Overview
Here at UCEM we have lots of thoughts and ideas about sustainability and social responsibility. As a collective we all have the responsibility to keep the conversation going, to keep learning from one another and progressing the sustainability agenda (however big or small). We’ve dedicated this page to share those thoughts with you as well as some of the opportunities and activities on offer at UCEM. If you would like to get involved in sustainability at UCEM, please email sustainability@ucem.ac.uk
‘I couldn’t live without cheese’
Did you take on the ‘Veganuary’ challenge to go vegan for January? Donna, one of our current Student Officers for ...
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UCEM to explore challenges of gender equality with research grants
In the built environment sector, one of the world's most significant challenges still prevails - gender equality. UCEM is proud ...
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How sustainability influences my work: Interview with alumnus Thomas Coulson
Career journey BSc (Hons) Estate Management - 2014 Since 2016, Thomas’ career has seen him work as Head of Sustainability ...
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Introducing: Our new Student Officers for Sustainability
Our ambition is to become the world’s most sustainable university and we are keen to have students at the heart ...
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Living sustainably without breaking the bank
The COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and the cost-of-living crisis are affecting us all in different ways. Everything seems to be ...
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UCEM Tutor shares research advocating greater adoption of renewable energy in Egypt
A UCEM Tutor engaged with a captive audience of university, industry and government stakeholders on a trip to Egypt, sharing ...
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UCEM sails through third sustainability accreditation audit
UCEM achieved its best-ever score on its third successful SOS-UK Responsible Futures accreditation. The accreditation evidences UCEM’s commitment to embedding ...
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UCEM Research Officer wins prestigious leadership award
A UCEM employee is the proud recipient of a prestigious leadership award for her efforts to push forward the sustainability ...
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Join us in connecting with nature for 30 Days Wild!
Next month is 30 Days Wild – a month-long initiative run by the Wildlife Trusts to inspire us in the ...
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Meet this year’s Responsible Futures Working Group!
Here, at UCEM, we hold the Responsible Futures accreditation mark which is a change programme hosted by Students Organising for ...
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UCEM programme leader shares research at prestigious international historic building conference
Policymakers from across Europe were in attendance for a presentation delivered by a UCEM programme leader on the carbon value ...
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Eco-anxiety: what is it and how can you combat it?
In this guest article for Mental Health Awareness Week, our sustainability education and engagement officer, Jessica Gordon-Calvert, explains what eco-anxiety ...
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The UK energy crisis – what can we do? Some sustainable solutions
People in the UK are bracing themselves for soaring energy bills from April after the nation’s energy regulator, Ofgem, announced ...
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5 tips for becoming an environmental champion: Guest article by our new sustainability education and engagement officer, Jessica Gordon-Calvert
At UCEM, we are on a mission to be the world’s most sustainable university. Our innovation and partnerships team is ...
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Research spotlight: Our 2021 Harold Samuel Research Prize joint recipient, Dr Katharine van Someren
Research is an essential component of university life, whether it’s students researching for dissertations or assignments or academic staff deepening ...
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Podcast: COP26 reflections – Was the UK a good or bad host?
With the dust settling on COP26, we are reflecting on the event and one of the questions posed in the ...
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Embedding sustainability within the curriculum
How exactly do you go about embedding sustainability across a university’s curriculum? This is the question we posed to our ...
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COP26: The verdict
Did COP26 achieve all it set out to achieve or were the tangible actions needed to protect the planet from ...
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Should we prioritise climate change or sustainability?
COP26 focused on climate change but should it really have been focusing on sustainability? Back in September we asked tutors ...
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Podcast debate: Who holds the most responsibility for driving sustainability in the built environment?
Which stakeholder group holds the most responsibility for driving sustainability in the built environment? Is it legislators, investors, contractors or ...
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UCEM and The Prince’s Foundation launch free toolkit for rapidly growing cities or towns to develop sustainably
City leaders, local governments and built environment professionals in rapidly growing towns and cities can learn how to implement sustainable ...
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Tackling the issue of coal consumption: Guest article from our real estate and management tutor, Hazel Lobo
Today is Energy Day at COP26, with discussions focused on transitioning from the use of coal to clean energy. We ...
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UCEM and the Climate Framework launch free, online, short course to help built environment professionals be more sustainable
Built environment professionals can now sign up to a free, online, short CPD course to learn how to be more ...
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‘Levelling up starts in homes’: Reflections from Andy Burnham’s keynote speech at Housing 2021
Last month, we attended Housing 2021 in Manchester. As well as networking, we listened in to the Mayor of Greater ...
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Student stories: Andras’s sustainable built environment ambitions supported by postgraduate scholarship
At UCEM, we offer a range of scholarships and bursaries to new and existing students. Last year, we launched our ...
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Podcast: A wider look at the impact of the built environment
How much of an impact does the built environment have on our daily lives? How does the sector address sustainability? ...
