In honor of Earth Day, ACEEU is highlighting ways Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) engage in green practices. Part of ACEEU’s mission is recognizing and rewarding universities’ entrepreneurship and engagement efforts to support a sustainable regional ecosystem. The Triple E Awards are a chance to promote HEIs that are using Third Mission activities to ensure a greener future for their students, communities, and regions.
Triple E Awards Green University of the Year
The Green University of the Year Award celebrates higher education institutions that have demonstrated outstanding commitment and achievement in sustainability, environmental conservation, and green practices. The award aligns with ACEEU's core focus of promoting university engagement and entrepreneurship and underscores the importance of environmental responsibility in higher education.
Institutions applying for the Green University of the Year Award are evaluated based on their: concept or strategy for protecting the environment; institutional commitment towards implementing green practices; position as a role model and leader in promoting environmental protection in their community and beyond; and actual environmental outcomes and impacts generated by the university. The award process first draws on the expertise of a panel to evaluate the submissions. Second, a pool of finalists is presented for a live public vote during the Triple E Awards. This People's Choice voting process increases engagement and transparency, allowing stakeholders to have a say in selecting their own winner and gain inspiration from the finalists’ sustainable initiatives.
Finalists from 2023
Management & Science University, Malaysia
The People’s Choice winner of the 2023 Green University of the Year, Management & Science University (MSU) of Malaysia, aspires to lead a global transition to a better future at the higher education level. MSU prioritizes sustainability at the institutional level through its study programs and applied research, as well as at the regional level through its strategic external partnerships and community engagement.
Approximately 20,000 students benefit from on-site green practices - such as solar-powered lighting, rainwater harvesting, and motion sensors for water use – and gain hands-on experience through environmental impact programs to become future leaders in sustainability. These programs are part of MSU’s 1,315 different initiatives, which include dozens of environmental rehabilitation and preservation programs, to establish themselves as a global leader in sustainability.
Through its green initiatives, MSU has contributed to all seventeen of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It should not come as a surprise, therefore, that in addition to winning for the institution-level, global sustainability category, this highly enterprising and engaged institution is also an ACEEU-accredited university!
University of New South Wales, Australia
University of New South Wales (UNSW) has four main campuses in Australia: Kensington, Paddington, Sydney AND Canberra. With over 63,232 students and 7,230 staff, UNSW prioritizes values represented by their commitment to value diversity of thought, integrity, innovation and strong connection with the community. Since 2019, UNSW has been implementing a two-year Environmental Sustainability Plan, accompanied by an annual report available on its website.
UNSW’s Triple E Awards nomination relates to its initiative “Towards net zero: Putting our research into action”. UNSW is leading the way in sustainability by calculating and sharing its full emissions footprint. In 2020, it became the first university to do this and set the goal to bring its total emissions down to net zero. A big finding for the university in this process was that over 80% of UNSW's emissions came from indirect sources like buying goods and services, travel, and commuting, rather than directly from the university itself. That's why UNSW is making the switch to renewable energy and calling on everyone - students, staff, suppliers, and partners - to help cut emissions together.
Wilfrid Laurier University, Canada
Wilfrid Laurier University has two main campuses in Canada: Waterloo and Brandford, with over 22,115 students and 2,425 academic staff. Laurier’s values focus now on thriving community and future readiness, to address societal challenges and seizing new opportunities. Since 2010, a Sustainability Office was created at the university by and for students to create a culture of sustainability by engaging, promoting and coordinating action with all university stakeholders.
The nomination for the Wilfrid Laurier University Triple E Awards is linked to its initiative “Fostering Sustainability – minded campus communities – inspiring lives”. Laurier promotes sustainability through initiatives like the Sustainable Hawk Fund. This fund encourages entrepreneurship and community involvement to incorporate eco-friendly practices into the university. So far, it has supported 48 projects covering various topics such as a recycling program and helping the declining honeybee populations by managing colonies at the One Market Building on Laurier’s Brantford campus. For future action plans, Wilfrid Laurier University’s key themes include human and ecosystem health and well-being, climate action, and social sustainability
Riga Technical University, Latvia
Riga Technical University (RTU) in Latvia has over 13,039 students and 1,377 academic staff. Sustainable development is one of the university's strategies: key actions contributing towards seven of the SDGs are published on the RTU’s website.
RTU’s Triple E Awards nomination align with its initiative “RTU Campus – A green city within a city”. The institution’s most relevant action points in terms of sustainability practices included in its Green Campus concept is the development of green innovation. One example is a cooperative project between RTU scientists and enterprises from Lithuania and the USA to modify bitumen and asphalt concrete with a hybrid composite material made of rubber granules and a polymer. Both input materials are obtained from waste. RTU scientists' contributions were recognized by the Latvian Academy of Sciences and are highlighted as an important input for the circular economy in the Baltic Region.
Conclusion
There are many ways to introduce sustainability in Higher Education. The commonality between these institutions is that they are spearheading the green transformation through institutional vision and impact, which is why ACEEU recognizes them as excellent examples of sustainability leaders. It’s ACEEU’s mission to celebrate institutions that are already committed to green practices and inspire others to adopt initiatives and strategies to positively impact the environment and society.
ACEEU Triple E Awards, "Finalists - Global Awards," https://europe-africa2024.triple-e-awards.com/finalists/region/2023global
ACEEU would like to thank all institutions who are committed to making changes for a sustainable future, and especially our 2023 finalists!
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