A university’s transformational change agenda

Longhurst, Jim; Gough, Georgina; Brooks, Ian

Abstract

This chapter presents a chronological review of the University of West of England, Bristol (UWE) and its engagement with the environmental agenda of the late 20th century before reviewing its transformational sustainability agenda over the last twenty years within the university staff, student and leadership bodies. It considers actions undertaken by staff to promote environmental action in the late 1990s and explores key factors that have enabled, supported and directed the sustainability agenda within the university. Significant amongst these factors have been the interests and enthusiasm of staff, the expectation and latterly demand of students, and senior staff leadership. In the last two decades strategic direction has become clearer and embedded within the overarching university strategy that, in turn, has set clear targets and timescales for action. The university has been willing to embrace change and has learned from failure to fully embed sustainability within decision making or to carry through sustainability ambitions when faced with short-term cost challenges or value engineering decisions. These latter issues have improved through external certification to ISO 14001 and Responsible Futures accreditation as well as from the increasing expectation of students and staff for demonstrably sustainable outcomes from university actions and investments. Throughout the university’s transformational change process a critically important element has been the partnership with the Students’ Union (SU) External drivers of transformational change are discussed and opportunities to celebrate sustainability actions, such as in 2015 when Bristol was the European Green Capital noted. Four case studies conclude the chapter exemplifying the transformation the university has undergone over the last thirty years as it addressed the environmental and later the sustainability challenges that society faces.

• Online Publication Date: Jan 12, 2023
• Publication Date: Feb 9, 2023
• Deposit Date: Mar 6, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 13, 2023
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
• Edition: 1st
• Book Title: Bloomsbury Handbook Of Sustainability In Higher Education: An Agenda For Transformational Change
• ISBN: 9781350244344
• Keywords: UWE Bristol, Transformational, ESD, Change, Chronology
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/10488685
• Publisher URL: https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/bloomsbury-handbook-of-sustainability-in-higher-education-9781350244368/