The Open University

Overall Summary.

People & Planet University League award class: 22

The Open University scored 47.8% and ranked 67th

Policy and Strategy

Publicly Available Policy

We looked at The Open University's publicly available environmental policy - you can read it here if we found one - but if we didn't find a policy on the university website then you won't find a link:

www.open.ac.uk/sustainability/sites/www.open.ac.uk.sustainability/files/files/Policies/OU%20Environmental%20Sustainability%20Policy_FINAL.pdf

We wanted to see that the policy wasn't just sitting in a dusty desktop year after year and we needed to know that the policy meant something to staff, students and decision makers at the university. So to score 50% here, the policy needed to have been published within the last 5 years and demonstrate that it was reviewed regularly by someone sitting in a senior position at the university.

1 The Open University scored: 50/ 50% for their environmental policy

2 Targets and Strategy

The university could only score the full marks of 50% if they had set SMART targets in all 8 of key areas below, and if we could see that the strategy had been reviewed in the last 5 years, (much like the environmental policy, a strategy only works if people are using it), and we didn't give credit for strategies that were out of date. We decided that if a university wasn't setting targets for more than 5 key areas then it didn't amount to a comprehensive and they would score zero. Scores increase in line with the number of key areas the university had set targets for when considering:

  • Construction & Refurbishment
  • Emissions & Discharges
  • Community involvement
  • Biodiversity
  • Waste management
  • Travel and Transport
  • Sustainable procurement
  • Water

We found that The Open University is working towards targets in the following areas:

Water, Construction and Refurbishment, Emissions and Discharges

Therefore...

2. The Open University scored 0%/50% for their sustainability strategy

Section Total: 50%

  • 50/50 Publicly available policy
  • 0/50 SMART Targets

Staff & HR

1 Senior Staff Responsibility

We looked to see whether someone in the university senior management team has responsibility for sustainability. It really helps when climate change and ethical issues are the responsibility of someone who can make decisions about how the action points can be resourced. If a senior member of staff has responsibility for sustainability, you can find them here:

www.open.ac.uk/sustainability/team

1. The Open University scored 25/25% for senior responsibility for sustainability.

2 Number of Sustainability Staff

We also wanted to see how many staff were currently employed to work on sustainability issues, and whether students and staff could find them easily online and contact them. We thought the number of sustainability staff should be relative to the number of staff and students at the university.

The Open University has more than 15000 students students and 8.00 FTE sustainability staff

Therefore...

2 The Open University scored 35/60% for dedicated and expert staff

3 All Staff Participation

We looked at whether the university supported a staff engagement scheme (like Eco-Champions or inter-departmental green team competitions) to engage all staff across the university in environmental and ethical practice through training, workshops and projects. If the university runs such a scheme you will find it below:
www.open.ac.uk/sustainability/get-involved/staff
 

3 The Open University scored 15/15% for all staff participation

Section Total: 75 %

  • 25/25 Senior Staff
  • 35/60 Sustainability Staff
  • 15/15 Staff Engagement

Environmental Auditing & Management Systems

1b Internal Environmental Audits

Universities who have not undertaken an externally verified environmental management system audit could also score points (max. 30%) for conducting and publishing their own environmental audits.

Areas considered for audit:

  • Waste management

  • Travel and Transport

  • Sustainable Procurement

  • Energy

  • Water

  • Construction & Refurbishment

  • Emissions & Discharges

  • Biodiversity

The Open University was found to have audited the following areas:

Waste management, Travel and Transport, Energy, Water, Emissions & Discharges, Biodiversity

1b. The Open University scored 20/30% for internal environmental audits

Section Total: 20%

  • 20/30 Internal Audit

 

