2022
UCC named sustainability institution of the year at Green Gown Awards
University College Cork (UCC) has been recognised as the top university for sustainability at a prestigious awards ceremony celebrating sustainability in higher education.
UCC was awarded the top prize of Sustainability Institution of the Year at this year鈥檚 UK and Ireland Green Gown awards which took place at Loughborough University.
The Green Gown awards, in association with UK Research and Innovation, celebrate exceptional sustainability initiatives being undertaken by the world鈥檚 universities and colleges.
The success recognises UCC鈥檚 Green Campus Programme and the university鈥檚 commitment to embedding sustainability at the heart of all strategies and decision-making processes.
What the judges said
鈥淎n application with real 鈥榟eart鈥. Cork have achieved so much by responding to grassroots leadership using their existing internal resources. They showcase over a decade鈥檚 worth of holistic work to create a whole- organisation approach to sustainability. They鈥檙e humble about their role as trailblazers for the Green Campus model and have implemented some complex initiatives - judges particularly liked the Saver Saves programme. This is a blueprint of what can be achieved through existing budgets with devolved leadership, partnership with students and a shared vision.鈥
What it means to win
Professor John O鈥橦alloran, UCC President, said: "This award is a fitting recognition of the genuine commitment to sustainability at University College Cork. UCC prides itself on being Ireland鈥檚 鈥淕reen鈥 University and of sharing our learnings across the sector and beyond. We are committed to securing a better future for us and our planet."