University of Bolton

The Student Sustainability Panel

The University of Bolton has a distinctive approach to Higher Education. Our Teaching Intensive, Research Informed model is underpinned by the philosophy of ‘putting our students at the heart of everything we do’ - from curriculum to community, from operations to estates. ‘Putting our students

at the heart of everything we do’ also provides the University of Bolton with a lens through which to view our planning for sustainability. The Student Sustainability Panel aims to put students at the heart of our Environmental Sustainability strategy. The project was initiated by the University, to try to educate and encourage students to get involved in the university’s sustainability agenda.

From the initial activities and conversations with students at the events, it was clear a small number of students were interested in being involved with university sustainability activity to make a difference, so we took a new approach. To allow others to join, we created the Student Sustainability Panel, intending to put students at the heart of our plans for sustainability at the University and to give them a platform to share their views, challenge the university and encourage more students to get involved and take an active part in building a sustainable university community.

The Panel is informing the implementation planning of the University Life Theme of the University’s Environmental Sustainability Strategy and is working with the university and externally appointed consultants to develop the roadmap to net zero.

The Panel currently has 53 members and meets termly or for specific activities such as an event or initiative/strategy consultation.

Top 3 Learnings

1. Our students want to engage in variety of ways that fit around their existing academic, work, and personal commitments.
2. University of Bolton students love to make impact through many small and important changes.
3. University of Bolton makes a difference through frequent action which raises institution-wide awareness.