Sustainability Strategy & Policy

View People & Planet's Assessment Methodology for Policy and Strategy.

1. Swansea University's Sustainability Policy.

This Sustainability Policy is reviewed annually as part of the Environmental Management System ISO14001 EMS Management Review 2024

2. Swansea University works to an environmental sustainability strategy and EMS, setting SMART targets for reducing environmental impact. Performance against these targets is reviewed and documented annually as part of the process. 

The Sustainability Strategy Committee meets regularly throughout the year, with the Registrar as chair, to review delivery of the Sustainability Strategy and align work across the University.

Sustainability Committee Terms of Reference 

Below are some examples of minutes:

• Sustainability Committee Minutes 27-02-25
• Sustainability Committee Minutes 29-05-25

Strategy & EMS Mapping Table:

View People & Planet's Assessment Methodology for Environmental Auditing & Management Systems.

Swansea University has committed to a process of Environmental Management (EMS) through the externally verified ISO 14001:2015 and EcoCampus accreditation. View the ISO 14001:2015 Certificate.

View People & Planet's Assessment Methodology for Managing Carbon.

1. As per our Sustainability Strategy, Swansea University is committed to achieving Zero carbon for direct emissions (scope 1 and 2) by 2035, with at least a 70% reduction by 2030*. With a Scope 3 target to achieve (on average) a 2.5% year-on-year reduction in scope 3 emissions, 50% reduction by 2035 (35% by 2030) from a 2015 HEFCW agreed baseline.

The University currently sets an annual decarbonisation budget of £3m which is integrated into Estates projects planning and aligned with the Swansea University Decarbonisation Action Plan, Estates and Campus Services, Net Zero budget. The University COO and the Director of Estates and Campus Services (E&CS) are responsible for the Decarbonisation Action Plan. Performance monitoring, reporting and implementation of decarbonisation interventions are managed by the Sustainability and Infrastructure Services teams.

We publicly report all scope carbon emissions annually alongside other UK HE Institutions on the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) website and publish a Path to Zero Report as part of our ISO14001 Environmental Management System. Targets and performance are monitored through university annual plan performance, Environmental Management Review and strategic sustainability committee.

2a. Scope 3 emissions are reported to HEDA through the EMR: Higher Education Statistic Agency (HESA) website under Estates Management Records.

2b. Swansea University has sustainable travel policies and guidance as linked below, that set targets and implement plans for travel carbon emission reduction as per our: Path to Zero Report.

• Electric Vehicles & Charging Policy and Arrangements
• 8.1.17 Business Travel Policy
• Our Travel

2c. The University calculates total carbon emissions attributed to residential accommodation (both in-house and externally provided accommodation) as included in Path to Zero Report.

3. Swansea University's Path to Zero Report included baseline and reduction targets for Scope 3 emissions calculated in the following areas:

• Waste
• Water
• Procurement (supply chain)
• Staff and student business trips e.g. flights to conferences and field trips
• Staff and students commuting to university on a daily basis
• Carbon emissions associated with the travel between students’ homes and the University at the start and end of term (including international students’ travel to and from their home country)

 *Emissions are tracked against targets from our HEFCW agreed 2015/16 baseline year.

View People & Planet's Assessment Methodology for Sustainable Food.

At Swansea University we know that our catering operations are critical to the success of our commitment to sustainability. That is why we have a Sustainable Healthy Food Policy.

Following a recent tendering process, Chartwells (part of the Compass Group) has been selected to continue with the catering contract, which began in January 2022. This covers all University outlets and hospitality excluding Students' Union outlets. As part of the tendering and procurement process, all potential catering contracts were required to have their own sustainable catering policy reflecting the principles of Swansea University’s Strategic Vision and Purpose, as well as the Sustainability and Climate Emergency Strategy 2021-25. 

The catering contract recently went out to retender as part of the ongoing service provision of the University. A copy of the Catering Tender evaluation specification questions, which assessed applicants on the sustainable framework(s) they were going to deploy at Swansea, will be available from August 2025. The tender sought to ensure an industry recognised and independently audited method for continual improvement in sustainable, healthy catering. Since the award of the contract in 2022, the Swansea University Chartwells Team has been working towards an annual Sustainable Catering Action Plan, with the Sustainability Team. Since 2022, this has seen Chartwells work towards the Fairtrade and SRA accreditation and social value initiatives. 

Our Catering Team are assessed annually under our ISO:14001 and Eco Campus Environmental Management Systems to ensure there is a comprehensive framework for external audit and improvement. As a result of the catering contract requirements and hard work by the team, the majority of outlets have achieved the Sustainable Restaurant Association Food for Life 2-star accreditation. View the Chartwells at Swansea University Rating Report 2024. Monthly meetings are held with Chartwells to review progress against their Chartwells Sustainability Action Plan including continuous progress towards 3-star Food for Life Sustainable Restaurant Association accreditation. Recent successes have included the recertification of Swansea within the 2023-25 cohort as a Fairtrade University for the second time, which was heavily supported by the Chartwells Team. Chartwells also launched their social kitchen inititiative and there has been an ongoing programme of social kitchen events, where students are invited to Chartwells' kitchens to be taught how to cook healthy, sustainable meals. 

