2022 Award winners: Edinburgh
This series features our 2022 Award winners. This month, we hear from The University of Edinburgh.
What does it mean to you to win the award?
The International Sustainable Campus Award is a fantastic reflection of the hard work and determination of the University of Edinburgh’s community to address the climate and environmental crisis, one of many complex and urgent challenges that the world faces. Students, staff and alumni, contribute towards the University’s vision to make the world a better place, by continuing to innovative, lead and deliver positive environmental and social change, both locally and globally, through our academic research, education, operations and partnerships.
What’s next for your project: “Whole Institution Approach to Addressing the Climate Crisis”?
The climate and environmental crisis is a key part of the University’s social and civic responsibility commitment. We are widening our climate focus to include more action on biodiversity, resources and the circular economy. We will continue to work to embed these issues further in the curriculum and experience of both staff and students, to create the tools, information and skills for the whole University community to innovate for social good, and to examine creative ways to use our buildings, our knowledge and skills, our procurements, our investments, and our reputation to support the Edinburgh city and wider region deliver positive environmental and social change.
We are committed to tackling climate change across all of our activities – this includes how we operate our estate, what we buy and invest in, the teaching and research we undertake and our partnerships. Our commitments include our confirmed plans to sequester more than one million tonnes of carbon dioxide, our continued funding of socially positive investments and the launch of the Edinburgh Earth Initiative in 2021.
Do you have any advice for those working on a “Whole Systems Approach”?
A successful “Whole Systems Approach” requires a clear vision and shared ownership across the University community and partners. A shared purpose will help embed commitments across all of University life as much as possible and deliver multiple benefits for colleagues and the institution. It is important to provide staff and students with the skills and understanding of climate and environmental issues, empowering them to embed these issues in decision making and to take action to deliver positive impact.
For more information on The University of Edinburgh's work see their Social and Civic Responsibility Report 2020-21.
2022 Award winners: ULiège
This series features our 2022 Award winners. This month, we hear from the Université de Liège.
What does it mean to you to win the award?
This international recognition generates a general feeling of pride at the University of Liege! It strengthens the energy of the Green Office team and motivates it to share the program in order to increase the positive impact. The publicity generated around the program makes the work of the Green Office more visible inside and outside the University. This better knowledge by internal and external actors at ULiège increases the potential for partnerships around the various activities integrated into the program (conferences, construction of challenges, etc.).
What’s next for your project: “Student commitment program to reduce individual carbon footprint”?
Two new goals have been already set by the team.
The first one is dedicated to broaden the outreach of the replication of the program. We aim to spread it from the French-speaking part of Belgium to the Dutch-speaking part of our country. This autumn we will organize the twinning of challenges for climate and biodiversity between our Higher Education institutions in these two regions.
The second one consists of enriching the content of the program by adding two new pillars to the strategy. The “Imagination Pillar” will invite our students to dream the sustainable territory they want to live in by 2030. The “Hope Pillar” consists in sharing inspiring positive initiatives to give our students the will to engage themselves to build together a sustainable world.
Do you have any advice for those working on “Cultural Change for Sustainability”?
Yes, we have some advice to motivate the students to engage themselves to act for cultural change for sustainability!
For example,
- build a very motivated student team with multidisciplinary profiles supported by a staff coordinator
- propose an attractive pioneer program which stimulates the interest
- ensure the scientific validation of the program to avoid “the false good ideas”
- include a large variety of stakeholders to build together the challenges (for example the Professors can build a challenge with their students within the framework of their courses)
- gather the engaged students into a single strong community on a collaborative platform
- give visibility to the impacts generated by the program’s actions
- share the program and organize simultaneous actions on different campuses to generate greater positive impacts and enthusiastic feelings
- offer fun through contests and festivities
- massively communicate to the students about the activities and the challenges with different tools: videos, debates with charismatic personalities, and so on.
2022 Award winners: Strathclyde
This series features our 2022 Award winners. This month, we hear from the University of Strathclyde.
What does it mean to you to win the award?
It is helpful and rewarding to have our work recognised by ISCN, our international peers. The vision that we created and shared with a host of stakeholders backed up by the whole systems approach and the technical work we have led has helped build a strong base for this climate-neutral vision to be delivered. It is exciting work we are leading and there is much more to do but this sort of recognition by ISCN is both valuable and reassuring that we are on the right path. For instance, reimagining the River Clyde as a heat source and creating a climate corridor along High Street, the original birthplace of Glasgow is innovative and inspirational. We see opportunity for our students and research and teaching staff to become more involved as we move forward in delivering the vision and helping put people at the centre of climate action and social inclusion.
