Ulster University and UUSU have been awarded Responsible Futures Accreditation by Students Organising for Sustainability (SOS-UK). The accreditation, awarded following a student-led audit with fifty criteria, recognises the University’s commitment to embedding sustainability in all aspects of the student experience.
The six UU student auditors were impressed by the range of processes designed by staff to explicitly incorporate sustainability into their curriculum, and in professional development opportunities for Ulster educators. They also commended the appointment of staff to oversee and implement sustainability at the University.
A Student Auditor commented:
“There are so many people working on sustainability in the University. I am a big fan of the institution and am really impressed with what they do.”
Dr Amanda Platt, Ulster University Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) lead and Chair of the Responsible Futures Working Group, said:
“The Responsible Futures Accreditation mark demonstrates our collective progress and ongoing commitment to the University-wide embedding of sustainability into the formal, informal and subliminal curriculum. This fantastic achievement has been delivered through a proactive partnership approach engaging staff and students from across the University, ensuring sustainability explicitly features in diverse aspects of the student experience.”
Professor Ian Montgomery, Dean for Sustainability & Corporate Social Responsibility, said:
“It is a significant step to be the first Northern Ireland based university and one of only two on the island of Ireland to secure this prestigious student audited Responsible Futures Accreditation. This is a testament to our perseverance in planning over a three-year period for the submission and working through the student-led audit and interviews process. The tenacity and vision of the whole Ulster University Responsible Futures team in delivering such a fantastic result and securing accreditation is an endorsement of our ongoing sustainability work across learning, teaching and the student experience, in our research, and across the wider professional services family. Just fabulous!”
Through valuable feedback captured through the audit, SOS-UK will continue to work with Ulster University, UUSU and students to further develop a learning environment that equips both students and staff with knowledge and skills to shape a more sustainable world.
SOS-UK is a student-led education charity focusing on sustainability. For more information on their Responsible Futures framework, visit the programme website.
To learn more about sustainability efforts at Ulster University, visit Sustainability At Ulster University.