The Sustainability Team also work closely with Chartwells colleagues to provide and support sustainable food projects. This includes our Tyfu Tawe Project which has been ongoing throughout 2024/25, and partnership with local charity Goleudy to bring their Community Fridge to campus for staff and students. We have had campus Community Fridge events (November 2024, February 2025 and May 2025) where student volunteers helped save hundreds of kilograms of food going to waste by distributing it to staff, students, and members of the community. 2023/24 has also seen the collaboration of the University and Chartwells on monthly beach cleans, where catering staff have joined the events, and also provided Fairtrade teas and coffees for volunteers!

• Get involved with Sustainability and Tyfu Tawe
• Examples of recent activities
• Biodiversity Action Plan 2022-2025
• Sustainability Team's Instagram community

More information can be found in the Sustainable Healthy Eating section on the Sustainable Procurement webpage and on our Get Involved webpage.

View People & Planet's Assessment Methodology for Ethical Investment & Banking.

• About Our Chief Finance Officer.
• About Our Finance and Strategy Committee
• Annual Review Reports
• Ethical Investment and Banking Policy

Swansea University integrates sustainability and ethical considerations into all elements of careers services as per our Ethical Careers Policy.

View People & Planet's Assessment Methodology for Staff.

Swansea University has a dedicated Sustainability Team working towards the goals, ambitions and success of Swansea University and beyond to achieve significant, well-resourced and long-term success across environmental sustainability. The Sustainability Team has its own annual budget which funds the delivery of the Sustainability Strategy commitments. 

The Sustainability Team is supported to deliver the Sustainability Strategy through an annual budget derived of internal and external funding (e.g. University, HEFCW, Welsh Government & the third sector). The budget changes on an annual basis and is usually between £500k – £1m. Annually, approximately £3m is invested in net zero projects including: Solar PV installation, Energy Efficiency projects and Building Management System infrastructure and software.

The University has a network of Environmental Coordinators. This network helps improve environmental performance across the University, and with the creation of the faculties, this network is looking to be expanded during 2024/25. 

The Sustainability Committee at the University is co-chaired by Niamh Lamond, Registrar and COO, and Helen Griffiths, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation. This Committee has direct responsibility for delivering our Sustainability Strategy, with representatives from Faculties and PSUs.

Sustainability Committee Terms of Reference

See our Get Involved webpage for more details on becoming an Environmental Coordinator and our Sustainability and Wellbeing (SWell) programme. Carbon literacy training is also available for all staff and students, with a new e-learning module now live online.

See the Policy and Strategy section for details of the Sustainability Committee and the Terms of Reference.

Guidance on minimising energy consumption from digital infrastructure

Between October and December 2025, we delivered the "Mindful Tech" campaign through our SWell app, focusing on the environmental impact of technology use, providing guidance on digital behaviours, and e‑waste. As part of the campaign:

• 1,270 actions were recorded
• Knowledge scores increased from an average of 6/10 to 8/10
• 97% of participants changed how they use digital tools to reduce their environmental impact
• 97% reported being more mindful about electronic care, recycling, and disposal

This demonstrates clear guidance and behaviour change relating to energy‑efficient digital practices.

Guidance on AI usage and the environmental implications of AI

As part of the Mindful Tech campaign, we offered dedicated e-learning [How AI and Data Are Affecting Our Planet] with guidance and content covering technology, AI and e-waste. Participant feedback included:

• 97% said the e-learning increased their knowledge about the environmental impact of technology, AI, and e‑waste.
• 100% agreed the e-learning was an effective way to learn.
• 100% said they would find similar e-learning valuable for other sustainability topics.

This provides strong evidence that staff and students received guidance on responsible AI use, including environmental implications and wider digital risks.

Sustainable / privacy-focused search engines

Through our SWell sustainability engagement app, staff and students can earn points for adopting greener, privacy-respecting search engines such as Ecosia. This action complements the University’s wider Mindful Tech campaign and digital sustainability e‑learning, providing measurable evidence of user engagement and supporting institutional moves towards more sustainable digital defaults for university managed devices and those in libraries and communal spaces.

How Swansea students brought Ecosia to campus.

SWell Newsletter - Digital Sustainability

Digital Sustainability on SWell

Our strategy, policy and procedures for minimising and managing e-waste

Swansea University has a documented policy and operational framework for minimising electronic waste (e‑waste) arising from IT hardware, printing processes, consumables and other electronic equipment. This commitment is embedded within the University's Sustainability Policy, Environmental Management System (EMS), Waste Management Guidance Notes (WMGNs), and Sustainable Procurement Policy. 

