The Sustainable Development Goals are the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. They address the global challenges we face, including those related to poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace, and justice. 

The purpose of the SDG Accord is to inspire, celebrate and advance the critical role that education has in delivering the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the value it brings to governments, business, and wider society. 

Individual students, researchers, academics, and operational staff can sign the SDG Accord to make a personal and professional commitment to playing their part. 

An individual can contribute to Sustainable Development Goals in various ways such as by wasting less food, helping people around you, reducing water use, avoiding products that are harmful to the environment (e.g. plastics), recycling, and buying energy-efficient appliances. 

If you wish to sign up, you can do so here: https://www.sdgaccord.org/  

We all have a role to play in reducing our carbon emissions. 

Carbon Literacy training offers the chance to develop your understanding, with the knowledge to cut your carbon footprint and the confidence to talk to others about the vital issues that matter to you. Any member of staff can take part in USW’s Carbon Literacy training programme to develop the knowledge and confidence to make positive change for yourself and the planet. 

The course is offered online and in person periodically throughout the year. For more details, visit UN PRME Climate.

We are keen to support students with their studies through the provision of placements or project/research support where possible. We have projects and sustainability challenges that can provide valuable ‘real world’ opportunities for students to integrate into their studies and also to work alongside the University’s Estates and Sustainability teams. Please speak to your tutor or contact the Sustainability Team for more information. 

Do you have an idea that could make our campus more sustainable? Whether you are a student with a vision for zero-waste living or a staff member with a plan for carbon reduction in your department, USW's Sustainability Fund is here to help.

We are able to offer a total of £1,500 each academic year to support staff and students to take action in their departments or across our campuses.  We are offering small-scale grants of up to £250 to support projects that help USW achieve its sustainability commitments and goals.  

We are keen to engage with staff and students to collectively create a sustainable USW estate. We know that solutions to reducing our impacts can come from different people in many different roles across the University.

What we will fund

We are looking for creative, impactful, and practical projects that align with our core sustainability goals:

  • Campus Environmental Initiatives: Enhancing local biodiversity, improving green spaces, or reducing waste on campus.
  • Carbon Reduction: Creative ways to save energy, promote active travel, or lower the footprint of departmental operations.
  • Sustainability Education: Workshops, awareness campaigns, or resources that help our community learn about climate action and sustainable living.

How to apply

  • The fund is open to all current students and staff members.
  • Ensure your project is based on campus and offers a measurable sustainability benefit.
  • Complete our short online form detailing what you would like to do and how you’ll spend the £250.
  • Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
  • If you wish to discuss your ideas, we are happy to help you to develop them - contact us at [email protected].

Application and evaluation process

  • In order to qualify for funding, you must be an existing member of staff or student within USW.
  • Funding can be used for initiatives or projects across all USW campuses.  
  • Applications will initially be considered by the Sustainability team and then presented for discussion at the quarterly Sustainability Committee meetings.  All decisions will be communicated to you via the email provided.
  • Send the application for to us, once it has been completed.
  • All funding must be spent within 3 months of notification of the funding decision.  Any remaining funds that are not spent will be reclaimed after this period.
  • Following the successful completion of the project or initiative, applicants will be required to write a short paragraph about their project, how it contributed to sustainability at USW and provide us with photos we can use.
  • We will include a short summary of all the projects/initiatives completed through the Sustainability Fund in our communications and annual reporting.
  • We will consider funding all types of projects including biodiversity, energy/water use, waste reduction, education and awareness, sustainable travel, equipment and changing behaviours as long as they contribute to sustainability within our campuses or University community.

 

 

The University encourages Student Say. This is demonstrated in a number of ways including student representation on University committees and among our Sustainability Champions. 

We currently have student representation on the Board of Governors, our ultimate governing authority. The Governing Body has planning and strategic responsibility and will receive and approve many significant estates and finance decisions. The Board also has a HR Committee with a student member, and our Academic Board includes two students. Therefore students are involved and engaged in key decision making across the University, which has a direct impact on our movement to a sustainable future. 

We also actively engage with students through the Students' Union change week where there are opportunities to get involved.