What’s next for your project: “Climate Neutral Glasgow City Innovation District”?
Phase 2 of the project kicked off with a workshop held in early August. More detailed technical work is now underway with more to follow. We have recruited members for a Task Group to help steer the project and to signal positive intent to the market that there is a coherent and committed group leading this work. All of this work will continue to be coordinated at this stage by the University and the governance will be via Sustainable Glasgow Board, chaired by the leader of the Council, Susan Aitken.
Do you have any advice for those working on “Partnerships for Progress”?
I would encourage a strong and clear vision, and a strong and determined set of partners and a network that can come together with a shared purpose. In this case, a climate-neutral district that meets a range of societal needs and which will directly benefit people. Try and bring the vision to life and make it accessible for those involved. Make it as real as possible; align it with policy; and make it data-led and evidential of course.
Photo: Pipe Bridge and Tidal Weir, River Clyde cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Richard Sutcliffe - geograph.org.uk/p/4795538
ISCN Awards 2021: Congratulations to the WINNERS
ISCN Awards 2021: Congratulations to the WINNERS
ISCN is pleased to announce the winners of the ISCN Awards 2021. The many high-quality nominations received this year reflect the continued commitment and progress towards sustainability across ISCN. Thank you to the ISCN Awards Jury for taking the time to carefully select this year’s winners.
ISCN Awards 2021 Winners:
Whole Systems Approach
Covenant University – PET City Bricks
Partnerships for Progress
University of Leeds – Urban Biodiversity Monitoring Programme
Cultural Change for Sustainability
National University of Singapore – Towards Zero-Waste NUS 2030
Honorary Member Award
Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology – Facilitating Sustainability Literacy to Leadership Pathways for Staff and Students
For information on each of the winning submissions, please visit the ISCN Awards Page.
Celebrate with us at the ISCN Awards Ceremony 2021!!
ISCN Awards 2021: Awards Ceremony
20th May 2021
15:00-17:00 CEST (GMT+2)
(Check the start time in your time zone)
You can join the Awards Ceremony here: https://epfl.zoom.us/j/81853668420 (Meeting ID: 81853668420)
Add the event to your calendar
ISCN Awards 2021: Call for nominations NOW OPEN!
The ISCN Sustainable Campus Excellence Awards promotes landmark projects that demonstrate how university administrations and faculty alike strive to integrate sustainability in all facets of higher education, including campus infrastructure, research and education.
The ISCN Awards 2021 are a great way to acknowledge international excellence Take this opportunity to recognize the hard work, leadership and creativity that go into building sustainability at your institution.
The following Award Categories are open to ISCN members: Whole Systems Approach, Partnerships for Progress, and Cultural Change for Sustainability. An additional Honorary Member Award is granted to outstanding projects at non-member institutions.
Winning projects will be showcased at the virtual Awards Ceremony on 20th May (15:00 – 17:00 CET) in the lead up to/as part of the ISCN 2021 Conference “Accelerating Climate Action and Sustainability in Education”.
Visit the ISCN Awards 2021 webpage for more information on how to apply. Be sure to submit your application before the deadline on midnight March 8th, 2021.
ISCN Awards 2020: Winners announced!
ISCN is pleased to announce the winners of the ISCN Awards 2020. We received numerous high-quality nominations, reflecting the commitment and progress towards sustainability across ISCN. The winners were selected based on the aggregated results of the ISCN Awards Jury.
Congratulations to the WINNERS of the ISCN Awards 2020!!
Whole Systems Approach
Chalmers University of Technology and KTH Royal Institute of Technology – The Climate Framework
Partnerships for Progress
LUT University – LUT Junior University - case “Lappeenranta Junior University”
Cultural Change for Sustainability
Thammasat University – Thammasat Campus Life: No more single-use plastics
Honorary Member Award
McGill University – Vision 2020: Climate & Sustainability Action Plan
Find out more about each of the winning submissions here.
Join us at the virtual Awards Ceremony to celebrate and learn from the experiences of the Awardees.
