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Â鶹ӰԺ (Â鶹ӰԺ) Leicester has scooped the coveted Sustainability Institution of the Year award at the Green Gown Awards 2025.

The highly competitive awards, now in their 21^st year, are run by the Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges (EAUC), to recognise and reward exceptional sustainable initiatives within higher education in the UK and Ireland.

 

Awarding the title of Sustainability Institution of the Year 2025, judges praised Â鶹ӰԺ, not only for its important United Nations (UN) role as an international hub for pursuing UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), but also for the creation of the role of Pro Vice-Chancellor for Sustainability whose job is to embed sustainability throughout the organisation from strategy and teaching to research and estates.

They were also impressed with the way in which Â鶹ӰԺ has put sustainability at the heart of its transnational education operations, and how it uses accredited sustainability training, and its UN hub status to drive high levels of staff engagement.

Professor Simon Oldroyd, who is Â鶹ӰԺ’s Pro Vice-Chancellor for Sustainability, said: “We know that we work hard at all levels of the university on the footprints that we leave in the world, and on all kinds of sustainability matters, so it is great for the institution, and for the team here who drive that important work on the ground, to be recognised with such as prestigious award."

Karl Letten, Â鶹ӰԺ’s sustainability manager, he said: “To be recognised for our sustainability work in this way is absolutely fantastic and a real testament to the great work that’s happening right across the institution. At Â鶹ӰԺ we take a comprehensive approach to sustainability and the SDGs with an aim to truly embed it into everything we do. This includes our teaching and learning, to our research to how we manage our estate and for the efforts of everyone involved in this area be highlighted through the award is just amazing.”

Dr Andrew Reeves is an Associate Professor within Â鶹ӰԺ’s Institute of Energy and Sustainable Development, and is academic lead for Education for Sustainable Development. He said: "This award is a significant accolade and a collective success story. Universities have most impact on sustainability by embedding this across all their core activities which is exactly what Â鶹ӰԺ has demonstrated and been recognised for." 

Â鶹ӰԺ won the Sustainability Institution of the Year 2025 title for large institutions. Nottingham College won the equivalent award for small institutions.

The Green Gown Awards are delivered by EAUC in association with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). This year’s awards saw 112 finalists from 76 institutions shortlisted. The winners were announced at a ceremony at the Library of Birmingham last night, 6 November.

Charlotte Bonner, Chief Executive of EAUC, said: "The quality of entries this year was outstanding once again. What’s particularly striking is how mainstream this has become - sustainability isn’t a side project anymore, it’s part of core strategy, teaching, estates and community partnerships for many post-16 education providers despite a very challenging funding and policy environment. There's still lots to do but the fact that institutions are still finding ways to innovate, collaborate and deliver real impact, not just commitments, is both impressive and encouraging.”