The Student Leadership award recognises the SGU as an international model of best practice
Student sustainability project claims international award
The Students’ Green Unit (SGU), an innovative sustainability project within the University of Exeter’s Students’ Guild, has been recognised with an international award.
The unit, which empowers students to make a difference in environmental and ethical issues, has won the 2014 International Sustainable Campus Network (ISCN) Excellence Award for Student Leadership.
Hosted this year by Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the award celebrates the team’s achievements in developing students’ awareness of their responsibilities as global citizens and supporting students to challenge unsustainable behaviours and influence change.
It also recognises its success in establishing the University of Exeter as a renowned hub of sustainable activities and contributing to ongoing strategies through effective lobbying and campaigning.
Dr Matthew Gardner, ISCN Secretariat, called the SGU’s unique student leadership model, "an outstanding example of excellence and initiative by a student group, and a project that exemplifies the principles of the International Sustainable Campus Network".
The Student Leadership award recognises the SGU as an international model of best practice for others to emulate. The award will be presented at the 2014 ISCN Conference in Cambridge, Massachusetts in June, after which it will be displayed in the Students’ Guild.
Receiving the news of the win, SGU Manager Norrie Blackeby said: “We are absolutely delighted to have won this award against strong international competition. Our goal has always been to place students at the forefront of sustainability solutions and I am so proud that my team has been recognised for achieving that aim in such a short space of time."
The ISCN Excellence Awards were created in 2009 to recognise sustainable campus projects that demonstrate leadership, creativity, effectiveness and outstanding performance in the areas of Building, Campus, Integration and Student Leadership.
The Student Leadership award is given to an outstanding student project or campaign contributing to a sustainable campus and encouraging other students to start their own initiatives to make a difference.
The win precedes Students' Green Unit Showcase on 30 May which will present the student projects supported by the SGU alongside keynote talks from prominent figures including Steve Egan, Deputy Chief Executive of the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE).
Date: 27 May 2014
