Sustainability at UC
Policies and Plans
The University of Canterbury (UC) recognises long-term sustainability as one of the key strategic issues that will increasing affect both the University and wider society.
UC is committed to pursuing equity and environmental sustainability in all the University's activities (UC Charter 2003-2010, p.4), and recently released a new UC Sustainability Strategy (Staff only, PDF, 494 KB) that will help systematically address sustainability across the University. In addition, the University has for several years employed a sustainability advocate to assist its progress in sustainability matters.
Sustainability Vision and Values
The University of Canterbury will be recognised locally, nationally and internationally as a leader and model in its commitment to the principles and practices of sustainability and research, teaching and critique of sustainability in all aspects of its activities. The University's Sustainability Strategy is founded on the following values:
- That the University is recognised nationally and internationally for its research excellence into sustainability-related issues
- That sustainability in terms of both content and process is fully integrated into degree and life-long learning programmes at all levels
- That the University will be recognised locally, nationally and internationally as a tertiary education leader in the fields of sustainable operations and facilities management and sustainable resource utilisation. As such, sustainability shall be embedded into University culture and will be recognised as integral to planning, management and operational decision-making at all levels
- That sustainability will become an integral part of our institution’s culture, both within and beyond the University campus and academic community.
Working Groups
The Sustainability Working Group was responsible for developing the new UC Sustainability Strategy. See the Working Groups page for membership of the working group, and information on other University Working Groups involved with sustainability.
Advancing Sustainability in the Tertiary Education Sector
The University is a member of a number of organisations and
programmes related to sustainability in tertiary education, including:
- The Environmental Sustainability Working Group of the Canterbury Tertiary Alliance (CTA), a partnership between the three major tertiary institutions in Christchurch.
- Australasian Campuses Towards Sustainability (ACTS) - the University of Canterbury is a foundation member of ACTS and co-hosted with Lincoln University and CPIT the ACTS 2008 conference in Christchurch, October 2008.