Edinburgh institutions sign up to become Universities That Count

At a time when green issues look to be increasingly at the periphery of the agenda, Edinburgh, Napier and Queen Margaret Universities have signed up to a newly-launched scheme designed to encourage more environmental and corporate responsibility.

Universities that Count (UTC) is the first independent benchmarking initiative aimed solely at higher education institutions. 70 universities across the UK have signed up for the project, which will measure the performance of all members and allow them to benchmark their performance.

Tasked with ensuring that the University of Edinburgh's report submission properly reflects its policies and practices. David Somervell, sustainability adviser at this institution said Edinburgh had chosen to participate in the more challenging Corporate Responsibility index, meaning that they will get feedback on the social issues, as well as organisational and environmental issues, that impact the wider community.

The programme is based on Corporate Responsibility (CR) index proposed by corporate responsibility charity, Business in the Community. Its aim is to promote open and fair practices, thus allowing measurable sustainability indices in both corporate and environmental spheres.

Mr Somervell said: "We are participating fully in this benchmarking exercise and we hope that this will identify those areas where the university is well placed against the rest of the sector, as a proactive and responsible university which is addressing issues of sustainability and social responsibility. It will no doubt identify some areas where we can do better and which the sustainability and environmental advisory group will be working on this coming year."

Frank Lopez, spokesman for Napier University responded in equally positive fashion. He said: “The university will benefit as it will give us a structured way of benchmarking corporate responsibility throughout all facultys and professional service areas. Every effort will be made to ensure that we comply with all areas of the programme, whilst making a commitment to improving our performance.”

Participating universities are required to complete a questionnaire of eighty questions and submit a portfolio of evidence outlining all formal policies and performances across a range of environmental and social issues.

The scheme encompasses more than just corporate services: it is focused on improving delivery of learning and teaching as well as research and knowledge exchange.

Business in the Community (BITC) is an outreach charity established by Prince Charles in 1982. Its work is dedicated to measuring environmental and corporate responsibility efforts within big business.

The UTC scheme is to adopt the same methods and incorporate them at the member universities, who will then be able to effectively measure and manage their green initiatives and ethical practices. The project is being financed by the UK higher education funding council, with contributions from each university.

Heriot-Watt have not committed to the scheme yet; however spokeswoman Caroline Dempster outlined the university's plans: “We are not as yet formally signed up to the scheme but our representatives have attended a workshop and have been reviewing the two indices, to assess policies and procedures and the improvement that is being driven by them. We are currently awaiting clarification on some matters before deciding whether to proceed at this time.”

The move has been welcomed by the University of Edinburgh Students Association (EUSA). Adam Ramsay, president of EUSA, said: “Edinburgh University is a huge organisation with a substantial impact on the world around us. It's great that the university is committed to ensuring the impact is as positive as possible. The Universities that Count scheme is a useful step along that road. It's important that the university continues to look at it's impact, and what it can do to improve it.”

The scheme is being led by the Environmental Association of Universities and Colleges (EAUC), after a successful pilot in 2007. Iain Patton, executive director for the EAUC, has said the nature of the scheme would praise good work and help those with poor performances see how they can improve.

Mr Patton said: “The EAUC welcomes the sea-change in the sectors willingness to report publicly on its environmental and social performance. The high media profile which is part of Universities that Count will bring recognition for some excellent pioneering work done by EAUC members while bluntly reminding any that need it that this agenda is here to stay."

In 2004, the Yorkshire and Humberside branch of BITC, provided a benchmarking service to large private and public organisations in the region free of charge. The University of Leeds, University of Bradford and University of York participated in the project and were able to progressively hone their environmental engagement – eventually standing strongly beside or above other public sector and private sector companies in the region.