Ethical Investment and Banking

1a Ethical Investment Policy

Investments in the fossil fuel industry or arms trade can be contradictory to an institutions broader sustainability aims and goals. A strong ethical investment policy makes sure an institution’s investments and banking practices are conducted transparently and in an economically-viable, socially-responsible manner. Points were awarded for covering the full scope of an institution's investments and being signed off by a senior member of staff. If The Open University has an ethical investment policy, it can be found below:

search.open.ac.uk/search/search.shtml?q=ethical%20investment%20policy&pg=1 https://www.open.ac.uk/foi/main/sites/www.open.ac.uk.foi.main/files/files/Responsible%20Investment%20Framework%20March%202019.pdf

1a The Open University scored 0/10% for its ethical investment policy

1b. Specifics within the policy:

Addititonal points were awarded for specific within the policy:

  • include student representation on their investment committee
  • publicly listing their investments annually
  • There are clear ongoing opportunities for the wider student body and staff community to engage with the policy.

1b The Open University scored 0/15% for specific within its ethical investment policy

2 Commitment to screen out specific sectors

Universities who have made a commitment in policy to screen out specific sectors, such as fossil fuel companies, arms companies and companies in violation of international law.

2a The Open University scored 0/30% for its commitment in policy to screen out fossil fuel investments

2b The Open University scored 0/10% for its commitment in policy to screen out investments in arms companies

2c The Open University scored 0/10% for its commitment in policy to screen out border industry companies

2d The Open University scored 0/5% for its commitment in policy to screen out investments in companies in violation of international law

 

3 Reinvesting Divested Funds

Universities were awarded points for commitments in policy to reinvest divested funds in renewable energy or on community-owned energy on campus.

3 The Open University scored 0/5% for its commitment in policy to reinvest divested funds

4 Ethical Banking

Universities were awarded points for having an ethical banking policy reported on at senior level. If The Open University has an ethical banking policy you will find it below

search.open.ac.uk/search/search.shtml?q=ethical%20banking%20policy&pg=1

4a The Open University scored 0/5% for its ethical banking policy

4b The Open University scored 0/5% for excluding banks that finance fossil fuels in its ethical banking policy

5 Transparency and accountability

In the interests of transparency and accountability, universities were rewarded for hosting key policy documents publicly on their websites.

5a The Open University scored 0/1% for having an easily accessible and public ethical investment policy.

search.open.ac.uk/search/search.shtml?q=ethical%20investment%20policy&pg=1 https://www.open.ac.uk/foi/main/sites/www.open.ac.uk.foi.main/files/files/Responsible%20Investment%20Framework%20March%202019.pdf

5b The Open University scored 0/1% for having an easily accessible and public annual list of investments.

search.open.ac.uk/search/search.shtml?q=list%20of%20investments&pg=1

5c The Open University scored 1/1% for having an easily accessible and public list of committee members that oversee investments.

www.open.ac.uk/foi/main/sites/www.open.ac.uk.foi.main/files/files/Financial_Report_2020_Final.pdf

5d The Open University scored 0/1% for having an easily accessible and public meeting minutes that provide updates on investment policy reviews and divestment/investment status.

search.open.ac.uk/search/search.shtml?q=investment%20policy%20minutes&pg=1

5e The Open University scored 0/1% for having an easily accessible and public ethical banking policy.

https://search.open.ac.uk/search/search.shtml?q=ethical%20banking%20policy&pg=1

Section Total: 1%

  • 0/10 Ethical Investment Policy
  • 0/15 Specifics in Policy
  • 0/30 Fossil Fuel Exclsuion
  • 0/10 Arms Company Exclusion
  • 0/10 Border industry Exclusion
  • 0/5 International Law Exclusion
  • 0/5 Reinvestment
  • 0/5 Ethical Banking
  • 0/5 Exclude Fossil Fuels
  • 0/1 Has Policy
  • 0/1 Has Investment List
  • 1/1 Lists committee
  • 0/1 Meeting Minutes
  • 0 Ethical Banking

Ethical Careers and Recruitment

1a. Ethical Careers Policy

Universities often have a policy outlining which sectors or companies they will advertise vacancies for, if The Open University has a careers policy you will find it below:

www.open.ac.uk/employ-ou-talent/termsandconditions

1a The Open University scored 10/10% for having a valid careers policy.

