Step-Change for Sustainability Conference Agenda

Hazel Dalgård, Senior Policy & Analysis Officer in the Capital and Climate Change Team at Scottish Funding Council

Simon Hewitt, Principal at Dundee & Angus College

Professor Mercedes Maroto-Valer, Deputy Principal for Global Sustainability at Heriot-Watt University

Scott Davidson (Chair), Deputy Director Social Responsibility and Sustainability at University of Edinburgh

11.25

Refreshments

11.55

Breakout: ESD competency-building through innovative pedagogies: analysing practice

An interactive workshop to analyse real-life teaching examples and learn more about innovative teaching methods with a focus of transferring your learning into practice. 
 

Dr Ria Dunkley, Senior Lecturer (Pedagogy, Praxis & Faith) at University of Glasgow - Facilitator

 

Breakout: Decolonialising, Decarbonising and Democratising FHE Institutions

This session will give an overview of climate justice and intersectionality, and discuss how decolonising, decarbonising and democratising institutions need to be considered synergistically for education to deliver on climate justice.

The session will explore examples of climate injustice, and how this often intersects with issues of race, gender, and indigeneity. We will also look at examples of when sustainability work has not taken an intersectional approach and the issues that this can cause, with discussions on how we can avoid this within campus operations and curricula.
 

Sonya Peres, Senior Project Manager at SOS-UK

 

Breakout: Nature-Based Solutions and Biodiversity

This session will introduce the concept of nature-based solutions and biodiversity and explore Scottish micro-scale and regional-scale initiatives that institutions can learn from and engage with to improve environmental and social outcomes.
 

Dr Clive Mitchell, Strategic Resource Manager at NatureScot

Severine Monvoisin, Community Garden Coordinator at Edinburgh College

David Toy, Programme Manager (St Andrews Forest) at University of St Andrews

Emilie Wadsworth, Operations Director at Green Action Trust 

 

Breakout: Adaptation

In this session we will discuss the challenges and opportunities around adaptation including the interrelationships between adaptation and mitigation. We will explore why adaptation is important, the progress on adaptation made by Educational Institutions in Scotland and the challenges and lessons learnt around the implementation of adaptation actions.
 

Emma Yule, PhD Researcher & Tutor, Edinburgh University and SSN Steering Group member

13.15

Buffet lunch

14.15

Breakout: Policy, strategy and funding to decarbonise estates

This session will review the updated Scottish net zero public sector building standards, innovative approaches to decarbonising FHE estates and funding opportunities for Scotland's colleges and universities.
 

Jamie Goth, Associate Director at Scottish Futures Trust

Rufus Logan, Assistant Director of Capital and Climate Change at Scottish Funding Council

Eddie McAvinchey, Executive Director - Sustainable Investment at Scottish National Investment Bank

Janice Pauwels, Scottish Government
 

 

Breakout: Understanding Behaviour Change and Engaging on Sustainability

This session will explore what motivates people and showcase innovative ways of taking the distant issue of climate change down to a personal and relatable level. This session will allow participants to reflect and take stock of their stakeholder engagement activities to date, and look how to improve them going forward.

 

Cameron Mackay, GALLANT Communications Coordinator at University of Glasgow

Joana Avi-Lori, Story Weaver and Event Coordinator at Scottish Communities Climate Action Network

 

Breakout: Supply Chains and Sustainability 

This session will explore the key roles, functions and relationships of key stakeholders within institutions and partners (APUC) and explore through group discussion how internal bridges can be made to improve sustainability outcomes within procurement activities.
 

Amy Ledger, Sustainability Specialist at Advanced Procurement for Universities and Colleges - Facilitator

 

Breakout: Advocating for a whole-institution ESD strategy

This session will present three excellent examples of how we can influence our institutional strategy to support ESD, followed by opportunities to network and learn from and with other as well as support to take action.

Mike Pretious, Senior Lecturer in Management at Queen Margaret University - Facilitator

Sonya Peres, Senior Project Manager at SOS-UK

Jane Roscoe, Director of Curriculum at Dundee & Angus College

Professor Zoe Robinson, Director of Education for Sustainability at Keele University and EAUC Board Member

15.30

Refreshments

16.00

Plenary: The Collaboration Challenge

To achieve climate, sustainability and social ambitions for a green and just Scotland our institutions must work meaningfully with a wide variety of stakeholders to understand needs, empower others, and strengthen our responses. But are we good at this?

We will hear the panel’s experiences of co-creation, co-development and co-delivery of FHE sector activity. The panel will explore what good, impactful collaboration looks like; what are the roles of hierarchical and informal leadership in this sphere; and, identify areas of best practice and positive reflections from failed collaboration. 
 

Dr David Duncan, Deputy Vice Chancellor - Operations and Chief Operating Officer and University Secretary at University of Glasgow and Treasurer to the EAUC Board

Eve Lewis, Director at sparqs

Dr Roddy Yarr (Chair), Executive Lead for Sustainability at University of Strathclyde and EAUC-Scotland Advisory Group Member

Astrid Smallenbroek, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Consultant at University of the West of Scotland

17.00

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