UWS shortlisted for two National Green Gown Awards

Students at the 2013 Youth Eco Summit. Photo: Bella Zanesco © Sydney Olympic Park Authority

UWS has been announced as a finalist in the Australian Campuses Towards Sustainability (ACTS) Green Gown Awards Australasia.

UWS has been shortlisted for the Skills for Sustainability Award, for the Social Engagement and Leadership Program (SELP) (opens in a new window). This award recognises achievement in the development of skills relevant to sustainability. SELP gives UWS students the opportunity to build skills – such as problem solving, communication and interpersonal skills – that will help to jumpstart their global career. Participating students build connections within the community and learn leadership skills as well as how to communicate across cultures.

The Youth Eco Summit (YES) (opens in a new window) has earned a shortlisting for the Social Responsibility Award, which recognises initiatives by tertiary education institutions that create significant benefits for communities, disadvantaged groups and/or society as a whole either in Australiasia or developing countries. YES is a partnership between UWS, the Department of Education and Communities, and Sydney Olympic Park Authority under the RCE-GWS banner. 

In 2013, YES engaged more than 6,600 students from Australia and around the world as well as 65 organisations. The Summit received United Nations recognition as a Flagship Project for Transformative Learning and Curriculum Change and also received the 2013 Green Globe Award for Public Sector Sustainability.

YES provides the opportunity for young students to creatively express what sustainability means for them and encourages them to adopt sustainable principles in all that they do.

"UWS has a strong commitment to the principles of Ecological Sustainable Development and Education for Sustainability as reflected by the UWS Sustainability Agenda and Environmental Management Plan," says Rhonda Hawkins, Deputy Vice-Chancellor. "We would be delighted to receive Green Gown recognition for our work on these initiatives."

The winners of the Green Gown Awards will be announced early November as part of the ACTS conference dinner.

For more information about SELP, please visit the UWS SELP webpage (opens in a new window).

More information about this year's Youth Eco Summit can be found on the 2014 Youth Eco Summit website (opens in a new window).

You can also read more about RCE-GWS on the UWS webpage (opens in a new window)