ACTS is undertaking a substantial amount of change in order to become the peak organisation for tertiary education with regards to sustainability. We have gained a lot of momentum in the last few months and will continue to do so over the coming year or so. This is a very exciting time for ACTS and those involved with the association, to take the tertiary education sector forward in a new, and much warranted, direction. Hence ACTS is please to announce a call for nominations to fill a number of roles on the Executive Board, as well as in the newly developed Regional Director positions.

Download the Call for Nomination information and application document

world.edu is an exciting new website dedicated to increasing knowledge for sustainability on both a national and international scale. The website takes an holistic approach to educating and inspiring its community members by bringing together the very best content and opportunities from the worlds of academia, business, not for profit and lifestyle.

world.edu is currently partnering with universities who value and wish to progress climate and sustainability education and research, while pursuing climate neutrality in campus operations.

Through becoming a partner of world.edu, academic institutions will be able to:

• Showcase their latest research & development projects
• Publish articles, comments and insights throughout the community
• Advertise for staff and volunteers
• Promote courses and workshops
• Notify of upcoming events and conferences while providing staff and students with an opportunity to participate in a global community.

world.edu is an Australian owned and run project with global ambitions.

ACTS members have a unique opportunity to play an active role in the growth and direction of the world.edu community and helping position Australia as a global leader of sustainability within higher education.

As a special offer to ACTS members, for six months until the 31st March 2011 members are able to subscribe and partner world.edu for only $1000. For more information please contact:

Jacqui Ryall, Director Academic Partnerships

phone: 07 5641 4587

email:  jacqui@world.edu

website: www.world.edu

Visit the ‘Projects‘ page to find all the information for the ACTS 2010 Green Gown Awards

Dear ACTS Members,
Dr Nathan Cassidy, Policy Officer with Universities Australia, has requested ACTS members assistance with a UA research project to help progress the National Action Plan for Education for Sustainability, Living Sustainably (request below). As the report needs to be complied by the end of October, could you please provide information by Friday 23 October 2009.

Click here to submit your responses.

We will also be putting this information up on the ACTS website. Thanks in advance for your assistance to Universities Australia and in helping build ACTS into the type of organisation you want.

Regards,

Lania

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Universities Australia is a member of the National Council on Education for Sustainability, which will progress certain actions under the Australian Government’s National Action Plan for Education for Sustainability, Living Sustainably (NAP). Contained within the NAP are actions pertaining specifically to the university sector. These actions involve strategies to develop whole-of-institution sustainability programs (including research; teaching and learning and campus management); sustainability incentives scheme for universities; and sustainability networks to improve co-ordination, share best practice and communicate concepts within universities as well as sustainability for key professions through integration of sustainability into professional learning qualifications and university degree accreditation.

As a background to this work Universities Australia has been asked to compile a short background snapshot of where the higher education sector is currently placed in terms of a) campus green programs and environmental management and b) education for sustainability.

I would ask those of you who are interested to provide me with short blurbs about what your university is doing in either or both of these two spaces. I understand that there is a range of practice in the sector and some institutions are doing more than others. In the interests of providing an honest snapshot of the whole sector, I would urge that you provide information even if you are not proud of your institution’s progress.

I need to have this report compiled by the end of October, so I would ask that you provide the information to me by Friday 23 October 2009.

Please contact me directly if you have any queries on 02 6285 8105.

Universities Australia is planning to become more involved in sustainability issues in the near future, and looks forward to a deeper relationship with ACTS.

Regards,

Nathan Cassidy