University of Wales Trinity Saint David wins prestigious EAUC Green Gown Award

UWTSD’s Carmarthen Business School has won a Green Gown Award in the ‘Tomorrow’s Employees’ category for their ‘Rethinking Business for a Changing World’ initiative.

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Established in 2004, the Green Gown Awards recognise the exceptional sustainability initiatives being undertaken by universities and colleges. With sustainability moving up the agenda, the Awards have become established as the most prestigious recognition of best practice within the further and higher education sector.

The University’s ‘Rethinking Business for a Changing World’ initiative has set out on a mission to change the nature of Business as a discipline in Higher Education. Two years ago, UWTSD’s Carmarthen Business School began with a clean sheet of paper to design a series of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes which are underpinned by sustainable and ethical and responsible thinking. Within each module students study an aspect of business through a sustainability lens which draws from the Sustainable Development Goals as well as the Well Being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015.

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Dr Louise Emanuel, Programme Director for BA Business Management on the University’s Carmarthen Campus said:

“We’re delighted to have won this award and to be recognised for our sector leading work.  The judges were impressed by the decisive and dramatic way the Business school has repositioned itself through sustainability by rethinking our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.  At Carmarthen Business School we strive to ensure that our graduates are equipped with the understanding, empathy and creativity to improve the economic, social, environmental and cultural well-being of both Wales and other nations.  It is expected that following the course completion, our graduates will become a part of the shaping of business thinking in the world for our next generations.”

The University’s Strategic Plan makes the commitment of the University clear through key performance indicators to embed sustainability as a core principle across all aspects of the University.  Dr Jane Davidson, Pro Vice-Chancellor for External Engagement and Sustainability and Director of INSPIRE, said: “A university’s primary role is to educate current and future generations for whatever challenges lie ahead. UWTSD’s commitment to ensuring that our students – tomorrow’s employees – are exposed to next generation learning and skills is absolute. I commend and congratulate colleagues on their exciting work delivered in partnership with employers and other organisations which will ensure benefit current and future generations.”

Professor Medwin Hughes, DL,Vice Chancellor commented:

“These are prestigious accolades and they acknowledge our commitment to sustainability as one of our core values to ensure our students and graduates develop the skills and attributes that are required by employers and society across the world. Colleagues and students across the UWTSD Group have worked diligently to ensure that this important agenda is embedded throughout our core operations and culture.”

The 14th edition of the prestigious Green Gown Awards Ceremony gathered 87 finalist institutions in 12 different categories for an unforgettable evening on Thursday 8th November. Representing over 1 million students, 172,000 staff and a combined annual turnover of £15 billion, these institutions are proving their value to the economy and society. Organised by the EAUC, the Ceremony was held in the home of iconic locomotives and engineering brilliance, The National Railway Museum in York in conjunction with the University of York and York St John University.

Iain Patton, CEO of the EAUC, co-hosted the ceremony alongside Helen Browning OBE, CEO of the Soil Association. Opening the awards, Iain added: “Tonight’s celebration emphasises the role of education in enabling and empowering young people to tackle the pressing global issues we are all facing. In their commitment to meeting the Sustainable Development Goals, universities and colleges across the UK and Ireland are proving that they are leading through their research, enterprise and education for the next generation that we need to provide the solutions.”