The University's Sustainability Policy commits Swansea University to:

“Minimise waste production and divert waste from being sent for energy recovery, viewing waste as a resource, promoting waste prevention, prioritising re-use, and increasing recycling” and to “embed sustainable and ethical approaches into the procurement of University goods and services.”

This strategic commitment is supported by Swansea University's Environmental Management System, which manages waste in accordance with the Waste Hierarchy and Waste Framework Directive, including the segregation, reuse, recycling and compliant disposal of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE).

To ensure effective implementation, the University maintains a suite of Waste Management Guidance Notes that specifically address electronic and printer-related waste streams, including:

• WMGN14 – Ink and Toner Cartridges
• WMGN15 – Batteries
• WMGN16 – Fluorescent Tubes
• WMGN17 – Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)

These procedures define waste classification, storage, handling, collection and disposal requirements, supporting the reduction, reuse and responsible recycling of electronic equipment and printing consumables. In addition, Swansea University's Sustainable Procurement Policy requires sustainability considerations to be incorporated into all relevant procurement activities and states the University will:

“Ensure all relevant procurement contracts and tenders contain sustainability specifications as appropriate to the product or service being procured.”

The policy further requires purchasers to:

• Review the need to purchase and reduce unnecessary consumption.
• Consider whole-life environmental impacts when selecting products.
• Consider whether products can be recycled at the end of their life.
• Avoid over-packaged products and favour reusable, recyclable or recycled packaging.

As a result, relevant digital and technology procurements, including laptops, notebooks, IT equipment, printers, multifunction devices and managed print services, must consider the minimisation of e‑waste and associated packaging waste throughout the product lifecycle, from procurement through to end-of-life management.

Taken together, Swansea University's Sustainability Policy Sustainable Procurement Policy, EMS procedures and WEEE-specific Waste Management Guidance Notes constitute a formal policy and strategy to minimise e‑waste from hardware, printing processes and associated consumables, while promoting waste prevention, reuse, recycling, circular economy principles and sustainable procurement across the institution. 

Swansea University embeds sustainability requirements into digital and IT procurement through its certified ISO 14001 Environmental Management System and alignment with ISO 20400 Sustainable Procurement principles. These frameworks ensure that tenders and contracts for digital infrastructure, including laptops, desktops, servers and associated services, include clear sustainability criteria for supplier selection and contract management.

Sustainability requirements are embedded within the tendering and contract‑management process, covering areas such as:

• energy efficiency of devices
• responsible manufacturing and supply‑chain practices
• end‑of‑life management and recycling
• alignment with University environmental objectives

A current example is the NDNA Lot 3 One‑Stop‑Shop Term Call‑Off Contract: With Stone Technologies. This contract demonstrates the University’s approach to procuring digital equipment through frameworks that incorporate environmental standards and responsible supply‑chain practices, ensuring sustainability is embedded across all relevant digital procurement activity.

View People & Planet's Assessment Methodology for Workers' Rights.

A Living Wage University

1.  Swansea University is accredited by the Living Wage Foundation as a Living Wage employer.

Swansea University became a living wage employer in 2020 and remains committed to ensuring employees can meet the basic cost of living. Swansea University has been accredited as a real living wage employer by the Living Wage Foundation (LWF).

2.  As committed to within our Sustainability and Climate Emergency Strategy, the University shall:

WE 11. Consider reference within the relevant university policy or arrangements on establishing and monitoring parity of pay, terms and conditions and pensions between in-house and outsourced contract staff.

Read how we are progressing here: Fair and Equal Pay

3.  Swansea University is a Fairtrade University, having achieved Fairtrade Status for the second time in June 2025. Read about our sustainable procurement and ethical practices at the University, including our Fairtrade status.

View our 2025 Fairtrade Certificate: Fairtrade Award 2025

4.  The University ITC supply chains are covered by Electronics Watch. Swansea University was the first Welsh organisation to affiliate to Electronics Watch. This includes direct affiliation with Electronics Watch and wherever possible utilising ICT Frameworks where Electronic Watch covered too e.g:  

• NWUPC member Universities
• LUPC member Universities

More information about the University's Sustainable procurement.

View People & Planet's Assessment Methodology for Staff and Student Engagement.

Swansea University Staff and Student Engagement Strategy

Our Swansea University Sustainability Communications and Engagement Strategy ensures we effectively communicate and engage with all members of our university and wider community, including businesses and other stakeholders, helping us all make sustainable developments which improve the lives of our staff and students, as well as the local and wider community. Coordinated by the Sustainability Team, working in collaboration with students, staff and stakeholders such as the Students’ Union and sustainability research networks and societies, The Communications and Engagement Strategy supports implementation of our Sustainability Strategy (2026-2031), focusing on:

• Promoting and normalising sustainable behaviours
• Increasing participation in sustainability initiatives
• Celebrating progress and impact
• Empowering students and staff to shape and lead change

The Plan sets ambitious and measurable objectives, identifies channels of communication and outlines how we will measure success. It contains a clear implementation plan, focusing on a collaborative approach with student and staff stakeholders to ensure successful delivery. We work with students to review and measure progress and performance, including regular review with the Students’ Union, Student Student Services and by working with student reps and interns. Evaluation will include an annual report on success.

