EAUC-Scotland Campus Sustainability Conference

Delegates attending the Campus Sustainability Conference held at the new Queen Margaret University campus in Musselburgh on the 6 May 2008 went away with a list of actions such as:

• Engaging with senior management about Scotland’s Principals’ Climate Change Commitment;
• Contacting organisations such as the Carbon Trust for assistance; and
• Applying for the VIBES award

The Campus Sustainability Conference was held as part of Campus Sustainability Programme which has been funded by the Scottish Executive (Sustainable Action Grant) and the Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council (SFC). The conference signified the end of the first phase of CaSPr and the start of a second phase supported by the SFC.

The main aims of the conference were:

• To share the achievements of the Campus Sustainability Programme, demonstrating how the programme has initiated improvements in sustainability performance through its support for staff and students; and
• To help Colleges and Universities identify how they should take forward their corporate responsibilities for sustainability.

The conference was designed primarily for senior managers, practitioners, lecturers, researchers and students working and studying within Scottish universities and colleges, and for those in public and not-for-profit agencies who are committed to helping the sector become more sustainable. Of the 70 people attending the conference there was a relatively even split between FE, HE and other organizations. Of those attending from FHE institutions 66% held a role that was not primarily focused on environmental or sustainability related issues.

The event consisted of a morning plenary session with presentations from a range of speakers. The afternoon session gave delegates the opportunity to discuss in more detail some of the issues that had been raised in the morning. Over lunch and breaks, delegates were able to network and meet with exhibitors as well as take a tour of the new QMU campus.

Further information about the conference including a brief summary of discussion held in the plenary session is included in the conference report which is available along with all the presentations, see below.

Click here for pre-Conference details