| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 73.80 |
| Liaison | Corey Peterson |
| Submission Date | June 2, 2022 |
University of Tasmania
EN-11: Inter-Campus Collaboration
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.00 / 3.00 |
Sustainability
Team UTAS Infrastructure Services and Development |
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indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Is the institution currently a member of a national or international higher education sustainability network?:
Yes
The name of the national or international sustainability network(s):
Australasian Campuses Towards Sustainability (ACTS)
Global Universities Climate Alliance
Australasian STARS network (supported jointly by AASHE and ACTS)
Global Universities Climate Alliance
Australasian STARS network (supported jointly by AASHE and ACTS)
Does the institution actively participate in a regional, state/provincial, or local higher education sustainability network?:
Yes
The name of the regional, state/provincial or local sustainability network(s):
Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN)
Tertiary Sustainability Network (Victoria/Tasmania)
UN SDGS Network - Tasmania
Education for Sustainability Tasmania: a UN-recognised Regional Centre of Expertise
Tertiary Sustainability Network (Victoria/Tasmania)
UN SDGS Network - Tasmania
Education for Sustainability Tasmania: a UN-recognised Regional Centre of Expertise
Has the institution presented at a higher education sustainability conference during the previous year?:
Yes
A list or brief description of the conference(s) and presentation(s):
While there has been a significant decrease in higher education conference opportunities in 2020 and 2021, the UTAS Chief Sustainability Officer presented at the EAUC 2021 Virtual Global Climate Conference in the Race 2 Zero session titled "Responding to the climate emergency, the University of Tasmania takes a tandem approach, achieving carbon neutral certification in 2016 through offsetting and instituting emissions reduction efforts across all three scopes." The CSO also presented at the Climate Action Network - International Education (CANIE) Leaders Conference 2021.
A presentation by the Senior Sustainability Officer was also conducted at the 2021 Asia Pacific webinar "Your path to impact in the Race to Zero: How universities and colleges can lead on climate and transform our collective future" organised by Alliance for Climate Action.
UTAS also participated in the AASHE Conference in 2021 as a host institution with 40 staff and students joining.
A presentation by the Senior Sustainability Officer was also conducted at the 2021 Asia Pacific webinar "Your path to impact in the Race to Zero: How universities and colleges can lead on climate and transform our collective future" organised by Alliance for Climate Action.
UTAS also participated in the AASHE Conference in 2021 as a host institution with 40 staff and students joining.
Has the institution submitted a case study during the previous year to an external higher education sustainability resource center or awards program?:
Yes
A list or brief description of the sustainability resource center or awards program and submission(s):
The following case studies was submitted to Green Gown Awards Australasia in 2021, with winners and highly commended being publicly available on the ACTS website (https://ggaa.acts.asn.au/2021awards/):
- Sustainability Institute of the Year (winner) - The University of Tasmania (UTAS) has increasingly upped its commitment to deliver/exemplify sustainability, but from 2019 there has been a step change for broader and deeper institution-wide action to deliver a leading sustainable university. Our collective sustainability commitment, based on the UN Sustainable Development Goals, is embedded in our University Strategic Plan 2019-2024. Our University Council endorsed our first holistic Strategic Framework for Sustainability (2019) and a new principles-based Sustainability Policy (2020). To lead the change, our University Executive established the Sustainability Mission Integrator role (2020).
- Student Engagement (winner) - The University of Tasmania Sustainability Integration Program for Students (SIPS) is a best-practice example of place-based student engagement and sustainability education in the tertiary education sector. Since 2010, the program has involved thousands of students in real-world sustainability challenges and created opportunities for student leadership. SIPS provides meaningful, authentic learning experiences for students via the collaborative design of focused learning programs that address on-campus operational priorities.
- Climate Action (highly commended) - The University of Tasmania (UTAS) became carbon neutral certified (by the Commonwealth Climate Active Carbon Neutral Standard) in 2016, as one of only two certified Australian universities. Joining Race to Zero in early 2021 underpins our commitment and recognises the climate emergency. Already carbon neutral, UTAS meets all Race To Zero criteria (pledge, plan, proceed, publish). While emissions reductions are already embedded in energy, transport and waste plans, a targeted Emissions Reduction Plan by source focuses on further reductions. Residual emissions are offset through domestic and international projects with environmental and social co-benefits.
UTAS has also submitted an award nomination to the International Sustainable Campus Network awards 2022.
