Wrexham Glyndwr University rises in the environmentally sustainability rankings

Wrexham Glyndwr’s commitment to a more environmentally sustainable future has seen the university secure a rise in a national league table. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

People and Planet’s annual sustainability league table has seen Glyndwr move up five places from 47 to 42 out of 154 universities across the UK, and ranked as a 2:1 university. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The improvements since the last ranking two years ago – when a table was last published due to the pandemic – has also seen Glyndwr achieve top marks for staff and student engagement, as well as scoring highly on policy strategy, worker’s rights and education for sustainable development. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

This progress has been achieved with initiatives such as the Hedgehog Friendly Campus project, currently at bronze level and aiming for silver status. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Students’ Union achieved Excellent on the Green Impact Awards in the summer which also recognised engagement, and the university has a sustainability committee which meets regularly and includes staff and students. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

There is also a Living Lab fund available from which students can access up to £300 for sustainable projects. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Decarbonisation is also important, with £1.6 million in capital funding secured by the university for a fleet of electric vehicles which arrived earlier this year to replace older, less environmentally friendly models, along with the installation of electric vehicle charging points across the various campuses. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Executive Director of Operations Lynda Powell said: “Everyone at Wrexham Glyndwr is very proud to have improved our ranking, especially as we have also had to adapt to the challenges created by the pandemic. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I want to thank staff and students for helping us to achieve the progress that we have made, but there is still plenty of work for us to do. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We can improve our score on waste and recycling, and we are pushing ahead with plans to do just that. For example, reusable cups are now offered at all our catering outlets. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“As we continue to move towards an even more sustainable way of life on campus, hopefully this will be reflected in next year’s rankings too.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

If you are interested in learning more about sustainability, short courses are available at Wrexham Glyndwr University, with An ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Introduction to Climate Change and Introduction to Sustainability for Business. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Details of those courses can be found here and here. Further information on the People and Planet Sustainability league table can found here. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​