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Scope of the report
Sustainability is at the heart of BU2025 and the Fusion model of uniting education, research and professional practice. This report summarises the progress made against BU2025 sustainability outcomes and actions for the period 1 August 2018 to 31 December 2019, unless otherwise stated. BU2025 is underpinned by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).
The key BU2025 outcomes are: We are a catalyst for sustainable social, environmental and economic growth and development We enrich society by having a significant impact on challenges world-wide
The key BU2025 actions are:
Support our staff from all parts of BU and students to take a responsible approach to the environment and sustainable development Take a leading position on our own environmental impact 44 45
Learning for the future
Vice-Chancellor John Vinney signed the SDG Accord in summer 2018, which commits BU to “inspire, celebrate and advance the critical role that education has in delivering the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”
BU featured as a case study in the second annual SDG Accord report, Progress towards the Global Goals in the University and College sector, which was launched at the United Nation’s High Level Political Forum in New York on 10 August 2019 by the Global Alliance – a partnership of the world’s universities, colleges and sustainability networks.
BU has committed to aligning all of our programmes and research with the UN Sustainable Development Goals by 2025. Over the past year, we have had conversations with academics from every department as we strive to embed sustainable development within all undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. As a result, 91% of Programme Leaders recognised their programmes as aligning with one or more of the UN SDGs. We recognise this as a valuable first step in ensuring we prepare our graduates to become active, global citizens. Within our bidding process, researchers must identify whether their project aligns to the UN SDGs, ensuring that our outputs are positive on planet and people. We have also created the Sustainability, Low Carbon Technology & Materials Science Strategic Investment Area, which recognises sustainability as a key research area at BU.
