Overall Summary.
Solent University scored 42.1% and ranked 92nd
Policy and Strategy
Publicly Available Policy
We looked at Solent 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:
students.solent.ac.uk/official-documents/estates-and-facilities/solent-environmental-policy.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 Solent 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environmental policy, a strategy only works if people are using it), and we didn't give credit for strategies that were out of date.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 Solent University is working towards targets in the following areas:
Waste management, Transport, Sustainable Procurement, Water, Emissions and Discharges, Community involvement, Biodiversity
Therefore...
2. Solent University scored 40%/50% for their sustainability strategy
Section Total: 90%
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:
1. Solent 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.
Solent University has 10000 to 15000 students students and 4.00 FTE sustainability staff
Therefore...
2 Solent University scored 25/60% for dedicated and expert staff
3 All Staff Participation
3 Solent University scored 15/15% for all staff participation
Section Total: 65 %
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
Solent University was found to have audited the following areas:
(None)
1b. Solent University scored 0/30% for internal environmental audits
Section Total: 0%
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 Solent University has an ethical investment policy, it can be found below:
1a Solent 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 Solent 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 Solent University scored 0/30% for its commitment in policy to screen out fossil fuel investments
2b Solent University scored 0/10% for its commitment in policy to screen out investments in arms companies
2c Solent University scored 0/10% for its commitment in policy to screen out border industry companies
2d Solent 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 Solent 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 Solent University has an ethical banking policy you will find it below
www.solent.ac.uk/about/our-policies-and-legal-information
4a Solent University scored 0/5% for its ethical banking policy
4b Solent 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 Solent University scored 0/1% for having an easily accessible and public ethical investment policy.
5b Solent University scored 0/1% for having an easily accessible and public annual list of investments.
www.solent.ac.uk/search/website?term=list%20of%20investments
5c Solent University scored 0/1% for having an easily accessible and public list of committee members that oversee investments.
www.solent.ac.uk/about/our-governance-and-organisation
5d Solent University scored 0/1% for having an easily accessible and public meeting minutes that provide updates on investment policy reviews and divestment/investment status.
www.solent.ac.uk/search/website?term=minutes%20of%20investment%20committee&page=1
5e Solent University scored 0/1% for having an easily accessible and public ethical banking policy.
https://www.solent.ac.uk/about/our-policies-and-legal-information
Section Total: 0%
Ethical Careers and Recruitment
1a. Ethical Careers Policy
Universities often have a policy outlining which sectors or companies they will advertise vacancies for, if Solent University has a careers policy you will find it below:
www.solent.ac.uk/work-with-us/solent-futures/documents/solent-futures-online-vacancy-policy.pdf
1a Solent University scored 10/10% for having a valid careers policy.
We awarded points for specifics within that carbon management plan:
1b Solent University scored 4/7% 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.solent.ac.uk/work-with-us/solent-futures/documents/solent-futures-online-vacancy-policy.pdf
2a Solent University scored 0/50% for committing to screen out recruitment links with the fossil fuel industry.
2b Solent University scored 0/10% for committing to screen out recruitment links with the mining industry.
2c Solent University scored 0/10% for committing to screen out recruitment links with the arms industry.
2d Solent University scored 0/5% for committing to screen out recruitment links with the tobacco industry.
Transparency and Accountability
3a Solent University scored 6/6% for having clear and accessible information on careers staff structure
students.solent.ac.uk/careers/meet-the-solent-futures-team
3b Solent University scored 0/2% for having detailed information on combined careers services and 3rd party relationships.
www.solent.ac.uk/work-with-us/solent-futures/documents/solent-futures-online-vacancy-policy.pdf
Section total: 20%
Managing Carbon
1 Carbon Management Plan
Universities should all have a plan for managing and reducing their carbon emissions, if Solent University has a carbon management plan you will find it below:
students.solent.ac.uk/official-documents/estates-and-facilities/solent-environmental-policy.pdf
We awarded points for specifics within that carbon management plan:
1a Solent University scored 5/5% for a carbon emissions baseline for 2005 or later which covers all scope 1 and 2 emissions.
1b Solent 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 Solent University scored 0/5% for a budget for the carbon reduction plan.
1d Solent University scored 5/5% for named persons or titles responsible for the carbon reduction plan.
1e Solent University scored 5/5% for a reporting mechanism for monitoring the carbon management plan.
