The University of Nottingham

The world’s first Micro Prospectus

Traditionally a flagship publication, the bulk of the information provided in a university prospectus has been increasingly moving online. Nonetheless, universities continue to print these bulky, colourful, and costly giveaways. The prospectus is an important tool used at outbound and inbound events and a tangible representation of a university.

As a large and prominent Russell Group university, The University of Nottingham serves a traditional audience made up of students, their parents, and teachers. We wanted to ensure that we took our audience with us on our journey to a more digital and sustainable future.

Using lockdown as a lever, the Marketing team at The University of Nottingham created an innovative suite of promotional materials including an alternative to the traditional prospectus that was desirable, memorable, useful, and made a real difference to the environment.

We gave our new product a name – the Micro Prospectus.

Its purpose? To make connecting with the University of Nottingham both irresistible and sustainable.

Annual carbon savings achieved with the initiative:

• CO2t savings 2021/2022: 1,824 (Actual). 
• CO2t savings 2022/2023: 1,824 (Estimated).    
• CO2t savings over the life cycle of the project: 9,120 (Actual/Estimated and over 5 years).

Top 3 Learnings

1. Consult your stakeholders about your ideas early – they have great ideas.
2. Turn adversity into opportunity – to change hearts and minds.
3. Don’t be afraid to iterate – version two is even greener.