UCEM takes part in fourth sustainability accreditation audit
Posted on: 28 June, 2024
On 18 and 19 June, UCEM took part in its fourth sustainability credentials audit as part of its Students Organising for Sustainability (SOS-UK) Responsible Futures accreditation.
The Responsible Futures accreditation aims to support institutions with embedding social responsibility and sustainability into their formal and informal curriculums.
UCEM has held Responsible Futures accreditation since 2018, and has completed successive audits in 2020 and 2022. UCEM became the first online education provider to receive this accreditation, and ever since then, maintaining it has been a core part of its sustainability strategy.
As UCEM Vice Chancellor Ashley Wheaton commented in his letter of support for re-accreditation:
“I am delighted to offer my support once again for our work towards Responsible Futures re-accreditation. UCEM has proudly showcased the Responsible Futures mark since our initial accreditation back in 2018 and will continue to do so as an essential part of our sustainability and social responsibility vision.”
The two-day audit was completed by a variety of UCEM students, apprentices and alumni:
- Jason Ratcliffe
- Ashish Sharma
- Emily Walters
- James Doyle
- Ashish Sharma
- Anam Abdullah
- Aobakwe Mokgalagadi
On the second day, a focus group also took part in the audit, consisting of several current UCEM students:
- Donna Modesté
- Adam Denton
- Velile Sibanda
- John Owor
- Vicki Grimshaw
- Ben McManus
During the audit, interviews were conducted with several key stakeholders in the institution, including Ashley Wheaton, Pro Vice Chancellor (Business Development & Apprenticeships) Stephen Bartle, Dean of School Cathy Higgs and Senior Lecturer James Ritson.
As Jessica Gordon-Calvert, Sustainability Education & Engagement Officer at UCEM, commented:
“The Responsible Futures audit is a great way to connect with our students and alumni, be held accountable and reaffirm our sustainability commitment and aspirations. It’s been a great privilege to welcome our students, past and present, to Reading and online to be part of UCEM’s sustainability journey. I’m extremely grateful for all of my colleagues at UCEM for their cross-institutional efforts and continuous support for this accreditation and look forward to seeing the outcome of the audit later this year.”
UCEM will receive the results of this audit later in the year and provide an update in due course.
