Our Vision
To foster a sustainable future for all.
Our Mission
To lead and collaborate across generations in advancing environmental social, and economic sustainability.
Introduction
The University of Strathclyde recognises that as a socially progressive and leading international technological institution, all staff and students have an integral role to play in addressing the significant and urgent environmental and societal challenges we face.
It is our ambition that we lead by example and ensure our actions contribute to the necessary changes for promoting the long-term well-being of people and planet.
We will do this by placing sustainability at the heart of all the University’s activities. We will set ambitious targets to decarbonise our operations, and drive innovation in our teaching and research to support the skills and competencies needed for rapid and just social, economic, and environmental transitions.
Significant change must be achieved through targeted, measurable, and verifiable steps.
To keep us on track, we will be developing a Strategy Implementation Plan. This will provide a more detailed breakdown of our deliverables and metrics across all four themes from 2025 to 2030, ensuring accountability and progress measurement.
Our Commitment
Social and environmental sustainability sits at the heart of our institutional strategy. It is a key priority that supports the achievement of the Strathclyde 2030 goals for delivering:
- Outstanding education & student experience
- World leading research
- Transformative innovation & impact
- Global engagement
- Operational excellence
Within Strathclyde 2030, our institutional strategy, we have specific sustainability Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that will support and drive these ambitions. We recognise that sustainability is integral to all institutional KPIs and this strategy seeks to pave the way towards a whole institution approach where it is considered in everything we do.
This strategy and its KPIs have been shaped through extensive engagement with students and staff across the University.
We are committed to regularly review our ambitions and progress to ensure the strategy remains effective and continues to reflect the evolving perspectives of our community. The activities set out in this strategy will also contribute to the achievement to several other University KPIs.
Scope
This strategy outlines the responsibilities of all staff and students, and our duty of care to our community, in Glasgow and beyond*.
*Some technical language is used throughout this document. Full definitions can be found in the glossary.
Download our Social & Environmental Sustainability Strategy
Key performance indicators (KPIs)
KPI 15: Sustainable Development
All education programmes will have programme level learning outcomes related to education for sustainable development by 2027, which encompass the integration of the UNESCO Education for Sustainable Development skills and competencies, the UN Sustainable Development Goals and appropriate pedagogical methods.
Increase our research and innovation related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) year-on-year.
KPI 16: Carbon Emissions
80% reduction from 2018/19 baseline for Scope 1, 2 and Scope 3 (where this is quantifiable) by 2030, with the remainder of Scope 3 and 4 to be routinely reviewed and played in as appropriate over the planning period, achieving Net Zero by 2040 at the latest.
Delivery Principles
Our five principles underpin the delivery of our strategy, and are aligned with our institutional values:
We will anticipate future challenges and set ambitious yet realistic goals, sharing our progress openly.
We will nurture a culture where everyone feels valued and heard. We will motivate people to act by embracing diversity, uplifting underrepresented voices, and responding to the needs of both our local community and the wider world.
We will work to reduce impacts of unsustainable development, restoring our environment and enhancing long-term human well-being.
We will support a just transition by collaborating across disciplines, sectors and communities to co-create innovative solutions to complex challenges.
We will embed sustainability into governance, operations and strategy – ensuring ethical, evidence-based decisions across all areas of University life.
Our approach to sustainability
We will achieve impact and transformation by embedding sustainability in all we do. At the heart of the strategy are four inter-connected themes.
These themes are built on a core belief: we can only make a real difference for our environment and society if we work together. That means fair and effective partnerships with people from different disciplines, industries, communities, and across different countries and cultures.
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Delivering the strategy
Find out how we plan to implement, govern, report and maintain the Social & Environmental Sustainability Strategy.
Be part of the strategy
How can you play your part? There are lots of important roles to play in delivering the strategy. Find out how you can help.
Our progress
We are committed to keeping our staff and students informed of our progress towards our social and environmental sustainability vision.