This report is an impact evaluation of the LSIS regional collaboration fund (RCF) project that ran in 2012/13. The RCF fund consisted of ten collaborative and mainly regional projects, each worth up to £30,000. The specific purpose of the projects was to support collaboration between sector providers in the implementation and further development of technology in their activities.
The project built upon the success of the earlier Stepping Up in Sustainability project ("Stepping Up in Sustainability: South Thames College - Community Engagement on Green Skills and Low-carbon Zones"). The aim was to deepen the relationship the college has with the Furzedown Low Carbon Zone and the Greener Jobs Alliance and in particular to work with a local school and employer to promote sustainability. This was achieved along with a link up to HE and offering students community based assignments.
This case study describes North Warwickshire and Hinckley College’s approach to developing an interactive online toolkit for promoting and embedding effective practice in sustainability. The aim was to create and develop a highly engaging and interactive online rapid e-learning training tool, for promoting and embedding effective practice in Sustainability, with the added intention of providing in-house accreditation for Governors, staff and students alike.
A key aim of this project was to embed sustainability into learning programmes, using Sustainability Champions, and ensure teaching and learning processes were enhanced through activities that have a positive impact on local communities with respect to the environment, healthy lifestyles and volunteering. The project also focused on supporting local economic strategies and links with the local authority, and on developing and implementing sustainability awareness training modules and assessments for all staff.
The starting point for this project was the Government’s report ‘Enabling the Transition to a Green Economy: Government and business working together’ (2011) in which a transition to a green economy is deemed essential in order to secure a prosperous economy for the future and the role of the FE and skills sector in this. At the same time, from research within the Colleges & University of Leicester Network's (CULN) Sustainable Development Working Group, it was apparent that more needs to be done to help embed sustainability within curriculum.
A project in an FE college exploring how to develop awareness of sustainable leadership and strategies for measuring and assessing performance across the college
Through this project the college aimed to implement and embed a strategy and action plan for sustainable development across the college focusing on three key areas:
Staffing – embedding sustainable development in induction and appraisal
Students – embedding sustainable development in induction, enrichment & tutorial
Curriculum development – development of a sustainable development education curriculum framework
The aim was to create a brief information leaflet for governors on CSR and sustainable development. The leaflet was intended to signpost useful information resources and case studies. The leaflet was expected to make a difference in its wider circulation to chairs, clerks and members of governing bodies as it would raise awareness of how governors can support this agenda.
This project aimed to provide an opportunity to learn from existing best practice and facilitate new schemes by example as part of a push to engage local communities in a push for enhanced sustainable development
The key purpose of this project was to build the capacity of member organisations to be the Sustainability Leaders for the Region. Initial stages would focus on developing the sustainability policy and strategy in each organisation, with future activity focusing on disseminating good practice across and beyond the boundaries of the region.
