Our Priorities

Through its diverse community and shared sense of purpose, the Academy's priorities are to:

  • Provide evidence, through undertaking and sharing sustainability research.
  • Embed education for sustainability within all learning and teaching.
  • Exemplify sustainable practices through University operations.
  • Build relationships for change through engagement with our university and local communities, and with national and international policy and policy-makers.

Launched for our Diamond Jubilee

The Academy was officially launched on the 15th March 2022 as part of our Diamond Jubilee year following more than a decade of work in sustainability at Christ Church.

If you were unable to join us for the launch, you can still watch the full video of the Academy launch event with a keynote speech from Jane Davidson, Pro Vice-Chancellor Emeritus of the University of Trinity St David, read some highlights of the launch, and learn more about our response to the climate emergency. Additionally, you can find upcoming open lectures and listen to past open lectures on sustainability through our public lecture pages or explore our most recent annual report for more in-depth detail about sustainability in the past year at Christ Church.

We are currently recruiting for a Dean of the Academy of Sustainable Futures to take our sustainability education, research and advocacy to the next level.

Articulating the Academy

  • It is the collective entity that drives forward the University Framework for Sustainability
  • It is led by the Sustainability team, and comprises all those individuals and teams that are working towards delivering the Framework for a more sustainable future across the University

• Leads and supports the delivery of the Framework for Sustainability across the four theme areas of (a) sustainable communities, (b) research, (c) education and (d) environment.

• Reports on progress against key aims, targets and key performance indicators.

• Provides a clear point of reference for internal and external partners and organisations.

• Builds partnerships with external stakeholders to develop joint responses to sustainability issues.

• Facilitates the development of new sustainability related activity.

• Communicates the significance of sustainability at Christ Church locally, nationally and internationally.

• Offers consultancy and advice on sustainability issues.

• Researchers, both new and established, can get support from both individual members of the Academy team and its research networks.

• Educators can access resources, expertise and case studies to support the integration of relevant sustainability themes within their programmes.

• Students can work with the Student Green Office (SGO), and access diverse opportunities to engage with sustainability through the ‘Us in the World’ project.

• Professional services staff can gain access to training and support for implementing more sustainable operating practices and processes.

• External parties, both individuals and groups, wishing to work with the University on issues related to sustainability will interface through the Academy.

• Resources - a wide range of online and physical resources to support the development of formal and informal curriculum.

• Training - we offer full, certified Carbon Literacy Training for students and staff, both individuals and whole teams, as well as shorter one hour taster workshops that can be tailored towards particular disciplines or areas of work.

• Workshops - bespoke workshops can be arranged to support the integration of sustainability into any area within the University.

• Auditing - management and internal auditing of the University ISO14001 certified Environmental Management System (EMS).

• Advice – formal consultancy and informal advice relating to sustainability in higher education are available through the Academy.

  • Sustainability is a cross-cutting strategic theme that is embedded within our Mission and Values statements.
  • The University Purpose Statement commits us to ensuring students understand the challenges facing society and our world, and have the skills, commitment and personal qualities needed to help address them.
  • The University has signed the SDG Accord and the Global Climate Letter that outlines a collective commitment to:
    • Mobilising more resources for action-oriented climate change research and skills creation.
    • Committing to going carbon neutral by 2030 or 2050 at the very latest.
    • Increasing the delivery of environmental and sustainability education across curriculum, campus and community outreach programmes.

• Responsibility for delivering the Framework for Sustainability is delegated to the Sustainability Strategic Management Group, which is an executive group of the Senior Management Team.

• An external Advisory Board brings together sector expertise and regional community links with University leads for sustainability, on an annual basis.

• Visiting professors and readers who are leaders in sustainability practice provide external academic support and focus.

• The Academy reports to the Senior Management Team (SMT) on a regular basis, with annual reports being provided to SMT and University Governors.

• Reporting is based on responses to specific UN SDG targets that are relevant to the University, and in compliance with our commitment to the SDG Accord.

The sustainability team has a reputation for innovation and collaboration within the sector and I offer my full support for the Academy as it pursues its vital, ground-breaking work.

Prof Rama ThirunamachandranVice Chancellor and Principal

Canterbury Christ Church

In this section

Recent awards

In 2020, we were awarded the Collaborate Award for Teaching Excellence (CATE) by Advance HE and a University Team award for Teaching Excellence. Read a summary of the work that won us the award.

Our work also received national and international recognition with an International Green Gown Award for Continuous Improvement: Institutional Change in 2017-2018.