ISCN Awards 2020: Awards Ceremony
14th May 2020
15:00-17:00 CEST
Join via this link: https://epfl.zoom.us/j/972378967 (Meeting ID: 972 378 967)
ISCN Awards 2020: Deadline for Submissions March 4, 2020
ISCN Awards 2020: Deadline for nominations closing soon
Wednesday 4th March 2020
The ISCN Sustainable Campus Excellence Awards promotes landmark projects that demonstrate how the environmental, social and economic issues of our time provide opportunities for university administrations and faculty alike to improve campus infrastructure and university administration and recognize opportunities to integrate them into their research and learning activities.
The ISCN Awards 2020 are a great way to recognize the hard work, leadership and creativity that go into building sustainability at your institution. The ISCN Awards acknowledge international excellence in the areas of Whole Systems Approach, Partnerships for Progress, and Cultural Change for Sustainability. An additional Honorary Member Award is granted to outstanding projects at non-member institutions.
The deadline for nominations will close next Wednesday 4th March 2020. If you have not yet submitted your nomination, there is still time to do so.
Apply in three easy steps:
- Identify the suitable Award Category and read the Conditions of Entry
- Download and complete the application form (available here).
- Email the completed application to [email protected], before midnight March 4th, 2020.
Winners of the awards will present their winning projects, either in-person or online, at the Award Ceremony as part of the ISCN 2020 Conference, Accelerating Climate Action and Sustainability in Education, at EPFL, Lausanne, June 24-26, 2020 (virtual presentations for winners unable to travel will also be possible).
ISCN 2019 Sustainable Campus Excellence Award Winners Announced!
Friday, 21 June 2019
São Paulo, Brazil
Higher education is an exciting and growing area for sustainability, with many opportunities to reduce impact through innovation and leadership. For this reason, top-tier universities from across the world have joined forces through the https://international-sustainable-campus-network.org/ ), to incorporate sustainability in their teaching, research, and campus operations.
Every year the ISCN conference brings together thought leaders, practitioners and change agents for a unique opportunity to exchange perspectives and form global partnerships in pursuit of sustainability. This year, the University of São Paulo hosted the ISCN 2019 Conference, Partnerships for Progress and welcomed registrants from universities and higher-education organizations across the world.
The aim of the 2019 ISCN Conference was to emphasize the power that collaborative partnerships can have in the role HEIs play in progressing sustainable development. This included discussions around education, research, collaboration and operations and facilities for sustainable development.
One of the most anticipated events at ISCN 2019 was the eleventh annual ISCN Sustainable Campus Excellence Award Ceremony on 13 June 2019 in São Paulo. These awards recognize landmark projects that demonstrate how the environmental, social and economic issues of our time provide opportunities for university administrations and faculty alike to improve campus infrastructures and university administration and recognize opportunities to integrate them into their research and learning activities.
The awards for this year included the Whole Systems Approach Award, the Partnerships for Progress Award, the Cultural Change for Sustainability Award, and the Honorary Member Award.
The winners of the 2019 ISCN Sustainable Campus Excellence Awards are:
- Whole Systems Approach Award: University of Leeds, United Kingdom
- Partnerships for Progress Award: University of Melbourne, Australia
- Cultural Change for Sustainability Award: Yale University, United States
- Honorary Member Award: CETYS University, Mexico
“Recognizing that we changed our award categories this year to better reflect our updated ISCN Charter, it was so affirming and inspiring to see the quality of submissions that we received. The award winners demonstrate outstanding leadership for sustainability in higher education and we are thrilled to showcase their work and highlight the global importance of their contributions” said Victoria Smith, interim Executive Director of the ISCN.
About the ISCN:
The ISCN provides a global forum for universities pursuing sustainability across their educational and research missions, and operations. ISCN Members commit to sustainability principles according to the ISCN Sustainable Campus Charter. Founded in 2007, the ISCN features international awards, conferences, and working groups to promote best practice exchange. More information on the ISCN and its Members can be found at https://international-sustainable-campus-network.org/
ISCN Contact:
Heather Vickery
ISCN Network Relations Manager
c/o Sustainserv, Inc.
31 State Street, 10th floor
Boston, MA 02109
[email protected]
+1-617-330-5001
ISCN 2018 Sustainable Campus Excellence Award Winners Announced!
