Leading the charge towards global goals
18 December 2017
Empowering University staff to take a lead in creating a more sustainable University and planet was the focus of two recent events.
Two interactive forums for professional staff put the spotlight on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and how staff can help foster support and action on sustainability.
The SDGs are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure all people enjoy peace and prosperity, via 17 aspirational goals and accompanying targets to 2030.
The University supports the SDGs through its membership of the UN-initiated Sustainable Development Solutions Network.
A recent forum, titled Bringing out the bunting: leading sustainability, brought together professional staff managers in faculties as well as service divisions including Library and Learning Services, Academic Services, Research, Campus Life, Finance, IT, Property Services and Human Resources, supported by People and Organisational Development.
Surrounded by SDG-themed bunting in the Fale Pasifika, the group explored their existing knowledge and engagement with the SDGs and how they could take a lead on sustainability within the University.
The forum was engaging as well as thought-provoking. It was uplifting to learn how much activity is already being undertaken at the University as well as by our staff in a personal capacity. We were challenged to take that next practical step.
Staff Development Manager Karen Davies, of People and Organisational Development, says the session was part of the 2017 Leadership Conversations programme.
“This programme enables leaders to develop their leadership practice while exploring topics of strategic importance to the University. Each session provides them with an opportunity to take the activity back to their team.”
Sustainability and Environment Manager Dr Lesley Stone adds: “We would like to see this as something they can pick up and run with by inspiring and supporting others to take action. We encourage them to continue the conversation and spread the word about the SDGs, perhaps through running workshops with their own teams.”
Meanwhile, Faculty of Education and Social Work professional staff held their annual end of year event with this year’s theme acknowledging and reflecting on the global goals.
The 60 attendants, from teams across the faculty, donated pantry items for the City Mission as a small way of contributing to the ‘Zero Hunger’ goal.
A guest speaker talked about the significance these contributions make to families in difficulty, having herself been in a family home, and a recipient of a donated soft toy that she has loved for 35 years.
The forum also provided an opportunity to hear from recipients of the 2017 development fund, which supports the goal of ‘Quality Education’ by increasing achievements of students in focus groups through the professional development of faculty staff.
To see a video with more background on the UN Sustainable Development Goals go to Understanding the dimensions of sustainable development.