The University of Worcester seeks to promote principles of sustainability and social responsibility in their broadest sense. Through teaching, research and knowledge exchange activities we will promote sustainable communities, services and use of physical resources.
Our vision
“Change Today, Protect Tomorrow”
Sustainability Policy
Agreed in February 2008 and reviewed annually, the University of Worcester sets out how it will promote sustainable communities through our teaching, research, and knowledge exchange activities in a detailed policy. We will foster a culture that values sustainability in arts and culture and promotes social enterprise in the region.
Download and read our Sustainability Policy 2024.
One of the University’s core values is to promote sustainable development and active engagement with the community and fully accept our broad responsibilities to society. We are committed to continually improve our environmental performance and we have an environmental management system (ISO14001:2015, EcoCampus and Energy Management System ISO 50001:2018) to achieve this in a structured way.
We have performance indicators (see below) to help us to assess our current and future level of sustainability performance. We have signed up to the SDG Accord and are reporting annually our progress on the UN Sustainable Development Goals. This enables us to benchmark our performance against similar institutions and sector standards.
Sustainability Strategy Committee
The University established a Sustainability Strategy Committee, which includes student, academic, service department and union representation, in 2005, chaired by the Pro Vice Chancellor Research who is a member of the University Executive Board.
Read the terms of reference and membership of the committee. Its reporting route is via University Executive Board and the Board of Governors Audit committee receive an annual report.
The Director of Sustainability 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 Director of Sustainability reports to the PVC Research.
Download and read our Sustainability Strategy 2020-2030.
Sustainability Performance
We produce an annual sustainability report which summaries our activities and performance.
Our Annual Sustainability Report prepared in accordance with the core option of the Global Reporting Initiative and independently verified, has been a Green Gown winner in the Reporting with Influence category in 2020 and highly commended in 2023.
Sustainability at the University of Worcester – a message from the VC and the Director of Sustainability to our staff and students