Q4 highlights for 2019/20

The Department for Social Responsibility and Sustainability (SRS) facilitates programmes to catalyse action and collaboration across campus for impact.

Our infographic summarises some of the highlights over the year and provides our fourth-quarter report for the 2019/20 academic year. 

Download the infographic

For a screen-reader friendly, and easier to view version of the infographic, please download the file below.

19-20 Q4 SRS highlights (386.42 KB PDF)

The Department for Social Responsibility and Sustainability (SRS) was set up in 2013/2014 to support the University to understand, explain and deliver on its social responsibility and sustainability ambitions. We do this through researching and analysing risks and opportunities and working with others to develop the University’s response to these challenges as well as delivering and facilitating programmes to catalyse action and collaboration across campus.

In 2016, we set out a Department Strategy to guide its work through to 2020 with key programmes aligned to seven priority areas: carbon and energy savings; resource efficiency; supply chain SRS; responsible investment; localised advice and projects; community engagement and links to learning and teaching. 

Reporting

Our Quarterly Reporting and the infographic above shares highlights from our staff, student and community engagement and communications over the last quarter and beyond. Annual University wide SRS Reporting tells our story of progress and performance against our commitments. While some things can be counted, not all aspects are easy to show in numbers. Communicating the link between the projects we deliver and real change for people, communities and nature is not always easy. Outputs and inputs can be counted while we recognise that outcomes and longer term impacts are more complicated to measure. We have some successes and are proud of our achievements to date. We also have learned a lot through the work that we have implemented and recognise that we also have more to do in relation to evaluation.

Over recent months, some projects were impacted by Covid-19 but most programmes and services delivered by our Department were able to pivot and be delivered remotely. Like other parts of the University the last few months have brought disruption but also potential for innovation.

Strategy 2030

In September 2019 the University launched Strategy 2030 with a vision to make the world a better place. The Social and Civic Responsibility Plan approved in April 2020 has identified strategic objectives in relation to the climate emergency; circular economy; biodiversity; inclusion; diversity; local communities and our contributions to the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Through the delivery of the new Social and Civic Responsibility Plan we will be on track to be net zero carbon, climate conscious thinking will be embedded across our estate, our travel, our curriculum and our research. Our investments and purchasing will be supporting the SDGs locally and globally. By 2030, we will have eliminated single use plastics wherever possible and shown what a resource-conscious, circular economy University looks like. Our University will be making a positive contribution to equity, using our resources where we can to support the fight against poverty, disadvantage and lack of opportunity.

Get involved

Through the programmes we deliver in SRS we will contribute to the delivery of this Plan and work with others to embed sustainability and social responsibility across the University. Get in touch. Get involved. We look forward to working with you in 20/21.

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Michelle Brown September 2020