UCEM achieves fourth consecutive SOS-UK Responsible Futures accreditation
Posted on: 31 October, 2024
UCEM has again been re-accredited with the Students Organising for Sustainability UK (SOS-UK) Responsible Futures certification, marking its fourth success. This prestigious accreditation highlights UCEM’s commitment to embedding sustainability across its educational offerings, operations and partnerships.
Responsible Futures recognises institutions that demonstrate a comprehensive approach to embedding sustainability in education. This two-year accreditation is awarded following a rigorous student-led audit that evaluates an institution’s commitment to integrating sustainability into the curriculum and student experiences.
UCEM’s 2024 audit involved a team of student and alumni auditors who reviewed the institution’s progress in embedding sustainability. UCEM achieved a score of 301 out of a possible 355, surpassing the threshold of 220 points needed for accreditation. This represents a significant improvement from UCEM’s first Responsible Futures audit in 2018 when it scored 227 points. Auditors praised UCEM’s strong leadership, particularly from Vice Chancellor Ashley Wheaton and commended the progress that the university had made since the last audit in 2022.
The audit covered key areas such as leadership and strategy, policy and commitment to sustainability and student engagement. The auditors highlighted UCEM’s dedication to professional development for staff in sustainability and its efforts to involve students through roles like Student Officers for Sustainability.
UCEM’s ‘GLOBE Sustainability Strategy’ continues to serve as the framework for embedding sustainability across the curriculum. Key initiatives such as mandatory sustainability CPD modules for staff, the staff sustainability champion network and innovative teaching methods in courses like the MSc Innovation in Sustainable Built Environments were particularly noted for their impact.
UCEM’s accreditation is valid until 2026, after which a further audit will be required. Looking forward, the auditors recommended that UCEM continue expanding student engagement in sustainability and embed a broader focus on social and economic sustainability alongside its current environmental efforts.
As Jessica Gordon-Calvert, Sustainability Education & Engagement Officer at UCEM, commented:
“We’re incredibly happy with our most recent Responsible Futures outcome. This could not have been achieved without the hard work, dedication and collaboration across the university (students, staff and alumni alike). We’re pleased that our substantial progress and work since the launch of Globe and our last Responsible Futures audit in 2022 has been recognised by our student and alumni auditors.
“We also acknowledge that there’s still lots of work we need to do to keep making improvements to sustainability at UCEM and indeed the built environment and higher education sectors. A big thank you to SOS-UK and our student and alumni auditors for taking the time to hold us to account, ask lots of questions and join the conversation.”