We awarded points for specifics within that carbon management plan:

1b The Open University scored 0/7% for being updated in the last 4 years and signed off at a senior level.

Commitment to Screen Out Specific Sectors

If the university has committed not to recruit for some sectors, you will find them below:

www.open.ac.uk/employ-ou-talent/termsandconditions

2a The Open University scored 0/50% for committing to screen out recruitment links with the fossil fuel industry.

2b The Open University scored 0/10% for committing to screen out recruitment links with the mining industry.

2c The Open University scored 0/10% for committing to screen out recruitment links with the arms industry.

2d The Open University scored 0/5% for committing to screen out recruitment links with the tobacco industry.

Transparency and Accountability

3a The Open University scored 0/6% for having clear and accessible information on careers staff structure

help.open.ac.uk/about-the-careers-and-employability-service

3b The Open University scored 0/2% for having detailed information on combined careers services and 3rd party relationships.

help.open.ac.uk/documents/policies/careers-and-employability-services/files/13/careers-statement.pdf

Section total: 10%

  • 10/10 Careers Policy
  • 0/7 In Date
  • 0/50 Fossil Fuel
  • 0/10 Mining
  • 0/10 Arms
  • 0/5 Tobacco
  • 0/6 Career Structure
  • 0/2 3rd Party Relationships

Managing Carbon

1 Carbon Management Plan

Universities should all have a plan for managing and reducing their carbon emissions, if The Open University has a carbon management plan you will find it below:

www5.open.ac.uk/sustainability/sites/www.open.ac.uk.sustainability/files/files/Policies/OU%20Net%20Zero%20Carbon%202030%20Plan_FINAL.pdf

We awarded points for specifics within that carbon management plan:

1a The Open University scored 5/5% for a carbon emissions baseline for 2005 or later which covers all scope 1 and 2 emissions.

1b The Open University scored 5/5% for  a carbon reduction target for covering scope 1 & 2, consistent with an 80% reduction in carbon emissions by 2050 at a minimum AND at least one milestone towards this target before 2030

1c The Open University scored 0/5% for a budget for the carbon reduction plan.

1d The Open University scored 5/5% for named persons or titles responsible for the carbon reduction plan.

1e The Open University scored 5/5% for a reporting mechanism for monitoring the carbon management plan.

2 Carbon Management and scope 3 emissions

2a The Open University scored 0/5% for reporting scope 3 emissions to HESA via the EMR record

2b The Open University scored 0/5% for having a valid strategy for reducing emissions from aviation.

If they have a valid sustainable travel plan you will find it below:

(None)

2c The Open University scored 0/5% for calculating total carbon emissions relating to residential accommodation.

3 Scope 3 Baselines and Targets

The Open University's carbon management plan was found to have scope 3 baselines in the following areas:

(None)

3a Therefore they scored 0/30% for the scope 3 baselines in their carbon management plan

The Open University's carbon management plan was found to have scope 3 targets in the following areas:

(None)

3b Therefore they scored 0/30% for the scope 3 targets in their carbon management plan

Section total: 20%

  • 5/5 2005 emissions baseline
  • 5/5 CO2 Target
  • 0/5 CO2 Reduction Budget
  • 5/5 Named Persons
  • 5/5 Reporting
  • 0/5 Scope 3 to HESA
  • 0/5 Aviation Emissions
  • 0/5 Residential
  • 0/30 Scope 3 Baselines
  • 0/30 Scope 3 Targets

Workers' Rights

1 A Living Wage University

Accredited Living Wage Employers

1 The Open University scored 30/30%

2 Equality for Outsourced Staff

Points were awarded if universities had a policy that monitors equality of pay and conditions between in-house and outsourced staff.

2 The Open University scored 0/15%

www.open.ac.uk/foi/main/sites/www.open.ac.uk.foi.main/files/files/ecms/web-content/Financial_Report_2022_FINAL_ONLINE.pdf

3 Fairtrade

3 The Open University scored 0/5%

4 Monitoring and Reforming the Supply Chain

Universities were awarded points if they were a member of Electronics Watch or Purchasing Consortium

4 The Open University scored 30/30%

5 Can't Buy My Silence universities pledge

Can't Buy My Silence campaign.

