Sustainability

SRS in learning and teaching

The University is committed to creating conditions where students and staff develop their knowledge, skills and experience to engage with and contribute effectively to tackling global challenges in Scotland and worldwide.

As part of this commitment the University established a Project Steering Group to further embed social responsibility and sustainability in learning and teaching. The group secured resource to fund the development of the sustainability and social responsibility online course which will be available for students in academic year 2016/17.

The Social Responsibility and Sustainability Academic Network was launched with the aim of bringing together academics, including postgraduate researchers, interested in social responsibility and sustainability related themes, from any discipline. The network enables dialogue on research projects, funding opportunities, teaching, student placements and event organisation. The network encourages academic input into University policy and practice including input into the University’s Climate Strategy Review.

Two students were supported to undertake a placement in Malawi to look at fair trade lentil supply chains, including impacts on livelihoods, and value chain analysis. The project was organised in collaboration between the Business School, School of Geosciences, Department for Social Responsibility and Sustainability, and Just Trading Scotland, who work with farmer associations in Malawi. The University buys fair trade rice from Just Trading Scotland, and has trialled buying fair trade lentils for use in its catering outlets.

The Global Academies continue to promote interdisciplinary research, facilitating reading groups and research mixers to encourage collaborations across academic schools.