Performance and achievements

Keele has been recognised as a leader in sustainability in higher education through a number of awards and accreditations. Many of these accolades have been possible through partnerships and collaboration between members of the Sustainability Team, Education for Sustainability Team, Estates, Catering, Procurement, Student Services, Students' Union, and KPA. Keele's continuing success in these areas demonstrates the enthusiasm and commitment Keele staff and students bring to embedding sustainability, and enable Keele to share its expertise more widely within the Higher Education sector.

Keele University has been named Global Sustainability Institution of the Year at a prestigious awards ceremony to celebrate sustainability in Higher Education.

Keele took home the top prize of Global Sustainability Institution of the Year (Large Institution) at the 2021 International Green Gown Awards.

The Green Gown awards celebrate the efforts of Higher Education institutions to promote and embed sustainability across all of their operations.

This success reflects Keele’s commitment to embedding sustainability across all of its campus operations, including in its research, education, operations and community engagement.

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Keele successfully achieved re-accreditation for the second time under the SOS-UK Responsible Futures scheme in 2020. Student volunteers were trained as auditors and explored the evidence submitted by the University and Students' Union partnership relating to key criteria about how Keele embeds sustainability in the curriculum and wider student experience.

The re-accreditation demonstrates how the University and Students' Union have worked together to deliver activities that engage students with a range of environmental and social sustainability issues and themes. By adopting a whole-institution approach to embedding Education for Sustainable Development, learning can be derived from all aspects of the student experience, from formal learning in degree programmes to activities, societies and volunteering, to living in Halls of Residence.

Keele was part of the initial pilot cohort when the NUS launched the Responsible Futures scheme. 

Keele Students' Union has been re-accredited in 2021 under the NUS Green Impact scheme for Students' Unions, achieving an 'Excellent' rating for the second year running. This award reflects the commitment that the staff in the Students' Union have made to embedding and improving sustainability within the Union through operations, strategy, policies and engagement.

Keele University is currently positioned 27th in People & Planet's University League achieving a 1st class rating. The league, which ranks UK Universities based on environmental and ethical performance, is compiled annually and assesses a number of different areas from policy and strategy to workers' rights, carbon management and education for sustainability.

Details of how we embed sustainability across our institution and meet the People and Planet University League criteia can be found here: People and Planet University League Keele University 2022

Keele University has seen off competition from across the UK to win a prestigious Green Energy Award for its groundbreaking Smart Energy Network Demonstrator (SEND) and Low Carbon Energy Generation Park.  

The Green Energy Awards, led by renewable energy strategists Regen, are assessed by national and global leaders in the green energy industry, and celebrate the fantastic work of organisations all over the country that are championing smart, sustainable, low carbon energy systems.