5 The Open University scored 5/5%

6 Proportion of all Academic Staff are on Fixed Term Contracts

The Open University scored 0/15%

Section total: 65%

  • 30/30 Living Wage
  • 0/15 External Staff
  • 0/5 Fairtrade
  • 30/30 Supply Chains
  • 5/5 Can't Buy My Silence
  • 0/15 % Academic Staff on Fixed Term Contracts

NB all accreditations were for the period July-August 2023

Sustainable Food

1 Sustainable Food Policy

If the university has a policy on sustainable food reported on at senior level you will find it below:

(None)

1 The Open University scored 20/20% for its sustainable food policy.

2 Contracts

This question pertains to food procured through individual suppliers, consortia and other catering purchasing organisations, and to the catering contracts and sub-contracts held, tendered and re-tendered by universities where catering services might be outsourced, i.e. halls of residence catering provisions or staff and student dining provisions.

2 The Open University scored 20/20% for its tender specifications within food policy.

3 Sustainable Food Framework

One of the most common ways to measure commitment to sustainable catering in the public sector is through the achievement of an externally assessed sustainable food award, such as the Soil Association’s Food for Life Served Here award, or the Food Made Good Membership by the Sustainable Restaurant Association.

3 The Open University has None and therefore received 0/40%

4 Community Food

4 The Open University scored 0/20% for providing space or support for community food projects

(None)

Section total: 40%

  • 20/20 Food Policy
  • 20/20 Tender Specifications
  • 0/40 Food Accreditation
  • 0/20 Community Food

Staff and Student Engagement

1 Staff and Student Engagement Strategy

Points were awarded for publishing a strategy detailing how universities will engage students and staff. If they had a staff and student engagement strategy you will find it below:

www.open.ac.uk/sustainability/sites/www.open.ac.uk.sustainability/files/files/Policies/OU%20Environmental%20Sustainability%20Policy_FINAL.pdf

1 The Open University scored 30/30% for having a publicly available student an staff engagement strategy.

2 Student and Staff Engagement Actions

2a The Open University scored 0/5% for offering oversight and involvement opportunities to students and staff for the development and ongoing monitoring of the university Carbon Management Plan.

2b The Open University scored 5/5% for actively supporting an environment themed week.

2c The Open University scored 0/5% for providing funds for student led sustainability projects.

3 Staff Inductions

3 The Open University scored 0/10% for including sustainability policy in staff inductions.

4 Trade Union engagement

4 The Open University scored 0/10% for inviting trade union members to sit on committees that oversee sustainability.

5 Student Representation

5 The Open University scored 25/25% for student representatives to sit on committees that oversee sustainability.

6 Student's Union

6 The Open University scored 10/10% for the student union working towards continual improvement in environmental sustainability

Section Total: 70%

  • 30/30 Engagement Strategy
  • 0/5 CMP Involvement
  • 5/5 Environment Week
  • 0/5 Student Projects
  • 0/10 Staff Inductions
  • 0/10 Trade Union
  • 25/25 Student Representation
  • 10/ 10 Student Union

Education for Sustainable Development

1 Commitment and Governance for Education for Sustainable Development.

If the university demonstrates commitment to ESD through a high level of strategy, find out how below:

www.open.ac.uk/sustainability/sites/www.open.ac.uk.sustainability/files/files/Policies/OU%20Environmental%20Sustainability%20Policy_FINAL.pdf

1 The Open University scored 20/20% for demonstrating commitment to ESD.

2 Implementing and tracking progress in Education for Sustainable Development

If the university is using a strategy to map its progress towards integrating ESD into the curriculum, find out how below:

University uses an external scheme such as SOS-UK's Responsible Futures 25%

2a The Open University scored 25/25% for using a strategy for ESD.

www.open.ac.uk/sustainability/get-involved/staff

2b The Open University scored 20/20% for using a reporting mechanism for ESD.

