Did you know 88% of UWE students think that sustainable development is something which universities should actively incorporate and promote?

This year 385 of you took part in the SOS Sustainability Skills Survey to let us know your priorities, attitudes, and interests. We’re now gearing up to take your responses on board and create positive change at UWE Bristol.

You can read the results of the annual SOS Sustainability Skills survey here

HERE ARE SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE SURVEY:

HOW SUSTAINABLE DO YOU THINK UWE AND THE STUDENTS’ UNION ARE?

• 79% agreed that UWE is taking action to limit the negative impact it has on the environment and society, which is on par with last year.

• 79% agreed that The Students’ Union takes action to limit the negative impact it has on the environment and society, compared with 72% last academic year.

• 72% agreed that being a student at UWE encourages them to think and act to help the environment, and other people, compared with 70% last year.

SUSTAINABILITY IN YOUR COURSE:

• 86% of respondents agreed that through their time in education so far they’ve learned what climate change is and how it happens.

• 81% agreed that they’ve learned what they can do at local and global levels to lessen climate change..

• 47% said they had covered how to use resources efficiently to limit the impact on the environment and other people, but 85% said this was important for them to learn.

• 69% agreed that they’ve learned what their daily lives will look like as a result of climate change.

• Only 48% agreed that they’ve learned what their jobs will look like as a result of climate change.

WHEN CONSIDERING WHICH JOBS TO APPLY FOR IN THE FUTURE….

• 80% thought a chance to work in a business/organisation that makes a difference to social and environmental issues, was an important factor. (A 5% increase from last year).

• 69% thought that a role that contributes to helping the environment was an important factor.

• 78% thought that a role that contributes to the development within the local community was important.

• The above were not considered as important as a good starting salary (89%).

GETTING INVOLVED WITH SUSTAINABILITY:

• 76% of UWE students thought that running voluntary activities for all students (e.g. within the students' union) was relevant. If you’d like to get involved with sustainability at The Students’ Union at UWE please see our Green Team page here or email thegreenteam@uwe.ac.uk to see how you can get involved.

THE IMPACT THAT LEARNING ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY HAS HAD ON YOU PERSONALLY:

‘I love learning and finding out about different perspectives. This helps me live a more reflective and considered life, both at work and in studying.’

‘I'm more aware of greenwashing and how widespread it is’

‘I'm much more depressed about the probable fate of the world, and the actions of humans historically.’*

‘Changed how I view myself and my place within the world, in terms of relating to others, being part of a local wider and global community, and my relationship with nature and the earth’

‘Learning about colonialism in science, especially ecology and conservation, has changed my perspective on how research and conservation should be carried out in other countries - there should be collaboration with researchers in these countries’

*If you are worried about the Climate Crisis, why not attend one of our Climate Chats and Cake sessions? You can find out when our next session is here.

UWE’S SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY:

If you’d like to know more about what UWE is doing to combat the climate emergency, you can read more about UWE’s 2030 targets and sustainability strategy here.