Infrastructure Highlights
- The University’s sustainability plans, including carbon management, resources, and biodiversity, all reflect the Scottish Government and Fife Council declared Climate Emergency and the University Strategy.
- The Estates and Residential Business Services units have participated in Climate Impact workshops and produced Climate Impact Assessments, and an internship project was created to review wider policy and capture historical impacts on the University, leading to more detailed workshops planned to capture and baseline detailed risks by estate area.
- A sustainable design guide is issued to design teams which includes requirement to optimise the passive design of the building in terms of orientation, shading, heating, and green roofs.
- The University offers regular training courses on sustainability and climate change for administrators and, in 2023, launched a mandatory module to raise awareness for all students as part of matriculation. Training in Environmental Sustainability Action (TESA) provides students with tips on how to make everyday life choices more sustainable, covering energy, water, travel, biodiversity, food and waste minimisation.
- Training in Environmental Culture is delivered to all administrative staff and researchers.
- Work has begun on evaluating the impact of climate change on the organisation, and the University has participated in the Adaptation Learning Exchange, and Adaptation Capability Framework Benchmarking working group. The University uses the framework’s benchmarking tool to highlight governance and adaptation issues.
- Climate risks are monitored through a continuous review process of the University Risk Register, and risk holders are held accountable for mitigation activities by the University Audit and Risk Committee and University Court. Major service units have prepared Climate Impact Assessments which will be reviewed annually, and the University is also developing a Climate Adaptation Plan, with detailed workshops planned next period.
- In addition to a Senior Procurement Officer with specific responsibility for Sustainability, the University’s Business Transformation Team now has a Project Officer focusing on building Sustainability into the University’s major projects, and the Corporate Communications team now includes a Senior Communications Manager for Sustainability.