Student engagement

Putting sustainability first 

From the moment students arrive at the University, we encourage and support them to put sustainability first:

• All student inductions have sustainability included, covering the University's policies, strategy and opportunities to get involved.
• Resources on the University's sustainability policies are also provided in accommodation documentation.
• Monthly pop-up stalls give students the opportunity to learn more about sustainable behaviours: from reducing carbon footprints to recycling.
• Our online 'Introduction to Sustainability' mini-module and Global Graduate Award in Sustainability give all students a chance to further develop their knowledge of sustainability.
• The University is proactively working towards embedding sustainability into the curriculum, with many courses already offering students sustainability specific modules.
• The careers service's ethical code of practice sets out aims to actively promote employment opportunities that support a transition towards a net zero carbon future, and encourage organisations that support the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals.  

Sustainability at the Students' Union

The University of Surrey's Students’ Union is taking steps to track and reduce the environmental impact of their activities, services and products.

Every year, students at the Union organise a Sustainability Week with funding and support from the University's Sustainability Team. Events during the week include guest lectures, workshops and film screenings.

Members of the SU sabbatical team are on a number of committees that scrutinise the University's strategic planning, finances, estates operations and academic mission. These include: 

• Council (strategic decision making which includes oversight of finance, estates, planning etc) - President of the SU
• Finance committee (sub-committee of Council) - President of the SU
• Senate (sub-committee of Council with responsibility for academic mission of the University and strategic decisions pertaining to the academic mission) - President of the SU, VP Voice
• Surrey Sports Park Board (subsidiary board that looks at the Surrey Sports Park estate, planning, finance and strategic decision making) - President of the SU, VP Activity

Full details of the committees can be found here. To read more about the Union's sustainable commitments, campaigns and actions, please visit their website.

Get involved

• The Sustainability Team offer students the opportunity to work with the team via year-long placements and internship opportunities. Current vacancies are advertised via the sustainability newsletter.
• The University is actively involved in Green Impact - an engagement programme organised by SOS-UK to encourage a university-wide transition towards sustainability. To find out how students can get involved, sign up to our emails.
• Students can develop their own sustainability projects and get funded by the University. Recent student-led projects have included tree-planting and a community-fridge. Previous projects include 'Transforming bins into blooms' and 'Eco-labelling'.
• Sustainable volunteering opportunities on-campus and in the community are available for students on the Students' Union's dedicated volunteering platform.
• Students are encouraged to feedback on sustainable progression at the University through termly sustainability assemblies, and are invited to share their ideas for sustainable development in yearly Hackathons.
• Sustainable events and activities are organised in collaboration with other universities to provide students with further engagement opportunities and a chance to network.
• Two community gardens on our Stag Hill and Manor Park campuses provide students with a space to grow their own food. They are also invited to support our beehives based at Stag Hill. Both initiatives are run with support from staff, including the Horticulture & Landscape team and Chaplaincy.