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New research sets out vision for UK cities in 2040
The days of clogged sweaty commutes, ferrying workers into a single city centre could be numbered, according to a new ...
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UCEM signs up to CIC’s new ‘carbon zero’ climate action plan
UCEM is one of the institutions which has signed up to the Construction Industry Council’s (CIC) new climate action plan ...
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Introducing… Our new sustainability student ambassador
Our student ambassadors aim to inspire current and potential students at open events and webinars, and through networking. They also ...
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Sustainability initiatives during the pandemic
We are on a mission to be the world’s most sustainable university. That mission began a long time ago and ...
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Driving sustainability in the built environment: whose responsibility?
Legislators hold the most responsibility in driving sustainability in the built environment. This was the conclusion arrived at by our ...
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Sustainability network’s ‘reasons to be cheerful’
Last month, we shared an update on the progress made by the GLOBAL SUSTAINABLE FUTURES: Progress through Partnerships (GSF PtP) ...
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Supporting our students to lead on sustainability
At UCEM, student feedback is vital in shaping what we do. Students are invited to fill in anonymous feedback on ...
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In focus: Our Sustainable and Innovative Construction module
Some of our modules run across different programmes such is the shared knowledge required across different built environment professions. Our ...
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Introducing the GLOBAL SUSTAINABLE FUTURES: Progress through Partnerships Network. Guest blog by our research assistant – education and sustainability, Dr Renuka Thakore
Introduction The research collaboration between the Global South and Global North, and within, between and beyond low-, middle- and high- ...
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In focus: Our Sustainability Student Ambassador, Vicki Grimshaw
We recently appointed our first four Student Ambassadors representing the following areas: diversity, sustainability, welfare, and student communities. Our Student ...
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Podcast: Digging Deeper – Episode 4: Harold Samuel Research Prize
Episode 4 of Digging Deeper looks at the Harold Samuel Research Prize. (L-R) UCEM Director of Research, Innovation and Partnerships, ...
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Research: Embedding sustainability within UCEM. Guest blog by our Research Assistant – Education & Sustainability, Dr Renuka Thakore
Our Research Assistant – Education & Sustainability, Dr Renuka Thakore, and Director of Research, Innovation and Partnerships, Aled Williams, recently ...
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UCEM’s continuing commitment to sustainability recognised with NUS Responsible Futures reaccreditation
UCEM made it two successes from two after passing its National Union of Students (NUS) Responsible Futures reaccreditation inspection with ...
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COVID-19 and sustainability: Guest blog by our Research Assistant – Education & Sustainability, Dr Renuka Thakore
Half of the global workforce is currently on lockdown due to COVID-19 and, in the wake of this global crisis, ...
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An opportunity for the Built Environment to lead the UK’s green and economic recovery – UCEM Principal, Ashley Wheaton’s response to Prime Minister, Boris Johnson’s ‘Build, build, build’ speech
Timing is everything. Whilst it’s true that many of the projects announced by the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, in his ...
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Podcast: A discussion on sustainability and climate change with our MSc Building Surveying programme leader, James Ritson
What challenges does climate change bring to the built environment? How can built environment professionals meet these challenges? And what ...
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Building functional, sustainable housing – A closer look at our Year 13 BSc Access Module. Guest blog by our Tutor, Paul Fitchett
In just under a fortnight’s time, a number of Year 13 students who would have been taking their A-levels this ...
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Introducing the Research, Innovation and Partnerships Team
UCEM’s Research, Innovation and Partnerships Team is small in number but broad in terms of the diverse range of work ...
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Reflections on sustainability from my working life: Guest blog by our Associate Tutor, Dr Kevin Waldie
Dr Kevin Waldie is one of UCEM’s Associate Tutors and supervises undergraduate and postgraduate research projects. Studying social anthropology to ...
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Dive Deep & Dream Big: Guest blog by our Research Assistant – Education and Sustainability, Dr Renuka Thakore
As part of UCEM’s pledge to tackle climate change, Dr Renuka Thakore attended Dive Deep & Dream Big – an ...
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Podcast: Digging Deeper – Episode 2: Sustainability
Episode 2 of Digging Deeper focuses on sustainability. UCEM was recently audited by students for its National Union of Students ...
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UCEM completes second NUS Responsible Futures audit
Several students and apprentices scrutinised UCEM’s sustainability credentials as part of the institution’s National Union of Students (NUS) Responsible Futures ...
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Student stories: Ashley’s passion for sustainability
Why should we be sustainable? Our Surveying Technician apprentice (Quantity Surveying and Construction Pathway), Ashley White, became an advocate for ...
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Meet Brian Quinn – UCEM’s Sustainability Tutor
As part of UCEM’s growing commitment to sustainability, the institution recently hired its first Tutor with a bespoke sustainability remit ...
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