3 Supporting Academic Staff

3 The Open University scored 10/10% for providing training and support to academic staff for ESD

www.open.ac.uk/sustainability/get-involved/staff

4 Education for Sustainable Development Actions

4a The Open University scored 10/10% for using its campus as a living lab.

alumni.open.ac.uk/media/895/895.pdf

4b The Open University scored 10/10% for highlighting research in sustainability.

www.open.ac.uk/sustainability/research

5 Equal Access to Higher Education

5a The Open University scored 1/1% for offering multiple scholarships to asylum seekers and individuals who have been granted a status as a result of an asylum claim, but do not yet have access to student finance.

www.open.ac.uk/courses/fees-and-funding/sanctuary-scholarship

5b The Open University scored 1/1% for offering multiple scholarships to studenith with refugee status or humanitarian protection.

www.open.ac.uk/courses/fees-and-funding/sanctuary-scholarship

5c The Open University scored 1/1% for offering multiple scholarships for the full duration and cost of the degree programme, or a full fee waiver, for people with other limited forms of leave to remain in the UK

{esd5c_evidence}

5d The Open University scored 0/1% for offering support for living costs equivalent to that received through student finance to any of the groups in Education for Sustainable Development questions 5.a-5.c

{esd5d_evidence}

5e The Open University scored 0/1% including any of the groups mentioned in questions 5a-d in their Access and Participation plan.

www.open.ac.uk/about/wideningparticipation/sites/www.open.ac.uk.about.wideningparticipation/files/files/OU%20Access%20and%20Participation%20Plan%202020-2025.pdf

Section Total: 98%

  • 20/20 ESD Strategy
  • 25/25 ESD Framework
  • 20/20 ESD Reporting
  • 10/10 Academic Training
  • 10/10 Living Lab
  • 10/10 Sustainability Research
  • 1/1 Asylum Seeker Scholarships
  • 1/1 Refugee Scholarships
  • 1/1 Limited Leave to Remain scholarships
  • 0/1 Living Costs
  • 0/1 Access and Participation Plan

 

Energy Sources

This section has been taken directly from the 2021/2022 Estates Management Record from the Higher Education Statistics Agency. Universities have been scored by banding values into groups.

1a  The Open University scored 36/55% for its percentage of renewable energy generated onsite or off site compared to consumption of grid electricity.

1b The Open University scored 0/45% for its total percentage of renewable energy purchased through green tariffs.

Section Total: 36%

  • 36/55 Renewable %

  • 0/45 Green Tariff %

Waste and Recycling

This section has been taken directly from the 2021/22 Estates Management Record fom the Higher Education Statistics Agency. Universities have been scored by banding values into groups.

1 The Open University scored 50/50% for the percentage waste recycled, composted or anaerobically digested, excluding construction waste (that classified as “other” in the EMR)

2 The Open University scored 12.5/50% for the percentage waste recycled, composted or anaerobically digested, excluding construction waste per head of FTE students and staff.

Section Total: 62.5%

  • 50/50 % Reused

  • 12.5/50 Waste mass per head

Carbon Reduction

This section has been taken directly from the 2020/22 Estates Management Record from the Higher Education Statistics Agency. Universities have been scored by banding values into groups.

1 The Open University scored 0/50% for its change in carbon intensity.

2 The Open University scored 50/50% for its reduction in scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions since a 2005 baseline.

Section Total: 50%

  • 0/50 Yearly CO2 Reduction

  • 50/50 2005 CO2 Reduction

Water Reduction

This section has been taken directly from the 2021/22 Estates Management Record from the Higher Education Statistics Agency. Universities have been scored by banding values into groups.

1 The Open University scored 50.25/67% for its water consumption per head.

2 The Open University scored 0/33% for its use of grey or rainwater.

Section Total: 50.25%

  • 50.25/67 Water use per head

  • 0/33 Grey Water
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