Staff and student communication and engagement is also a key component of other areas of our strategy and work:

• Sustainability and Climate Emergency Strategy and related annual Management Review as part of our Environmental Management System. See our latest ISO14001 EMS Management Review 2024 which includes “Engagement, Events, Learning and Communication".
• Path to Zero Report
• Biodiversity Action Plan 2022-2025
• Waste Management Action Plan 2021-2025
• Education for Sustainable Development
• Water Management Plan

Student and Staff Engagement at Swansea University

Student inductions

• A general student induction is available, as well as specific Faculty and topic-based training delivered by the Sustainability Team. Examples can be found on our Induction and Training webpage and on Canvas, such as: FSE Safety and Sustainability Postgraduate Induction, and Faculty of Medicine, Health, and Life Science Health, Safety and Sustainability Introduction to Laboratories for Postgraduate Students. The Sustainability Team attends Faculty and School inductions and student welcome talks, introducing the Sustainability Strategy and Policy, as well as sustainability initiatives and engagement opportunities. 
• Placed in every kitchen in student Halls of Residence, Residences Arrivals handbooks are emailed out to students and their parents prior to them arriving on campus. This includes a dedicated sustainability section, with information on how to minimise waste and recycle, get involved in events, initiatives and volunteering with the Sustainability Team and third parties such as SOS-UK and SWell (Team Jump). During the first weeks of term, SOS-UK and our Sustainability Team carry out kitchen visits in all campus Halls of Residence.

Engagement Events and Activities

SWell is our sustainability engagement app for staff and students, promoted to all students and staff. Through SWell, students and staff are rewarded for sustainable actions and get a monthly newsletter highlighting news, campaigns, opportunities and developments. A sample of recent newsletters:

• SWell newsletter – Jan 2026
• SWell newsletter – July 2026
• SWell newsletter - April 2026

View the: SWell Programme Impact Graphic 2025-26

Sustainability Events and Activities

We run a packed programme of events and activities to raise awareness of sustainability and engage students in sustainable behaviour change.

Go Green Week is our annual sustainability campaign, bringing together students, staff the Students' Union and external partners to celebrate sustainability and inspire positive environmental action. In 2026, the week featured 38 sustainability events across both campuses, including volunteering, conservation, sustainable travel, climate action and the Go Green Fair, engaging around 400 participants and attracting 48 new SWell sign-ups. The campaign was delivered with students and the Students' Union and promoted through social media, student newsletters, Hwb, digital screens and internal communications, generating more than 55,000 content views and 877 engagements.

View some campaign images here.

We also deliver sustainability events and activities in collaboration with students and staff stakeholders:

• Our Eventbrite platform promotes a calendar of sustainability events open to all.
• During Arrivals and Welcome, we welcome students with a wide range of activities including apple pressing at our campus growing beds, beach cleans and conservation walks. Together with partners in Team Jump (SWell app) and SOS-UK, we talk to students throughout the period about the importance of sustainability and how to get involved at engagement events such Freshers Fair and our student Support Services Fairs.
• We encourage students to follow Swansea University Sustainability on Instagram, which helps us encourage sustainable behaviour change and build a community of engaged students on campus. We regularly collaborate with the main Swansea University account and Hwb, which is the University’s main social media platform for current Swansea students.
• We also promote events, activities and initiatives and encourage behaviour change through our Student Newsletter which is issued to all students several times a month. A sample of sustainability features is here:
  • Community Fridge on Campus
  • Top Sustainability Rating for Catering
  • Water Action Week
  • To Go Cup Scheme
  • Green Campus Volunteering
  • Free Bike Repair Workshops
• On our website we publish information about how to Get Involved in sustainability at Swansea. 
• We partner with SOS UK, which runs engagement activity in Halls of Residence, including digital communication, on campus visits and volunteer recruitment, helping to build a community of engaged and informed student sustainability champions. This year we engaged 533 students which had a visible impact on electricity, carbon and financial savings – read the: SOS UK End of Year Report.

Get a flavour of all engagement activity delivered on campus in 2025/26, or check our Instagram account.

