Forth Valley College have just missed out on winning a prestigious Green Gown Award for 2021.
The College was a finalist in the Sustainability Institution of the Year category, at a special online ceremony held on the afternoon of Thursday 18 November, and was the only further education institution in the UK up against five universities including: Anglia Ruskin University, University of Edinburgh, University of Cambridge, University of the West of England and eventual winners University of St Andrews.
The original FVC submission focussed on how its three relatively new campuses opened in 2011 (Alloa), 2012 (Stirling) and 2020 (Falkirk) have all been built around sustainability and have all attained ‘Very Good’ to ‘Excellent’ BREEAM ratings – putting them in the top 25% of efficient newbuilds.
The award application also showed how sustainability is ingrained within the culture of the college in its Leadership and Governance, Estates and Operations and Partnership and Engagement focussing on such innovative projects such as hosting the new Renewable and Energy Efficiency Training Centre and the close involvement in the national Fuel Change Challenge Programme.
Dr Ken Thomson, Principal of Forth Valley College, said: “We are disappointed to have just missed out on the top award. However, we are happy just to have been announced as finalists as we were up against some big university names in the world of education in our category, but we certainly deserved to be there and it is great recognition for the sustainability work that we do. The Green Gown Awards have built up a tremendous reputation for showcasing excellent examples of sustainability best practise, not just across the UK and Ireland education sector, but around the world as well.
“The inspiration of staff, students and educational institutions is going to be at the forefront of the fight against climate change and this recognition shows that Forth Valley College is Making Sustainability Work for our staff, students, partners and local communities.”
This year’s UK and Ireland Green Gown Awards’ Finalists, represent over 862,219 students and 156,000 staff, and are leading the way with their commitment to the global sustainability agenda and proving the value that universities and colleges bring to the economy and society even in the most challenging times.
The Finalists emphasise an institution’s role in enabling and empowering young people to tackle pressing global issues to ensure they have a better tomorrow.
Finalist projects showed the power post-16 education possesses and the seriousness with which it takes its responsibility in creating a better world and a new generation of leaders.
Iain Patton, CEO, Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges (EAUC) who organise and run the awards, said: "It is clear from the number and quality of applications, that sustainability and the now irreversible sustainability movement, is not only resilient but profoundly energised, opportunistic and dynamic!
“UK and Irish universities and colleges have turned Covid 19 challenges into opportunities and ensured that every change is a change for sustainability. A reset of our economic and social foundations is happening and the Green Gown Awards are all the more important to inspire and scale change for sustainability. Congratulations to all our finalists and winners.”
For more information on the Green Gown Awards and to see all the winners and finalists visit https://www.greengownawards.org/2021-winners1x