Engagement Projects and Activities
| Engagement Programme/Area | Audience and Stakeholders | Objectives 2023/24 | Objective 2024/25 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Staff / Student induction Training |
Students and Staff |
Review staff induction training and work with HR to improve uptake rate to 40% | Develop student sustainability induction to roll out in 2025/26 academic year |
| Sustainability Champions Network | Staff | Develop and trial new champions network model |
Run year one of new model and review outcomes |
| Kent Community Oasis Garden |
Students, Staff and the Community | Complete year one of KentCOG strategy objectives and report on progress |
Complete year two of KentCOG strategy objectives and report on progress |
| Carbon Literacy / ESD |
Students and Staff |
Launch Sustainability Pathway on Target Connect Run 2 carbon literacy courses for students Secure funding to deliver CL training to staff |
Offer CL training to staff through staff connect |
| Sustainability network / Societies |
Students |
Connect with the KU sab lead for Sustainability. Continue supporting student groups and societies on request |
Connect with the KU sab lead for Sustainability. Continue supporting student groups and societies on request |
| Staff consultation / Biodiversity Forum |
Staff |
Review and trial new model of the forum |
Adopt trial results |
| Right to Food / Civic Mission |
Students, Staff and Community |
Represent sustainability on the Right to Food Steering Group Participate in the NCIA programme Develop the River of Vegetation Project |
Represent sustainability on the Right to Food Steering Group Deliver River of Vegetation project |
| Website / Social Media |
Students, Future Students, Staff and Community |
Annual review of website Maintain Instagram Regular internal news stories |
Annual review of website Maintain Instagram
Regular internal news stories |
| Reporting |
Students, Future Students, Staff and Community |
Publish sustainability round up |
Publish sustainability round up |
| Canterbury Climate Action Partnership / Canterbury District Biodiversity Network |
Community |
Participate in CCAP Climate Action Awards and Festival 2023 Maintain engagement with the CDBN Coordination Committee and build on partnerships |
Participate in CCAP Climate Action Awards and Festival 2024
Maintain engagement with the CDBN Coordination Committee and build on partnerships |
| Recruitment activity |
Future Student |
Include SDGs, Curriculum and alumni case studies on course landing pages |
Embed sustainable events practice into open days and applicant days |
| UPP Waste Engagement Programme |
Student |
Support UPP to complete year 1 of SOS student residences engagement programme |
tbc |
| Other |
All |
Begin development of ‘Secret Sustainability’ – highlighting the ways the University are working on sustainability that might not be immediately obvious Personal stories from Sustainability Champions and students/societies Celebrating sustainability successes big and small |
Deliver the Secret Sustainability Project |
Support
Communications
The Sustainability Team has a number of platforms that it can use to spread the word about what you are doing. We also have a number of networks that we can utilise to share content or seek out individuals that might be able to help you with your idea or project. You can connect directly with us on our Instagram or email us your idea/project to get us involved.
Advice
We are able to provide professional advice on a wide range of sustainability topics including carbon, biodiversity, waste and recycling, sustainable transport, behaviour change, water management and much more. We also have a wide range of contacts to link you up with other experts who may benefit your idea/project. We also have extensive experience of running sustainability projects within Higher Education so could provide advice that helps save you time and connects you up with people that can get things done! Please just email us to get us involved.
Training
We have run training in sustainability at all levels including environmental risk management; dealing with environmental incidences; introductions to sustainability; environmental auditing; sustainability ambassador training; communicating sustainability workshops and much more. We tailor all of our training to the audience it is intended for and can work with you to develop bespoke training for your audience. Please email us to see how we can work with you.
Guest Speaking
The Sustainability Team has spoken at conferences, society meetings, and as guest lecturers. We are always happy to support events, lectures and meetings by giving an insight into what we do or on a particular sustainability topic from a global and/or local perspective. If you would like to invite us to speak at something you are planning or would like to discuss possible options/topics then please just email us.
Coordination and Networking
If you are working on a sustainability project or would like to link up with others we have networks that we can get you involved with that will support what you are doing, provide facilitation and boost the reach of your work. For staff we have the FutureProof framework and for students we can put you in touch with the Sustainability Student Network and other students who we already work with on projects. For some projects we are able to provide additional resources including our coordination and project management skills.
Support for events
If your event has a sustainability element to it please get in touch to see how we might be able to support it. In the past we have offered advice on how to make running your event more sustainable, as well as sitting on steering groups for events to offer practical advice as well connecting event managers with key Estates and Safety staff who are able to make events happen smoothly. We have also provided sustainability content for events, such as guest speaking and hosting workshops/stalls for attendees to experience and enjoy.
Funding
If you are looking for funding for your idea/project we may be able to help you by utilising our own sustainability projects budget or identifying operational budgets such as biodiversity or waste budgets that may be able to be utilised. We can also help support bids for external funding. We support staff run projects through the FutureProof programme, for example, increasing the recycling rates in Biosciences with new signage and specific bin options.
Over the last few years we have supported the student led BioBlitz event with funding for printing and t shirts, funded 10 places for students to train to become Climate Cafe leaders taking on this student led project, and funded the launch of the student designed Plant Based Loyalty Cards in our hospitality outlets.