Funds for Student-Led Sustainability Projects

• The Sustainability Team hosts up to four biology and zoology students for their year in applied research at Crymlyn Burrows SSSI. Students benefit from relevant training and skills development in wildlife survey and monitoring, ecological research, habitat management and people engagement, with opportunities to get involved with the work of the wider team, including social media management and behaviour change campaign planning and implementation. Several alumni interns have gone on to work for organisations such as Natural Resources Wales in ecology, biodiversity and net zero roles.
• Paid and voluntary sustainability work placements with the Swansea Employability Academy – recent examples include: Swansea Paid Internships (SPIN) with the Sustainable Travel Officer to analyse key student travel data, and Biodiversity Officer to complete campus habitat baseline assessments and energy conservation-focused internships.
• The Sustainability Team support students and SUSU societies to obtain funds, e.g. through the NUS SOS Student Eats scheme – Recent projects include: Tyfu Tawe Campus growing project supported by Water Conservation trust.
• Student societies can apply to the Sustainability Team for Green Grant Funds of up to £250 for sustainability related projects. This scheme is run alongside our colleagues in the Students' Union.
• Students were awarded a £15,00 prize as part of the University’s contribution to the Royal Anniversary Trust report, which outlines an ambitious roadmap for decarbonisation of the tertiary education sector. The project “Nature-based solutions to increase biodiversity and landscape carbon sequestration on and off campus” was selected by the University and voted for funding support by the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Student Challenge Prize Fund. This student-led project used existing University spaces to create provisions for biodiversity and carbon capture on campus and in the local area through the production of materials to support wide-scale peatland restoration across the regional landscape, and the creation or improvement of onsite areas for growing native species, such as Sphagnum moss and wildflowers, that can improve habitats rapidly and radically for carbon sequestration and nature.
• Through our partnership with SOS-UK student volunteers were able to access £30 to promote sustainability in their residence through putting on events, creating videos and writing blog posts on the topics that came up during the training.

Staff Inductions

• All new staff must complete a HR induction checklist including mandatory induction training on Canvas. The Sustainability Strategy and Policy is introduced as part of this. Staff are also introduced to the Sustainability Team and the work they do to embed sustainability into university life. The Team also offer specialist inductions to staff carrying out specific activity, e.g. inductions for staff working in laboratories.   
• All contractors are expected to comply with the requirements laid out in our Needs and Expectations of Contractors Procedure. You can view the document on our website here.

Trade Union Engagement

The Sustainability Committee includes members of Trade Unions. Representation on the committee is alternated between the Unions: Sustainability Committee Terms of Reference

Student Representation

Students at Swansea University are represented on key committees and groups, including:

Sustainability Committee (full membership): Sustainability Committee Terms of Reference

University Travel Planning Group (full membership): University Travel Planning group ToR

Students, staff and other stakeholders such as Trade Unions are involved and engaged in the review and development of our Sustainability Policy and Strategy: Sustainability Strategy Consultees

The Students' Union Sustainability Committee ensures direct engagement with the student body on the University’s Sustainability and Climate Emergency Strategy and Path to Zero Plan. Run by the Students’ Union with input from the University Sustainability Team, the committee discusses all student engagement initiatives involving carbon management and facilitates joint planning and co-working between staff and students on climate change. View the Terms of Reference.

Staff/Student Led Evaluation

Swansea University began the SOS-UK Green Impact programme in October 2023, with the toolkit aligning to our Sustainability and Climate Emergency Strategy. In 25/26, SUSU was awarded “very good” in the Green Impact Award.

New Student-Staff Engagement Framework

This year we have worked together with Student Life and the Students’ Union on a new framework for student engagement. The framework introduces a Student Sustainability Council and Faculty Sustainability Reps to ensure students are able to track progress and shape decision making: “The changes aim to create a more coherent system that empowers students, supports staff, and accelerates progress toward institutional sustainability goals”.

Other staff/student led evaluation and tracking mechanisms include:

• SWell
• ISO14001
• UNPRME (within Swansea University’s business school)
• LEAF (labs)
• Planetary Health scorecard (Faculty of Medicine Health and Life Science)

Working Together with Swansea University Students' Union

Students' Union Sustainability Projects

Swansea University works collaboratively with the Students’ Union (SUSU) to support their work towards continued sustainability improvement and a reduced environmental impact. Collaborative initiatives have included joint ventures such as Root and Root Zero shops, providing expert advice and support, undertaking internal audits, working towards the EMS ISO 14001 accreditation, creating Sustainability Action Plans and working with the SU and societies to help reach their sustainability goals. View the SU's Commitment to Sustainability.

Some 25/26 Swansea University Students' Union (SUSU) Sustainability Initiatives are highlighted here:

• Monthly beach cleans on Swansea Beach.
• The Students’ Union created a one stop shop of sustainability information for students on their website: Sustainability : Help Desk
• SUSU partnered with the University and SOS-UK on the SDG Teach in which called on our Faculties and schools to embed the UN SDGs into teaching and learning. Students' Union staff are members of the Fairtrade Working Group and contribute and collaborate on events both within and outside Fairtrade Fortnight, as well as other criteria such as stocking Fairtrade products in Students' Union outlets.
• SUSU continues to work in partnership with Play it Again Sport. The team regularly come to campus with discounted second hand sports kit, including this year’s Go Green Week.
• SUSU worked in partnership with the University and SOS-UK to promote the SOS Sustainability skills survey in 2025 – over 100 students responded.
• As part of the annual Period Poverty campaign, SUSU offered free Plastic Free Period products to all students, including reusable pads.

