Higher Education Funding Council for Wales
JISC
Leadership Foundation for Higher Education
National Institute of Adult Continuing Education
National Union of Students Services Limited
Scottish Funding Council
Skills Funding Agency
The Higher Education Academy
Universities UK
About the EAUC:
With a membership of over 230 universities and colleges, the Environmental Association for
Universities and Colleges (EAUC) is the sustainability champion for universities and colleges in the
UK. Run by members, for its members, the EAUC seeks to work with members and partners to drive
sustainability to the heart of further and higher education. For more information, visit www.eauc.org.uk.
The Sustainability Exchange www.sustainabilityexchange.ac.uk is just one of a number of projects the
EAUC is currently involved in. It offers the UK’s first sustainability information portal and online
community and has been created with the support of 23 top sector organisations.
The EAUC also delivers LiFE (Learning in Future Environments), a comprehensive performance
improvement system developed specifically to help colleges and universities to manage, measure,
improve and promote their social responsibility and sustainability performance. For more information
on LiFE, visit www.thelifeindex.org.uk.
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