Canterbury Christ Church University and Christ Church Students' Union win award for embedding sustainability and social responsibility into their curriculum
CCCU and CCSU have been awarded the NUS Responsible Futures accreditation. This reflects the institution and students’ union’s shared commitment to embedding sustainability and social responsibility across the formal and informal curriculum.
This initiative also extended to our Eco Students Society as well as working together with University of Kent students to spread the message and work on projects within Canterbury.
Highlights this year have included being one of the first universities to be composting our food waste on site with the installation of our very own Ridan Food Waste Composter.
Since its launch in 2014, 30 institutions have worked with their students’ unions across the UK to take part in Responsible Futures, demonstrating their commitment to creating an environment where education for sustainable development can thrive.
NUS’ aim is to see students leave formal education with the knowledge, skills, attributes, and values required to critically challenge the world around them, and a desire and willingness to tackle social, economic, and environmental issues and inequalities.
"We're so proud of our partnership with the university and the opportunity to collaborate on everything we've achieved. Our Eco Students Society only formed this year but have done some amazing work and we're so happy they've been part of this process." - Ellie Martin, Advice & Projects Coordinator, Christ Church Students' Union
NUS Vice President (Society and Citizenship) Zamzam Ibrahim commented:
“60 per cent of students want to learn more about sustainability, and Responsible Futures is making that happen”
“We need our graduates to meet the challenges of the century ahead of us, not to repeat the mistakes of the decades behind us. That’s why I’m so thrilled that Christ Church have been accredited by Responsible Futures.
Whether studying business, hair and beauty, English, geography, or bricklaying, our education system has to help students leave their institutions as part of the solution to our sustainability challenges. Reforming the curriculum is a huge part of this. Shaping education is the first step to shaping the whole of society, and I can’t wait to see Christ Church build on their Responsible Futures accreditation in the years to come”
Responsible Futures offers a framework and certification of a whole institution’s commitment to sustainability and social responsibility, and having an enabling environment for it to thrive, rather than an endpoint. Following an audit led by students trained by NUS, Christ Church were rewarded the Responsible Futures Accreditation for their achievements.