The University is committed to extending our work in sustainability to the wider community.
A Communications and Community Engagement strategy which helps us to raise awareness on current and planned sustainability initiatives and encourage behavioural change among staff, students and all University stakeholders. This strategy includes a timetable for communications from 2022-25. Students are actively encouraged to support this work including part-time digital creative students. This is reviewed for its effectiveness and impact.
Community involvement targets
Our current targets and some examples of how we are going to achieve them can be found in this document:
Sustainability Targets 2023/24
Community involvement projects
St Nicholas Federation Green Team winners of the Wychavon Intelligently Green awards sponsored by the University.
Student projects
A website www.susthingsout.com, whose strapline is "change today protect tomorrow", provides a magazine format and commentary space for all University stakeholders. It links curriculum, campus and community, and students co-create content as part of their studies. It is used in teaching sustainability and for teaching the Emerging Leaders programme, and is promoted to all new students and employees. The magazine is 10 years old in 2024 and featured in many conference presentations.
Some examples of a whole institution (university and students' union) and the community projects are with the joint work of Sustainability network creating wild flower meadows & creating woodland flower areas. Our Student Sustainability Hub is the focal point of all activities.
Students, Staff and many local organisations took part in Running Out of Time highlighting the issues of air quality locally.
Taking carbon literacy training out into Worcestershire’s libraries this interesting student led research work with library staff, took account of very varied demographics and tailored the sessions for adults and families.
Go Green Week
Another collaborative project is Go Green Week where students lead awareness raising activities with local business and charities and the local community and schools are invited to take part.
University Community Forum
The University takes its role within the wider community seriously and is committed to establishing and strengthening partnerships with local business, charities, and other organisations.
The University Community Forum tackles issues of mutual concern to local residents, students and the University. The Forum meets three times annually. Its membership includes the Pro Vice Chancellor for Partnerships and other senior members of University staff, together with representation from the Students’ Union, Worcestershire County Council and Worcester City Council Councillors, local head teacher and residents. The West Mercia Police are also regularly represented at meetings. Regular reports on sustainability are made to the committee, including a review of community issues raised and dealt with throughout the year.