Stockholm, Sweden, June 13, 2018. Higher education is an exciting and growing area for sustainability, with many opportunities to reduce impact through innovation and leadership. For this reason, top-tier universities from across the world have joined forces through the International Sustainable Campus Network (ISCN), to incorporate sustainability in their teaching, research, and campus operations.
Every year the ISCN conference brings together thought leaders, practitioners and change agents for a unique opportunity to exchange perspectives and form global partnerships in pursuit of sustainability. This year, KTH Royal Institute of Technology hosted the ISCN 2018 Conference, Sustainable Development: Acting with Purpose and welcomed registrants from 120 different universities and higher-education organizations.
Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) have a unique role and responsibility for the future and for driving the development of a sustainable society. HEIs are charged with the task of fostering sustainability in the leaders of tomorrow, developing solutions and methods to address a sustainable future and ensuring that we contribute knowledge to society. HEIs must also ensure that our everyday operations and practices are consistent with a sustainable future and we work to holistically integrate sustainability into mission of the university and our daily tasks.
The aim of the 2018 ISCN Conference was to emphasize the current and future role of HEIs for sustainable development. This included discussions around education, research, collaboration and operations and facilities for sustainable development.
One of the most anticipated events at ISCN 2018 was the tenth annual ISCN Sustainable Campus Excellence Award Ceremony on June 13th, 2018 at the KTH Royal Institute of Technology. These awards recognize universities for exceptional sustainability efforts in campus planning, integration with academics, student leadership, and exemplary building projects.
Matthew Gardner, 2018 ISCN Jury Chair, claimed: “Once again, our Campus Excellence Award entries were exceptional, therefore making it a challenge to pick the winning candidates. Each project portrayed passion and creativity; this was an excellent group to judge.”
The awards for this year included the Building and Innovative Infrastructure Award, Campus Planning and Management Systems Award, Innovative Collaboration Award, and Student Leadership Award. A brief description of each is listed below:
The winners of the 2018 ISCN Sustainable Campus Excellence Awards are:
- Building and Innovative Infrastructure Award: University of Copenhagen, Denmark
- Campus Planning and Management Systems Award: Stanford University, United States
- Innovative Collaboration Award: Freie Universität of Berlin, Germany
- Student Leadership Award: University of Cyprus, Cyprus
“It was an honor for us to award these great efforts and provide global recognition that show leadership in sustainability. The projects submitted this year were innovative, creative, and provided numerous examples of how we can further sustainability in higher education institutions.” said Zena Harris, the 2018 ISCN Executive Director.
The awards are open to any college or university worldwide that has developed outstanding planning, construction, or educational projects that promote sustainability on campus and in the surrounding community. Each year, an international panel of experts serves on the jury to review award applications and select the ISCN Award winners.
About the ISCN:
The ISCN provides a global forum for universities pursuing sustainability across their educational and research missions, and operations. ISCN Members commit to sustainability principles and report their performance according to the ISCN-GULF Sustainable Campus Charter, which was jointly developed with the World Economic Forum's Global University Leaders Forum. Founded in 2007, the ISCN features international awards, conferences, and working groups to promote best practice exchange. More information on the ISCN and its Members can be found at https://international-sustainable-campus-network.org/
ISCN Contact:
Heather Vickery
ISCN Network Relations Manager
c/o Sustainserv, Inc.
31 State Street, 10th floor
Boston, MA 02109
[email protected]
+1-617-330-5001
ISCN Sustainable Campus Excellence Awards: 2018 Call for Nominations!
About The Award
The ISCN is pleased to announce the call for nominations for the Tenth Annual International Sustainable Campus Excellence Awards. As the premier organization that provides international awards recognizing excellence in the areas of Building, Campus Planning, Collaboration, and Student Leadership, the ISCN is dedicated to building a gallery of outstanding projects that showcase excellence and leadership from around the globe.Select winners of the awards may be invited to the award ceremony as part of the ISCN 2018 Conference, Sustainable Development: Acting with Purpose, at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, June 11-13, 2018. All awardees will receive a plaque and will be featured in the ISCN gallery of landmark projects where they will serve as case studies to inspire university members on what is possible and how successful projects can be developed. Through the global presence of the ISCN, the visibility of the awards will not only fertilize the improvement of campus development internationally, but will also help continue the momentum for the awardees on their own campuses.
Categories
- Building and Innovative Infrastructure
- Campus Planning and Management Systems
- Innovative Collaboration
- Student Leadership