Student and staff sustainability involvement

At Coventry University we know that our students and staff are our most important assets: it is through them that the majority of our positive environmental impacts occur, but they also have many opportunities to help us reduce our negative impacts.

The Carbon Challenge

Coventry University Carbon Challenge monitors sustainability performance of our buildings across Coventry Campus and rewards those who have managed to save energy, recycle more, or deliver sustainability projects through the year. This scheme pays back a proportion of the costs saved by efficiency (e.g. turning off the lights, reducing general waste produced) and provides a way for staff and students to engage with the sustainability performance of their Faculty or building.

Further information about the Carbon Challenge is available using the following links for staff and students (restricted access).

Edible Garden

At the heart of our campus, Coventry University Grounds Team have established a thriving edible garden which is open to everyone and fruit and vegetables are welcome to be picked when they are ripe. A green, amber and red flag system is in operation to indicate when each bed is likely to be ready, and a noticeboard in the edible garden indicates what is planted throughout the edible garden.

CUSU Sustainability Community

Coventry University Students Union hosts a Sustainability Community open to all students which meets through the year to develop student sustainability ideas. A pot of funding is available to fund their activities and projects. In 2017 -18 this funding was used to run several environmental film screenings and other events including a local gardening project. 

Student Representation

Student representation is very important at Coventry University and CUSU elected officers sit on all relevant committees such as the Catering Steering Group and the University Health and Safety Committee.

Supporting student learning and projects

We actively encourage students to gain hands on experience in sustainability through interacting with the campus and sustainability activities taking place at the University. Examples include the ECB building acting as a ‘living lab’ with exposed services and renewable technologies to act as demonstrators. Other projects have included Energy MSc Students reviewing energy utilisation and reduction opportunities, Environmental Management students auditing the university, student teams reviewing our contribution to Sustainable Development Goals. We also recruit student ambassadors to gain experience in sustainability communications and events throughout the year.

Induction and welcome

The Environment team present key information to all new staff during staff induction. The presentation is available to download for staff on this internal page (restricted access). Students receive a welcome pack which includes our leaflet which you can download called: Coventry University Sustainability: What you need to know.