Enhancing our social, economic & physical environments by embedding sustainability into university core business

Abstract

The rationale for this paper is to explore and share the ideological thinking behind the development of a University wide sustainable development strategy, with research at the heart. The University is the University of Leicester. Here we present an insight into the historical development of the sustainable pathways, explore the vision, key themes and activities for the 2015–2020 draft strategy. We then go on to present some of the successes, and lessons learnt particularly around collaboration, participation and voice. The aim of this new draft strategy (2015–2020), following the Environmental Sustainability Strategy (2010–2015), is to bring a new and coordinated approach across the University of Leicester, building on multi-disciplinary approaches. Previously sustainability had focused on the environmental aspect, thus led by an Estates function, as it has in many Universities. The new remit provides an opportunity to develop a more holistic approach across the curriculum, campus, community and culture in meeting the needs of the 21st century graduate and workplace. This is based on the thinking that: “Discipline silos have no place in twenty first century education. The world today presents itself as a set of complex and interconnected problems and this is how learning institutions must help us solve those problems. Complexity is at the very core of sustainability, and dealing with complexity an essential sustainability literacy skill (Fagan 2009)”. Whilst the University of Leicester are early in their journey to becoming a Sustainable University, the University of Leicester has top-down commitment coupled with lots of grassroots ideas in making this successful.