The Mayor of Worcester, Councillor Louis Stephen, has welcomed the University of Worcester’s approach to sustainability on a recent visit.
Worcester Mayor, Cllr Louis Stephen (centre) and Mayoress, Katey Stephen (left) were shown around the University by Vice Chancellor, Professor David Green CBE DL
Cllr Stephen, who is the first Mayor from the Green Party, had a tour of the University to find out more about its work.
He said: “I’m very keen to see the University continue what it does in terms of supporting biodiversity and reducing its own carbon emissions and continue to take a lead on environmental measures, along with the City Council. Obviously one of the biggest causes of carbon is heating buildings and all the new [University] buildings have been built to a high [environmentally sustainable] standard and that’s to be commended.”
The University, which has a long-standing record on sustainability, has recently been shortlisted for two Green Gown Awards, one recognising its work supporting biodiversity on campus, through schemes such as planting wildflowers. Cllr Stephen also highlighted on his visit the award-winning Woo Bikes scheme, a joint city e-bike partnership project piloted and led by the University, which has continued to thrive at the University. “I think the University is doing a lot to encourage students to get around the City in a sustainable way and that’s good,” added Cllr Stephen.
Accompanied by Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive, Professor David Green CBE DL, the tour included the St John’s Campus, City Campus, the Art House, the University of Worcester Arena, the Jenny Lind building, which houses the University’s Law School, and The Hive and Severn Campus. On visiting the Severn Campus, he looked around the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson building, a new state-of-the-art teaching centre for health and medical students.
“I think it’s interesting to see all the new buildings and expansion that’s happened in the University, and I think that it’s going to be very beneficial to the City because of the money that’s being spent in the local economy,” said Cllr Stephen. “But also we obviously need a lot more NHS doctors, nurses and other medical staff and I think that the University is going to be a very useful part in supporting our local hospital and obviously the NHS in general.”
He said he was particularly impressed by the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson building, which is home to the University’s new Medical School. “It was fascinating to see all the medical equipment and the mannequins,” he added. “They really bring the teaching to life and I thought that was tremendous. I also thought that the mock courtroom [in the University’s School of Law] was tremendous. It really looked and felt like a real court and I can imagine future lawyers really benefitting from that world class environment.”
Cllr Stephen said he believed that the University plays a major role in the City. “The University is a major employer,” he added. “The staff that are employed here are bringing something extra to the City from an economic point of view. It’s obviously a magnet for skills, training, technology and arts, and the University obviously needs to work alongside local businesses.” He said he hoped the University, Council and local businesses would continue to work together in the future to provide a good education establishment, but also to support local businesses and the community.