- Sustainability Institute of the Year (winner) - The University of Tasmania (UTAS) has increasingly upped its commitment to deliver/exemplify sustainability, but from 2019 there has been a step change for broader and deeper institution-wide action to deliver a leading sustainable university. Our collective sustainability commitment, based on the UN Sustainable Development Goals, is embedded in our University Strategic Plan 2019-2024. Our University Council endorsed our first holistic Strategic Framework for Sustainability (2019) and a new principles-based Sustainability Policy (2020). To lead the change, our University Executive established the Sustainability Mission Integrator role (2020).
- Student Engagement (winner) - The University of Tasmania Sustainability Integration Program for Students (SIPS) is a best-practice example of place-based student engagement and sustainability education in the tertiary education sector. Since 2010, the program has involved thousands of students in real-world sustainability challenges and created opportunities for student leadership. SIPS provides meaningful, authentic learning experiences for students via the collaborative design of focused learning programs that address on-campus operational priorities.
- Climate Action (highly commended) - The University of Tasmania (UTAS) became carbon neutral certified (by the Commonwealth Climate Active Carbon Neutral Standard) in 2016, as one of only two certified Australian universities. Joining Race to Zero in early 2021 underpins our commitment and recognises the climate emergency. Already carbon neutral, UTAS meets all Race To Zero criteria (pledge, plan, proceed, publish). While emissions reductions are already embedded in energy, transport and waste plans, a targeted Emissions Reduction Plan by source focuses on further reductions. Residual emissions are offset through domestic and international projects with environmental and social co-benefits.
UTAS has also submitted an award nomination to the International Sustainable Campus Network awards 2022.
Has the institution had employees or students serving on a board or committee of a sustainability network or conference during the previous three years?:
Yes
A list or brief description of the board or committee appointment(s):
Australasian Campuses Towards Sustainability (ACTS) voluntary Executive Board:
- Corey Peterson (Chief Sustainability Officer): Director from 2012 to 2019, and as President since 2019
- Carmen Primo Perez (Senior Sustainability Officer): Treasurer since 2018
Education for Sustainability Tasmania Steering Committee (at various times): Kim Beasy, Sandra Murray, Graham Wood, Caroline Smith, Corey Peterson and Carmen Primo Perez (Note: EfS Tasmania is a United Nations recognised Regional Centre of Expertise)
Ally Network Leadership Group: several staff and students
- Corey Peterson (Chief Sustainability Officer): Director from 2012 to 2019, and as President since 2019
- Carmen Primo Perez (Senior Sustainability Officer): Treasurer since 2018
Education for Sustainability Tasmania Steering Committee (at various times): Kim Beasy, Sandra Murray, Graham Wood, Caroline Smith, Corey Peterson and Carmen Primo Perez (Note: EfS Tasmania is a United Nations recognised Regional Centre of Expertise)
Ally Network Leadership Group: several staff and students
Does the institution have an ongoing mentoring relationship with another institution through which it assists the institution with its sustainability reporting and/or the development of its sustainability program?:
No
A brief description of the mentoring relationship and activities:
---
Has the institution had employees or students serving as peer reviewers of another institution’s sustainability data and/or STARS submission during the previous three years?:
Yes
A brief description of the peer review activities:
We were part of the International Green Gown Awards judging panel in 2021, and reviewed 9 universities' applications for the student engagement category.
We peer reviewed the University of Queensland's STARS submission in 2020 and intend to do it again in their 2022 submission.
We peer reviewed the University of Queensland's STARS submission in 2020 and intend to do it again in their 2022 submission.
Optional Fields
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Website URL where information about the institution’s inter-campus collaborations is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
ACTS membership: https://www.acts.asn.au/membership/#memberdirectory
ACTS conference: https://conference.acts.asn.au/
Green Gown Awards Australasia: https://ggaa.acts.asn.au/
Green Impact Awards: https://greenimpact.acts.asn.au/green-impact-australasian-awards/
EAUC 2021 Virtual Global Climate Conference: https://www.eaucconference.org.uk/programme
ACTS Executive Board: https://www.acts.asn.au/about-us/
ACTS conference: https://conference.acts.asn.au/
Green Gown Awards Australasia: https://ggaa.acts.asn.au/
Green Impact Awards: https://greenimpact.acts.asn.au/green-impact-australasian-awards/
EAUC 2021 Virtual Global Climate Conference: https://www.eaucconference.org.uk/programme
ACTS Executive Board: https://www.acts.asn.au/about-us/
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.