UWE Bristol and The Students’ Union are proud to be Responsible Futures Winners for the academic year 2022-23, the fourth time we have achieved this accreditation, audited every other year since 2016.  

This accreditation reflects the institution and students’ union’s shared commitment to embedding holistic sustainability across the formal, informal and subliminal curriculum, and subliminal curriculum.  

UWE Bristol and The Students’ Union at UWE have been awarded Responsible Futures Accreditation.

“We are thrilled to be awarded the Responsible Futures accreditation for the fourth academic year in a row. It is paramount to the dedication and passion that the partnership has to embedding sustainability into the student experience. As VP Community and Welfare at The Students’ Union and the president lead on sustainability, it is an honour to be part of this work.” Fayaz Kareem, Vice President Community and Welfare at The Students’ Union 2023-24. 

Paul Roberts, Head of Sustainability at UWE Bristol 

“The Students’ Union at UWE is our key partner in delivering on our commitment to provide all students with education and practical opportunities to engage with sustainability. The effectiveness of the close working relationship is evidenced by our partnership being awarded the highest ever score in the NUS Responsible Futures Accreditation and multiple Green Gown Awards, in 2023 winning the prized Sustainability Institution of the Year award as well as being awarded Highly Commended in our joint SU/UWE Circular Economy in Action submission under the Creating Impact category. 

The Students’ Union President, Vice President and Sustainability Officer sit on the university’s Sustainability Executive Board (USEC) helping to direct, shape and report on the university’s sustainability journey and in particular delivery of the ambitions set out in our 2030 Transforming Futures Climate Action & Sustainability Strategy.

I meet with student representatives and SU colleagues on a regular basis to discuss operational progress on issues arising at USEC and from SU engagement activities, and to ensure that the student voice has direct access to the University's leadership team. The SU president is a formal member of the University's Board of Governors. The Green Team in The Students’ Union goes from strength to strength and via the SU Student Ideas initiative numerous sustainability related initiatives have been raised for deliberation and decision by the university's senior leadership. 

We will continue to work in partnership to ensure that the aim of all UWE students being able to engage with the ideas of sustainability in their PG or UG degree continues to be realised for the benefit of our future graduates who will be better prepared for the sustainability challenges they will confront in their professional and private lives.”  

Since its launch by the National Union of Students (NUS) in 2014, 48 institutions have worked with their students’ unions across the UK and globally to take part in Responsible Futures, demonstrating their commitment to creating an environment where education for sustainable development can thrive. Responsible Futures is now hosted by and led by Students Organising for Sustainability (SOS-UK), formerly NUS sustainability team. 

SOS-UK aims to see students leave formal education with the knowledge, skills, attributes, and values required to critically challenge the world around them, and a desire and willingness to tackle social, economic, and environmental issues and inequalities. 

“I think the partnership made a great effort to gather a diverse range of information along with the evidence to retain the accreditation.” - Student Auditor, University of the West of England and the Students’ Union at the University of the West of England Responsible Futures Audit 2023”  

“It's been worth it... there is sincerity in what they are doing, not just filling the box.”- Student Auditor, University of the West of England and The Students’ Union at the University of the West of England Responsible Futures Audit 2023. 

Responsible Futures offers a framework and certification of a whole institution’s commitment to sustainability, and having an enabling environment for it to thrive, rather than an endpoint. Following an audit led by students trained by SOS-UK, UWE Bristol and The Students’ Union at UWE were rewarded the Responsible Futures Accreditation for their achievements.  

Larissa Kennedy, SOS-UK President and Trustee, commented: 

“Congratulations to University of the West of England and the Students’ Union at the University of the West of England on this fantastic achievement! Thank you for your commitment to empowering students to access the skills and knowledge they need to forge a more sustainable education system and more sustainable world.”