Press release

University takes lead in sector drive toward achieving sustainability 

A unique event designed to help Queen Margaret University take the lead in embedding sustainability in education is taking place today 27 th May at the University.

The event aims to respond to the increasing pressure on universities to take a leadership role in accelerating innovation in sustainability.

Having been recognised for its award winning environmentally sustainable campus development at Musselburgh, Queen Margaret University is uniquely placed to drive forward the agenda in shifting educational systems towards total sustainability.

But even with an impressive existing portfolio of sustainability initiatives, Queen Margaret University’s Principal, Dr Petra Wend, believes that no institution can be complacent in its efforts to fully integrate sustainability at every level of the business.

She said: “For educational establishments and businesses to achieve sustainability, everyone in the organisation has to be involved.

“ This event has therefore been designed so that it provides the Queen Margaret University community with the time to identify existing activities and potential opportunities that will help the university to model, support and promote a society which is more environmentally, economically and socially sustainable,” explained Dr Wend.

The event will allow participants to identify excellent practice, develop more strategic approaches, and uncover synergies across academic and professional areas. This practice will help QMU reflect on the nature, strengths and limitations of its engagement with sustainability.

“The aim”, said Dr Wend, “is to inform future plans and activities by enabling representatives from across the institution to meet and enjoy stimulating and inspiring discussions that will generate valuable observations and new ideas for the future.”

The timing of the event coincides with the education sector’s drive towards a more conscious engagement with sustainability agendas. The UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development has reached its mid-point, urging ‘whole institution’ responses to shift educational systems towards sustainability.

The HE Academy Scotland is sponsoring the event as part of its programme of institutional support, in collaboration with its Education for Sustainable Development Project.

Dr Wend concluded:”This is an excellent opportunity for people from every level of Queen Margaret University to become involved in shaping its future. We hope that is event will also encourage other educational institutions to follow suit.”

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITOR

The Event

The event ‘ Sustainable Development in Higher Education: Integrating Teaching, Research, Campus and Community’ takes place at Queen Margaret University on Thursday 27 th May from 9am – 12.30pm.The event has been designed by colleagues at QMU, in partnership with Dr Colin Brooks and Dr Alex Ryan, members of the HEA ESD Project.The output from the day will be a strategic paper for internal circulation, summarising progress, opportunities and future prospects.

Queen Margaret University’s Sustainability Credentials

QMU’s new campus is regarded as one of Scotland’s most sustainable developments – the campus buildings, including the main academic building, the satellite sports and student union building and the residential accommodation buildings - have gained a BREEAM rating of “excellent” (with the highest score recorded of any university project). For over a decade, the Building Research Establishment's Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) has been used to assess the environmental performance of both new and existing buildings. It is regarded by the UK's construction and property sectors as the measure of best practice in environmental design and management. A number of leading environmental technologies are being employed at the site including biomass heating , thin-client computer technology and a sustainable urban drainage system .

From the very outset, the new campus development was designed around the new agendas and technologies of higher education. The University set out to “develop a sustainable community for learning and life” The approach was to go beyond worthy statements that often fail to deliver, and to avoid sustainability gimmicks that often result in unnecessary building and maintenance costs.

National recognition of QMU's sustainability successes

• Numerous HE and FE institutions and private sector organisation have visited the new campus throughout its development to view and discuss the sustainability element of the project, and QMU’s Director of Estates and Facilities has spoken at various national conferences on 'the sustainability campus'.
• The new campus development has been selected as case study by the Scottish Funding Council as an exemplar of sustainable development, featuring in their 'Building Knowledge' report.
• QMU’s green travel plan is being tracked by the Scottish Government as an exemplar of major institutional travel planning.
• The university’s biomass project has been adopted by the Scottish Government as a case study.
• Wyse Group have used QMU’s use of thin client technology as a case study
• Space management is a key aspect of the sustainable campus and QMU has been adopted as a case study by the HE-sector wide space management working group.
• QMU won the Green ICT category of the Green Gown Awards 2009 for implementation of thin client, the sustainable ICT system which has been installed throughout the new campus, and received highly commended for the campus build and design.
• The University won an International Green Apple Award 2009 for the Built Environment and Architectural Heritage.
• Staff at QMU continue contribute to various sector Steering groups on Sustainability.
• JISC selected QMU as a case study for green IT, and have produced a video describing our innovative "thin client" energy-efficient IT.
• QMU was shortlisted for the Times Higher Education Awards 2007 under the category of 'Outstanding Contribution to Sustainable Development'.

Recent Successes

18 March 2010: Queen Margaret University has been shortlisted in two categories in the prestigious Times Higher Education Leadership and Management Awards 2010 which recognise outstanding achievement in higher education.QMU has been selected as finalists in the Outstanding ICT Team category for its work in using technology to support staff, students and researchers within the university and as a major component of the new campus development.

New MSc course in Environmental Justice

Queen Margaret University is now offering an MSc Environmental Justice. The new course builds on the University’s previous collaborations with Friends of the Earth Scotland, and will draw on the experience of participants, professionals and activists in the field as well as academic theory and research. It offers an opportunity to reflect on the theory and practice of environmental justice, and in particular how this relates to sustainable development, public health and issues of social justice in relation to class, race and gender. The curriculum has been put together in collaboration with experienced activists and social movement organisations.  

For further media information please contact Lynne Russell, Press and PR Officer, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, tel: 0131 474 0000, mobile: 07711 011239, email lrussell@qmu.ac.uk