Support of Local Community Partnerships

At Swansea University, we are committed to facilitating staff and student volunteering for sustainability and wellbeing in the local community and beyond.

• The Sustainability team works alongside our on-campus charity Discovery to offer students and staff opportunities to support local community partnerships, including facilitating and promoting volunteering through our sustainability work, particularly in the area of biodiversity and conservation. We have also worked with Discovery to implement a staff volunteering policy, enabling staff to volunteer with Discovery in a range of ways.
• The Sustainability Team has worked closely with the Environment Centre Swansea to bring their Repair Café to campus . This has seen students and staff bring items such as clothing, laptops and appliances to be repaired, reducing the need to buy new items. 
• The Students' Circular Economy Society was formed in 24/25, with some exciting projects including partnering with the Environment Centre and running their very own Repair Cafe on Bay Campus. 
• Staff and students are rewarded for volunteering through our SWell app, and students are encouraged and supported to volunteer on our campuses through our conservation sessions. 
• We are active partners in both the Swansea and Neath Port Talbot Local Nature Partnerships and sit on the steering group of the former. Our biodiversity work forms part of the local nature recovery action plans, and we actively engage with community projects such as Saving Swansea’s Swifts, the City Nature Challenge and the NPT Festival of the Sea. Our Biodiversity Officer also gives talks and guided walks for the Gower Society and Wildlife Trust local groups as well as facilitating community beach cleans. 
• Some other recent examples of community volunteering and action for sustainability and wellbeing in Swansea are outlined below – many of these are promoted on our Eventbrite page:

• 2026 Go Green Week invited members of the local community to join students and staff and get involved.
• Regular conservation events at the SSSI, bat walks and beach clean activities invite members of the local community to get involved and support our work.

View People & Planet's Assessment Methodology for Education for Sustainable Development.

1. Swansea University Strategic Vision and Purpose

At Swansea University, we recognise that equipping students with the knowledge and understanding, as well as the skills and attributes, to work in a way that safeguards environmental, social and economic wellbeing is necessary to be able to shape a sustainable future. Swansea University is committed at the highest level to embedding sustainability within teaching, as outlined in the University’s Strategic Vision and Purpose.

Specifically, at the highest strategic level, our University's first commitment is to “align our work to the Sustainable Development Goals”.

Professor Deborah Youngs, was appointed as Pro-Vice Chancellor for education in 2022 and has strategic responsibility for the university’s teaching and learning portfolio to ensure sustainability is embedded into the education.

Swansea University's Strategic Vision and Purpose:

Our Commitments: (page 7)

The climate crisis remains society’s biggest threat. We will align our work to the Sustainable Development Goals and will be a carbon-zero university by 2040.

Socially Responsible: (page 22)

We will work to embed the sustainable development goals across our curriculum, relating teaching to societal challenges. We will increase the proportion of BAME staff members at all levels and will integrate more Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic perspectives into our curriculum to address the attainment gap. We also recognise that learning should be a lifetime endeavour and will expand opportunities for adult learners to acquire new skills and to pursue their intellectual interests.

Our Research: (page 26)

Our research changes lives, drives innovation and regional growth, and is aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. It impacts on our culture and society as well as on our health and wellbeing, our economy and our planet. We drive policy change nationally and internationally. We are at the leading edge in many areas including: advanced manufacturing and innovation in clean energy and the digital economy; nanohealth and the analysis of large scale health data; labour market evaluation, terrorist use of the internet, and preserving our industrial heritage. We are exploring new ways to assess and mitigate the risks of the climate crisis and are working to protect the most vulnerable in our society and to enrich all our lives through our understanding of history and the arts.

Our Research Priorities: (page 29)

We will establish the first Institute for Advanced Studies in Wales, with a particular emphasis on impactful, interdisciplinary and policy-relevant research that addresses Sustainable Development goals.

2. Implementing and Tracking Progress in Education for Sustainable Development

The Sustainability Team has, in the past year, partnered with SOS and Swansea University students to map our SDGS against our curriculum. This has involved mapping taught modules against the UNSDGs, using student auditors. A summary of results is available: 2025 Swansea University Student-Led Sustainability Curriculum Mapping, and has been presented to academics for comment, the final report is due to be available on 8th August 2025. 

We also use our external EMS system and a series of internal audit processes, as well as mapping the SDG work across the University, including in teaching and research in all Faculties, as part of the SDG Accord requirement.