2 Carbon Management and scope 3 emissions
2a Solent University scored 0/5% for reporting scope 3 emissions to HESA via the EMR record
2b Solent 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 Solent University scored 0/5% for calculating total carbon emissions relating to residential accommodation.
3 Scope 3 Baselines and Targets
Solent University's carbon management plan was found to have scope 3 baselines in the following areas:
Waste, Water, Travel: business trips
3a Therefore they scored 15%/30% for the scope 3 baselines in their carbon management plan
Solent University's carbon management plan was found to have scope 3 targets in the following areas:
Waste, Water, Travel: business trips
3b Therefore they scored 0/30% for the scope 3 targets in their carbon management plan
Section total: 35%
Workers' Rights
1 A Living Wage University
Accredited Living Wage Employers
1 Solent University scored 0/30%
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 Solent University scored 0/15%
www.solent.ac.uk/about/our-policies-and-legal-information/our-policies/equality-diversity-policy
3 Fairtrade
3 Solent 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 Solent University scored 30/30%
5 Can't Buy My Silence universities pledge
Can't Buy My Silence campaign.
5 Solent University scored 5/5%
6 Proportion of all Academic Staff are on Fixed Term Contracts
Solent University scored 9/15%
Section total: 44%
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 Solent 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 Solent 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 Solent University has None and therefore received 0/40%
4 Community Food
4 Solent University scored 20/20% for providing space or support for community food projects
Section total: 60%
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:
1 Solent University scored 30/30% for having a publicly available student an staff engagement strategy.
2 Student and Staff Engagement Actions
2a Solent University scored 5/5% for offering oversight and involvement opportunities to students and staff for the development and ongoing monitoring of the university Carbon Management Plan.
2b Solent University scored 0/5% for actively supporting an environment themed week.
2c Solent University scored 0/5% for providing funds for student led sustainability projects.
3 Staff Inductions
3 Solent University scored 10/10% for including sustainability policy in staff inductions.
4 Trade Union engagement
4 Solent University scored 0/10% for inviting trade union members to sit on committees that oversee sustainability.
5 Student Representation
5 Solent University scored 0/25% for student representatives to sit on committees that oversee sustainability.
6 Student's Union
6 Solent University scored 0/10% for the student union working towards continual improvement in environmental sustainability
Section Total: 45%
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.solent.ac.uk/strategy-2025/welcome
1 Solent 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 Solent University scored 25/25% for using a strategy for ESD.
2b Solent University scored 20/20% for using a reporting mechanism for ESD.
3 Supporting Academic Staff
3 Solent University scored 10/10% for providing training and support to academic staff for ESD
(None)
4 Education for Sustainable Development Actions
4a Solent University scored 0/10% for using its campus as a living lab.
www.solent.ac.uk/studying-at-solent/learning-at-solent/the-solent-curriculum
4b Solent University scored 10/10% for highlighting research in sustainability.
www.solent.ac.uk/research-innovation-enterprise/research-at-solent
5 Equal Access to Higher Education
5a Solent University scored 0/1% 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.solent.ac.uk/finance/grants-bursaries-scholarships/scholarships
5b Solent University scored 0/1% for offering multiple scholarships to studenith with refugee status or humanitarian protection.
www.solent.ac.uk/finance/grants-bursaries-scholarships/scholarships
5c Solent University scored 0/1% 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 Solent 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 Solent University scored 0/1% including any of the groups mentioned in questions 5a-d in their Access and Participation plan.
www.solent.ac.uk/about/documents/solent-access-and-widening-participation-plan-2020-21.pdf
Section Total: 85%
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 Solent University scored 0/55% for its percentage of renewable energy generated onsite or off site compared to consumption of grid electricity.
1b Solent University scored 0/45% for its total percentage of renewable energy purchased through green tariffs.
Section Total: 0%
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 Solent University scored 12.5/50% for the percentage waste recycled, composted or anaerobically digested, excluding construction waste (that classified as “other” in the EMR)
2 Solent University scored 25/50% for the percentage waste recycled, composted or anaerobically digested, excluding construction waste per head of FTE students and staff.
Section Total: 37.5%
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 Solent University scored 20/50% for its change in carbon intensity.
2 Solent University scored 50/50% for its reduction in scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions since a 2005 baseline.
Section Total: 70%
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 Solent University scored 33.5/67% for its water consumption per head.
2 Solent University scored 0/33% for its use of grey or rainwater.