| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 53.71 |
| Liaison | Rosemary Potter |
| Submission Date | Nov. 28, 2023 |
TAFE Queensland Robina Campus
EN-11: Inter-Campus Collaboration
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.00 / 3.00 |
Bianca
Mandalios Manager, Communication & Engagement TQGC |
Is the institution currently a member of a national or international higher education sustainability network?:
The name of the national or international sustainability network(s):
TAFE Queensland is involved in the following networks:
1. Signatory to the United Nations SDG Accord
2. Alliance with the SDG Affinity Group and World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics (WFCP).
3. Member of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE)
As a member of AASHE, we have connected with several universities to explore good practice and discuss solutions to identified barriers. On a quarterly basis, we participate in the Australasian network for STARS. Through this group, our external review partner, University of Tasmania was identified.
Does the institution actively participate in a regional, state/provincial, or local higher education sustainability network?:
The name of the regional, state/provincial or local sustainability network(s):
At a state-wide level, Robina Campus is part of the TAFE Queensland Social and Environmental Sustainability Committee. At a campus level, Robina Campus set up its own Sustainability Committee, comprised of 6 staff and 6 students. This committee is under review in order to improve student participation.
The work of all our networks is guided by the Robina Campus Sustainability Strategy document attached.
Has the institution presented at a higher education sustainability conference during the previous year?:
A list or brief description of the conference(s) and presentation(s):
Our senior leaders at Robina Campus have presented at a number of conferences, events, and workshops. A sample is listed below:
*International Conference on Sustainable Development (ICSD) Conference 2023 - been accepted to present in October 2023 on 'Green Skilling for a Green Future'.
*Australian International Education Conference (AIEC) Conference 2023 - - been accepted to present in September 2023 on 'Attract and prepare students to live sustainability - an innovative, transformative approach'.
*World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnic Award Events 2022 and 2023 - winning two (2) silver medal awards with the WFCP in 2022 for construction and in 2023 with our work towards the Sustainability Development Goals, has helped to promote our story. Our General Manager also participated on a panel during the conference.
*2023 Green Gown Awards finalist with a Highly Commended award. First Vocational Education and Training (VET) organisation to nominate and be a finalist.
*Sustainability Leaders Summit 2024 - pending
*ACTS Conference 2023 - 'Embedding sustainability into all that we do' (pending)
*Touchnet Podcast 2023
*TAFE Directors Australia Conference 2022
*Robina High Business Alliance Program 2022
Has the institution submitted a case study during the previous year to an external higher education sustainability resource center or awards program?:
A list or brief description of the sustainability resource center or awards program and submission(s):
Robina Campus has nominated for a range of different awards and has been successful to date as follows:
*World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnic Award Events (WFCP) 2022 and 2023 - won two (2) silver medal awards with the WFCP; in 2022 for construction and in 2023 with our work towards the Sustainability Development Goals
*AASHE Sustainability Awards 2023 - pending
*Green Gown Awards 2023 - pending
*Green Skills Award 2023 - pending
*Australian Training Awards 2023 - pending
A number of other award events have been considered for our live training venues. As operations progress further past the initial year of operation, Robina Campus will enter the following in 2024:
*RCA Catering Award
*RCA Restaurant Award
*Event Awards
A research study on Robina Campus is being completed by the Danish Institute on ‘The Role of Centres of Vocational Excellence in the Green Transition’, which will also inform international best practice.
Has the institution had employees or students serving on a board or committee of a sustainability network or conference during the previous three years?:
A list or brief description of the board or committee appointment(s):
3 Staff members from Robina Campus serve on the TAFE Queensland Social and Environmental Sustainable (SES) Committee.
The Robina Campus Sustainability Committee is made up of 6 staff (educators and non-educators) and 6 students.
Does the institution have an ongoing mentoring relationship with another institution through which it assists the institution with its sustainability reporting and/or the development of its sustainability program?:
A brief description of the mentoring relationship and activities:
The Robina Campus leaders actively provide mentoring support to other TAFE Queensland leaders. Robina Campus is TAFE Queensland's flagship for sustainability and is leading the way for other TQ regions and campuses. Three leaders from Robina Campus represent the Gold Coast region on the TQ Social and Environmental Sustainability Committee. The General Manager leads a working party to assist roll-out the online sustainability units for staff across all campuses. On this committee, due to Robina Campus's expertise, the 3 representatives provide updates and advice to other regions.
The Robina Campus leadership team has completed a number of professional development programs including the Cambridge University – Sustainability Essentials for Business, and the UNESCO-UNEVOC TVET Leadership program to help them develop the leadership and mentoring skills needed to assist staff from other campuses. The knowledge and skills gained are shared via presentations to a number of different groups including the TAFE Queensland (TQ) Board, the Academic Board, the TQ Executive, and the TQ Social and Environmental Sustainability Committee. Several individuals from these presentations have followed up with the General Manager and other relevant Directors to be mentored on the initiatives they are trying to implement at their own campus. For example, the General Manager (GM) shared her knowledge with the Director, Corporate Solutions from the TQ South West region who is looking to initiate several sustainability initiatives. The GM continues to provide advice to this region as it progresses with its strategies. Our Director, Property, Facilities, and WHS is a passionate sustainability advocate and is providing advice and mentoring to other similar directors about what they can do on their campuses especially the older facilities.
Robina Campus actively participates in the AASHE Australian institution network events held 4 times per year. In addition, we have connected with the University of Newcastle to commence CIFAL accreditation, and have met online with the University of Notre Dame and Georgia Institute of Technology. Through participating in a number of online sustainability events, we have been able to see and hear about good practice models from other institutions. The STAR participant submissions have provided guidance to Robina Campus for its initial submission.
The University of Tasmania has agreed to be our external reviewer for our inaugural submission. As we have taken a project management approach to STARS, we have been able to mentor the University of Notre Dame on how to set up this type of approach.
TAFE Queensland has more than 60 campuses operating across 6 regions. By serving on the TAFE Queensland Social and Environmental Sustainable (SES) Committee, Robina Campus is able to share our progress with other regions. Robina Campus STARS accreditation process is being evaluated by TAFE Queensland as a model for rolling out to other campuses.
Has the institution had employees or students serving as peer reviewers of another institution’s sustainability data and/or STARS submission during the previous three years?:
A brief description of the peer review activities:
Not applicable
A brief description of other inter-campus collaborative efforts around sustainability during the previous year :
Most inter-campus collaborative efforts have been initiated and supported by the work of the TAFE Queensland Social and Environmental Sustainable (SES) Committee. Working groups have been established in the areas of:
*TQ SES Communication Plan - involves developing a plan to reach staff, students, industry partners, and community across 60+ campuses
*TQ Recycling Project Plan - involves identifying, developing, and implementing a range of initiatives to recycle, and reuse materials at every campus and at our corporate centre.
*TQ Reduction of Consumption Project Plan - involves looking at methods to reduce our consumption especially using keep item approaches, embracing technology to reduce printing, and installing solar panels and water tanks.
*TQ-wide Introduction to Sustainability Course - involves adapting and utilising the existing Robina Campus online sustainability course for all TQ campuses
*TQ Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) - to examine our overall approach and to form partnerships to meet the goals of our TQ Social and Environmental Sustainability Action Plan.
Website URL where information about the institution’s inter-campus collaborations is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.