Up to date list of Swansea University courses and programmes mapped to Education for Sustainable Development; view: Climate Change and Sustainability Related Courses Programme March 2022

Swansea University Progress in Education for Sustainable Development

Swansea University’s Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences – School of Management are members of the United Nations: Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME).

“Working through Six Principles, PRME engages business and management schools to ensure they provide future leaders with the skills needed to balance economic and sustainability goals, while drawing attention to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and aligning academic institutions with the work of the UN Global Compact.” UN Prime requires members to complete a biennial assessment and report on progress against the 6 principles of Prime which including alignment of curricula and research to the SDG commitments and agenda. Swansea University’s latest performance report. More information about UN Prime and how to take part.

Swansea University’s progress in Education for Sustainable Development through QS Sustainability rankings.

Swansea University ranked 121^st in the Global QS Sustainability rankings. The rankings include assessment and benchmarking of Swansea University’s Sustainable education and research, employability and opportunities, environmental and social impact, equality, life quality, impact of education and sustainable institutions.

Swansea University progress in Education for Sustainable Development through TIMES Higher SDG Impact assessment, reporting and rankings.

Swansea University has been participating in THE Impact for SDG rankings since 2022 and is currently ranked 36^th globally and 2^nd globally for SDG12. The Times Higher Education Impact Rankings are global performance tables that assess participating universities against the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Performance indicators provide comparison across four broad areas: research, stewardship, outreach and teaching. This supports Swansea University with an annual benchmark and framework, to inform progress and strategy against a range of sustainability indicators including Education for Sustainable Development. Swansea University reporting progress against the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Useful information and links:

Swansea University Climate Action Research Institute

3. Supporting Academic Staff

Swansea University provides extensive support and training to help academic staff integrate Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) into the curriculum. Through the Swansea Academy of Learning and Teaching (SALT), staff have access to CPD workshops, live events, online toolkits, and Curriculum Transformation Support Sessions focused on embedding sustainability, aligning modules with the SDGs, and designing ESD‑aligned assessments. The University creates spaces for dialogue and collaboration through ESD workshops, communities of practice, and participation in the SOS‑UK SDG Teach In.

Student‑staff collaboration is embedded through the Student‑Led Sustainability Curriculum Mapping project, which provides a quantitative baseline for improvement. Uptake and progress are monitored through curriculum mapping, annual participation in the Sustainability Skills Survey, and ongoing review of staff engagement. The University also develops and shares ESD resources, including a Climate and Carbon E‑Learning Course for all staff. The School of Management’s membership of UN PRME further evidences institutional commitment to responsible and sustainability‑focused education.

Together, these activities demonstrate a robust, institution‑wide approach to supporting staff in embedding ESD, fully aligned with Responsible Futures scoring criteria. More evidence and information available here.

Swansea University Education for Sustainable Development.

4. Education for Sustainable Development Actions

Swansea University is a member and signatory of the Principles of Responsible Management Education (PRME) which aims to integrate aspects of ESDGC and corporate social responsibility across curricula. The University demonstrates its support and commitment to ESD through a range of innovative, multi-disciplined and pioneering projects across all our faculties and departments.

Examples of the work of academic departments and faculties to promote and offer academic opportunities for students to get involved and learn through real-world learning include:

• The work of the Science department and their community engagement work they undertake through Oriel Science and their work towards the UN SDGs.
• The field trips available through the Bioscience departments.
• The engagement opportunities offered by the research team in the Geography department.
• 50 fully funded 6-week paid internships are available for students to develop their skills in a real world environment.

Living Labs - Evidence of Projects

Examples of living labs can be found in our annual SDG report, such as: 

• Our Desalination and Water Re-Use MSc enables students to work within the Centre for Water Advanced Technologies and Environmental Research (CWATER), and undertake research projects related to drinking water treatment, waste water treatment, and process-water treatment. 
• Our Marine Research Vessel RV Mary Anning, is a key aspect of our undergraduate marine courses, equipped with a wet lab and a dry computer lab on board with a range of scientific equipment. 

• The School of Bioscience, Geography and Physics runs a 3rd year field course to Sikkim, in the Indian Himalaya, annually. Sikkim is a unique location for fieldwork – renowned for its breath taking Himalayan environment, rich biodiversity, and the strong commitment to environmental values. On the field course, students complete interdisciplinary research projects on five themes: urbanisation, hydroelectricity, agriculture, ecotourism, and natural hazards.  

For other specific examples, see below. 

