Symposium on Greening Campuses at UK Universities: Innovative Strategies for Sustainable Campuses

Background

Universities are uniquely positioned to educate future leaders and innovators on sustainability. By integrating sustainable practices into campus life, they set an example for students and inspire them to advocate for environmental stewardship in their personal and professional lives. 

Also, since climate change poses a significant threat to global ecosystems and human health, universities must take proactive measures to reduce their carbon footprints and promote sustainability in their operations and curricula. 

Moreover, various stakeholders, including students, faculty, and the community, expect universities to take meaningful action towards sustainability. This public demand can enhance a university’s reputation and appeal, influencing student recruitment and funding opportunities.

Furthermore, implementing sustainable practices can lead to significant cost savings through improved energy efficiency, reduced waste, and more efficient use of resources. This not only benefits the environment but also helps universities better allocate their budgets.

And bearing in mind that increasing legislation and guidelines on sustainability, including carbon reduction targets and environmental standards, require universities to adapt their practices to comply with national and international policies, it is important that they intensify their efforts to green their campuses and reduce the carbon footprint of their operations.

It is against this background that the symposiumis being organised.

Aims

The main aim of the symposium is to discuss and introduce some of the means via which the principles of sustainable development may be integrated into the operations of higher education institutions. It will also showcase research and innovation in sustainable practices, encouraging students and faculty to engage in projects that contribute to sustainability on campuses. Finally, the symposium will discuss how best to engage learners more actively in campus-related sustainability initiatives and projects, to enhance their understanding and commitment to SDGs and sustainable practices in their future professional activities.

The symposium will tackle a critical and timely topic that may significantly contribute to local, national, and international sustainable development goals by fostering innovation and collaboration in the field of sustainability in the context of campus greening.

Participants will leave the symposium with a deeper understanding of the importance of sustainable development in campus activities, with a better knowledge of practical strategies to pursue it, and encouraged to think innovatively and form partnerships to develop cutting-edge solutions for sustainability on campuses.

Target groups

The symposium will be of special interest to educators, operations staff (such as facilities management), researchers and students, who will discuss and share best practices, innovative approaches, and findings related to embedding sustainability in campus-related activities.

Key topics

Some of the key themes are: 

• Sustainable Infrastructure: Exploring the design and construction of energy-efficient buildings, use of renewable energy sources, and sustainable materials in campus projects.
• Biodiversity and Green Spaces: Discussing the importance of enhancing biodiversity on campuses through planting trees, creating green roofs, and maintaining natural habitats.
• Waste Reduction Strategies: Evaluating methods for reducing waste generation on campuses, implementing recycling programs, and promoting a circular economy.
• Sustainable Transportation: Implementing initiatives to promote sustainable transportation options, such as cycling, walking, and electric vehicle charging stations.
• Staff and Student Engagement, including methods for engaging students in sustainability initiatives, including student-led projects, sustainability clubs, and competitions.
• Community Engagement: Highlighting the importance of involving students and local communities in campus sustainability initiatives to foster a culture of environmental responsibility.

Through presentations and discussions, participants will have the opportunity to share best practices, learn from successful case studies, and collaborate on innovative solutions to the challenges faced in greening university campuses. 

Format

The event will start at 9:00am and finish at 4:30pm on Thursday 4 September 2025. 

It consists of:

• Plenary sessions: With keynote speakers discussing overarching themes. 
• Breakout sessions: Focused group discussions on specialised topics.
• Exhibition space: For organisations to showcase their works on sustainability in business education 

Documentation

Accepted papers will be published in the book Greening Campuses at Universities: Innovative Strategies for Sustainable Campuses, as part of the leading peer-reviewed book series on sustainability issues, Springer Nature’s World Sustainability Series. 

The book series is fully indexed and its peer-reviewed nature means that it has, over the years, been accepted for promotion and tenure purposes.

How to participate: submission of abstracts

The submission of a paper is not mandatory. Colleagues may also attend the event without presenting or writing a paper.

Interested colleagues may submit any complete, original, and unpublished research papers, either conceptual or empirical. The Turnitin similarity index must be below 20%. 

We kindly request interested colleagues to submit:

• an abstract of 200 to 300 words
• along with the authors’ names and full contact details
• as soon as possible and before 10 February 2025

For those who want to submit a paper, an early submission of abstracts is strongly encouraged. The deadline for submissions of abstracts should not be regarded as the date the abstracts are due. Rather, it is the last possible day. Authors who submit their abstracts at a later stage should be mindful of the fact that presentation slots may be taken, and only poster presentations may be possible. Please submit your abstract as soon as you can, to avoid possible problems. Abstracts should be submitted to: [email protected]. 

Full papers are due by 20 June 2025. 

Important note on the submission of abstracts

The earlier submission of abstracts is strongly encouraged. The deadline for submissions of abstracts should not be regarded as the date the abstracts are due. Rather, it is the last possible day.  Therefore, authors who submit their abstracts at a later stage should be mindful of the fact that presentation slots may be taken, and only poster presentations may be possible. Please submit your abstract as soon as you can, to avoid possible problems.

Fees and registrations

To offset some of the costs of the organisation of the event, we’ll charge a registration fee of £150 per delegate, plus handling fees. The fee includes 2 coffee breaks and lunch on the two days. It also includes a free PDF of the book, to be sent to the authors who have contributed to it. Information on how to register will be sent to the delegates whose contributions have been accepted. 

About the organisers 

The Symposium is organised by: 

• The UK Consortium on Sustainability Research
• Manchester Metropolitan University
• Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh 

Organising committee

• Prof Walter Leal, Manchester Metropolitan University 
• Dr Alan Bainbridge, Queen Margaret University Edinburgh 

How to get to Queen Margaret University

Queen Margaret University’s campus is located close to Musselburgh, east of Edinburgh city centre. 

The best way to access the campus is through public transport or walking/cycling. We have Musselburgh train station at our front door and bus services stopping on campus. National Cycle Route 1 provides direct access via active travel. Vehicular access can only be gained from the A1. The onsite car park is free to use up until 8 September, so symposium attendees can park in the bays on arrival. 

Travel advice for Queen Margaret University

Contact and further details

• Professor Walter Leal, Manchester Metropolitan University ([email protected])
• Dr Alan Bainbridge, Queen Margaret University ([email protected])