What is the name of your institution?
De Montfort University (DMU)
Why did you sign up to the Race to Zero for Universities and Colleges?
The university is committed to achieving net zero from its operations and activities and to work with Leicester City Council and other partners to support local action on the climate emergency
What have you achieved since you have joined the Race to Zero for Universities and Colleges?
As part of the engagement of staff and students on climate action and the Race to Zero, DMU has committed to delivering Carbon Literacy training to staff, students and the wider community. DMU has worked with the Carbon Literacy Project and other universities to develop learning materials to support the delivery of the Carbon Literacy training. This project received funding from BEIS and DMU along with other universities helped to develop the course material and provided feedback to the Carbon Literacy Project on the pilot sessions which were run with DMU staff and students. Over 170 staff and students have received the training, delivered by the DMU sustainability team, and this included members of the university’s Executive Board. The resources which were developed are to be used and made available to all universities to deliver the Carbon Literacy training to thier staff.
How are you leading the transition to net-zero? Consider the Leadership Practices and how you are engaging others to join the Race to Zero for Universities and Colleges or other Race to Zero campaigns.
DMU is also working with Leicester City Council and University of Leicester (UoL) through a Civic Universities Agreement to further expand the delivery of the Carbon Literacy training. Through this initiative DMU and UoL students have been trained to deliver the Carbon Literacy training to school pupils in schools in Leicester and Carbon Literacy training has been delivered to business leaders and community groups. DMU has achieved Carbon Literate Organisation (Bronze) status through its delivery of the training for its Leicester campus and its DMU Dubai campus where the training has been delivered to senior leadership team and students.
What challenges have you had?
Resources is always a challenge. However DMU has provided funding so that teaching staff can be employed to deliver the Carbon Literacy training to staff and students at DMU which in turn enables other Carbon Literacy trainers at DMU to deliver the training to organisations outside of the institution.
