DPR News
Gold star rating for UCC from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE).
University College Cork has become the first institution outside of North America to achieve a gold star rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). We now join Princeton, Cornell and UC Berkeley in receiving the highest standard, Gold ‘Sustainability Tracking Assessment and Rating System’ (STARS) for excellence in sustainability.
Speaking at the announcement of UCC’s Gold STARS award, UCC Deputy President and Registrar Professor John O’Halloran said, “We are thrilled that we have received this accolade for our student-led, research-informed, practice focussed sustainability agenda at UCC. This accolade speaks to the priority UCC places on sustainability to enable our students and staff meet the global challenges of the 21st century.”
With more than 800 participants in 30 countries, AASHE’s STARS programme is the most widely recognised framework in the world for publicly reporting comprehensive information related to an institution’s sustainability performance. The STARS programme assesses institutions across academics, engagement, operations and governance. It includes direct operational impact on the environment, how sustainable development is included in teaching and research activities, and an institution’s performance in regard to equality and well-being of staff and students.
Larger than the average Irish town, UCC’s green initiatives have been adopted by staff, students and visitors to the campus, and exemplify collaboration and a real willingness to protect our world and be a truly sustainable campus. The commitment to green policies and activities from senior management through to students, working with a resourced and effective sustainability team, has enabled UCC to become a global leader in sustainability, as acknowledged by this latest award from AASHE.
For more on this story contact:
Dr Maria Kirrane, Sustainability Officer for UCC, 021 4903251 or m.kirrane@ucc.ie