In response to the Universities that Count Annual Report 2009: ‘The Environmental and Social Responsibility Benchmarking Programme for Performance Improvement in UK Higher Education’ Libby Aston, Director of University Alliance, said:
“This report shows that Alliance universities have again excelled in the area of environmental and social responsibility.
“This report highlights the University Alliance members’ commitment to and achievements in corporate social responsibility.
“More than half (54.5%) of all University Alliance members participated in the report, and despite representing only 1 in 5 of the universities included in the study, Alliance institutions feature heavily in the ‘top performer’ tables.
“Alliance universities are among the top performers in a number of categories in the report. Most notably, four out of five of the top performers for the ‘Teaching, Learning and Research’ category were Alliance universities (1). These results emphasise the commitment of Alliance institutions to key areas of development: through research focussed on the prospect of finding solutions to the world’s sustainability problems, and teaching which influences graduates to act more sustainably in their wider environment.
“In addition, Alliance members were placed as four out of the top five performers for ‘Marketplace Management’ (2) (which examines the sustainable sourcing, buying, outsourcing and commissioning of products, services and buildings) and four out of the top six performers for ‘Travel Management’ (3) (examining staff commuting, student travel and academic conference travel).”
Ends
Notes for Editors
(1) University of Bradford, University of Gloucestershire, University of Plymouth and University of the West of England, Bristol.
(2) University of Gloucestershire, Nottingham Trent University, University of Plymouth and University of the West of England, Bristol.
(3) Bournemouth University, De Montfort University, University of Hertfordshire and Nottingham Trent University.
About University Alliance
Established in 2006, University Alliance represents 22 universities at the heart of the sector that are both research-engaged and business-focussed. Alliance universities are actively engaged in their economic and social environments with close links to the professions, new industries and a deep-rooted commitment to access through flexible provision. Alliance universities educate 26% of all UK students and have high graduate employment rates, offering a research-informed learning environment and equipping graduates for the 21st century.
Members of University Alliance
Aberystwyth University, Bournemouth University, University of Bradford, De Montfort University, University of Glamorgan, University of Gloucestershire, University of Hertfordshire, University of Huddersfield, University of Lincoln, Liverpool John Moores University, Manchester Metropolitan University, Northumbria University, Nottingham Trent University, Open University, Oxford Brookes University, University of Plymouth, University of Portsmouth, University of Salford, Sheffield Hallam University, University of Wales Institute, Cardiff, University of Wales, Newport, University of the West of England.
For further information, please contact:
Alexandra Harris, University Alliance – 0203 1787491
