Sustainability and the changing regulatory and competitive landscape of higher education

1
Sustainability and the changing regulatory and
competitive landscape of higher education
Alison Johns Head of Leadership, Governance and
Management
2
Purpose of presentation

• HEFCE the story so far
• What is sustainable development?
• What are institutions doing?
• Opportunities and challenges
• What is HEFCE doing now and next?

3
HEFCE- the story so far..

• Historically - project based approach
• DfES sustainable development action plan - 2003
• Consultation January 2005
• Sustainable development in higher education
  (HEFCE 2005/28) July 2005
• DfES sustainable development action plan 2006

4
Vision

• Our vision is that, within the next 10 years, the
  higher education sector in England will be
  recognised as a major contributor to society's
  efforts to achieve sustainability - through the
  skills and knowledge that its graduates learn and
  put into practice, and through its own strategies
  and operations.

5
What is sustainable development?

• Bruntland definition
• development which meets the needs of the
  present without compromising the ability of
  future generations to meet their own needs.
• Guiding principles
• living within environmental limits
• ensuring a strong, healthy and just society
• achieving a sustainable economy
• promoting good governance
• using sound science responsibly

6
Long-term trends

• Rapid demographic change
• Global economic integration
• Faster innovation and technological change
• Pressures on our natural resources and global
  climate from rapid economic and population growth
  in the developing world and sustained demand for
  fossil fuels in advanced economies
• Global uncertainty

7
(No Transcript)
8
Earth from the Air

• The use of fossil fuels has multiplied by 5 in
  the last 20 years. Wind energy could provide up
  to 20 of the UKs electricity needs

9
Earth from the Air

• 20 of the worlds population do not have access
  to safe drinking water

10
Earth from the Air

• More than 3 billion people (half of the worlds
  population live on less than 2 a day)

11
What are HEIs doing?

• A great deal!
• Embed principles
• Educators
• Knowledge creation and transfer
• Strengthen links
• Business strategy and operations

12
(No Transcript)
13
Opportunities?

• International position
• Stronger business case
• Large increases in energy prices
• Stronger regulatory environment
• Risk management

14
Business opportunities

• General Electric Company
• Ecomagination
• Addressing the problems of tomorrow today
• Citizenship report

15
Opportunities?

• International position
• Stronger business case
• Large increases in energy prices
• Stronger regulatory environment
• Risk management
• Holistic approach
• Branding

16
University of Bradford Ecoversity project

• Not just learning about sustainability its also
  about living sustainably

17
Challenges?

• Definition
• Trade offs
• Short term vs. long term
• Autonomous institutions

18
Whats happening now and next?

• Strategic plan
• Strategic review
• HEPS evaluation
• Implementing actions by end of 2007
• HEFCEs own operations
• Building and disseminating good practice

19
Whats happening now and next?

• Working with stakeholders
• Curriculum
• CETLs
• Higher Education Academy
• Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF)
• Capital Investment Framework