Living Labs with regard to Biodiversity on campus:

• Biology undergraduates have been using camera traps to investigate the use of Singleton Campus by hedgehogs (Dr Daniel Forman (Associate Professor, Biosciences) - A Swansea University Academic using Campuses as Living labs information about Our Grounds).
• Crymlyn Burrows SSSI is used for undergraduate fieldwork, with second year Biology students carrying out investigations into the impact of human activity on plant diversity, and third year students carrying out extended phase one habitat surveys.
• Crymlyn Burrows SSSI is used for undergraduate and postgraduate research, including the impact of grazing on pollinator communities on saltmarshes, the impact of invasive species and management on sand dune habitats, and the impact of dog walking on use of the shore by wading birds, among many others.
• Undergraduate Civil Engineering students use the dunes to develop surveying skills and Spatial Variation in Coastal Dune Evolution in a High Tidal Range Environment.

Examples of Living Labs with regard to Energy and Carbon on campus:

Our Bay Campus is home to SPECIFIC: SOLAR RESEARCH AND ACTIVE BUILDINGS. Researchers on the project, including Professor Dave Worsley of Swansea University are behind the UK’s first energy positive classroom, which generates, stores and releases its own solar energy.

Within this Master programme, tours of the Campus are also offered to show the engineering technology currently providing heat and power to university buildings, particularly the District Heat Network and Energy Centre at Singleton Campus.

University campus buildings have also been surveyed by teams of BEng students to identify where LED lighting and water savings measures can be introduced, with estimated capital costs and potential utility and carbon savings.

As part of the EG-M85 Engineering Master programme, Swansea University students engage with the Estates Technical Services team within the Project Management module to report how the campus can operate more sustainably. Up to date and detailed utility consumption data is provided to students (via the lead lecturer Dr Kiyohide Wada). This improves the learning experience from a “fictional” project to a “real world” situation where Swansea University can utilise the student project outcomes for future sustainability improvements.

Additionally, the University has also developed a number of related groups that work towards the Higher Education for Future Generations Groups for Wales (HE FGGDW). Through this group we focus on sharing good practice around Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and sustainability, and we recently took over the running of the UN Regional Centre for Excellence (RCE) Wales. Some of the other groups associated with the HE FGGDW include:

• Circular Economy Research and Innovation Group (chaired by Gavin Bunting, Swansea University).
• Learning and Teaching for ESDGC, Healthy Universities.
• Collaborating with Public Services Boards.
• Regeneration and Cohesive Communities, Effective Communication.

5. Equal Access to Higher Education 

Swansea University offers a range of scholarships to students, including undergraduate and postgraduate international students.  This includes three scholarships for students seeking asylum or have been granted discretionary leave to remain on Humanitarian Protection during 2025. Scholarships cover the full cost of tuition for the duration of the degree programme. As well as having access to financial support, Sanctuary scholars will have access to support from a named member of staff for aspects of welfare and wellbeing support. 

In addition, 8 further international undergraduate scholarships were available for 2024 and a total of £12million was available for post graduate scholarships last year, with 24 post graduate research scholarships currently available for all students including those seeking asylum and refugees. For all students (correct as of July 2024 – numbers will vary depending on closing dates for applications).  Further funding is available for scholarships for international students.

Our CampusLife colleagues have created a useful bank of resources for asylum seekers and refugees, which can be accessed on their web pages.

View People & Planet's Assessment Methodology for Energy Sources.

This section is assessed based on the University’s annual performance data reported publicly and available on the Higher Education Statistic Agency (HESA) website under Estates Management Records.

View People & Planet's Assessment Methodology for Waste & Recycling.

Waste Management Action Plan 2021-2025

This section is assessed based on the University’s annual performance data reported publicly and available on the Higher Education Statistic Agency (HESA) website under Estates Management Records.

Swansea University is signed up to the online reuse platform Warp It, allowing University staff to advertise, find, and claim surplus furniture. This contributes to increased resource efficiency, a decreased amount of furniture sent for unnecessary recycling, and supports the circular economy.

Using Warp It helps to reduce the amount of furniture in good working order being disposed of by the University, therefore reducing our disposal costs and carbon footprint. Staff can search for and advertise items within the organisation and even make a wish list of what they need and be notified when it is available. This saves money, time on building clearances, and space.

In 2023, Swansea University achieved a Zero Waste to Landfill accreditation from the Carbon Trust, which recognises the University’s commitment to divert all waste produced on its campuses from landfill, and manage waste more effectively though increased prevention, reuse, or recycling. Using the Warp It platform will contribute to the University continuing to achieve these commitments and reductions, as well as our Climate Emergency, Procurement, and Waste commitments outlined in the Sustainability and Climate Emergency Strategy 2021-25, and will help align our work to the Sustainable Development Goals as outlined in the Strategic Vision and Purpose.

Find out more about our Waste and Recycling procedures and achievements here.

View People & Planet's Assessment Methodology for Carbon Reduction.

This section is assessed based on the University’s annual performance data reported publicly and available on the Higher Education Statistic Agency (HESA) website under Estates Management Records.

View People & Planet's Assessment Methodology for Water Reduction.

This section is assessed based on the University’s annual performance data reported publicly and available on the Higher Education Statistic Agency (HESA) website under Estates Management Records.