Organizations & Groups
Initiative and Mission
Global Higher Education for Sustainability Partnership[GHESP]
GHESP - Global Higher Education for Sustainability Partnership
Four international organizations with a strong commitment to making sustainability a major focus of higher education have formed the Global Higher Education for Sustainability Partnership (GHESP). The four founding partners of the initiative – the International Association of Universities, the University Leaders for a Sustainable Future, Copernicus Campus and UNESCO – combine forces in a unique effort to mobilise universities and higher education institutions to support sustainable development in response to Chapter 36 of Agenda 21.
Association of University Leaders for a Sustainable Future [ULSF]
The Association of University Leaders for a Sustainable Future (ULSF) is the Secretariat for signatories of the Talloires Declaration (1990), which has been signed by over 400 college and university presidents and chancellors worldwide. ULSF supports sustainability as a critical focus of teaching, research, operations and outreach in higher education through publications, research, and assessment.
Cooperation Programme in Europefor Research on Nature and Industrythrough Coordinated University Studies [GHESP]
The CRE COPERNICUS Charter for Sustainable Development was created by Co-operation Program in Europe for Research on Nature and Industry through Coordinated University Studies (COPERNICUS) which was established by the Association of European Universities (CRE). It was a follow up on other sustainability declarations and the UN Agenda 21 to further the efforts of universities with regards to sustainability. The Charter was presented to over 500 universities in 38 countries. By 1994, 213 European universities’ rector signed the Charter and the number increased to 328 in 2006.
Australian Campuses Towards Sustainability [ACTS]
The ACTS International conference took place from 28-30 September 2011, hosted by the University of Adelaide. The conference will reflect the new direction of ACTS, the sector champion for sustainability within the tertiary education sector, by moving away from a traditional conference format to create an interactive environment to learn and engage with like-minded colleagues.
Association for the Advancementof Sustainability in Higher Education [AASHE]
AASHE’s mission is to empower higher education to lead the sustainability transformation. They do this by providing resources, professional development, and a network of support to enable institutions of higher education to model and advance sustainability in everything they do, from governance and operations to education and research.
AASHE envisions a prosperous, equitable, and ecologically healthy world. In such a world, higher education plays a vital role in ensuring that people have an understanding of the interdependencies between environmental, social, and economic forces and the skills and abilities to meet sustainability challenges.
Second Nature [SN]
Second Nature's mission is to create a sustainable society by transforming higher education. They accelerate movement toward a sustainable future by serving and supporting senior college and university leaders in making healthy, just, and sustainable living the foundation of all learning and practice in higher education.
Higher Education Partnership for Sustainability [HEPS]
The aim of the Higher Education Partnership for Sustainability Programme (2000-2003) was to establish a pioneering partnership group of higher education institutions leading the sustainable development agenda. These institutions would be ones achieving their strategic objectives, generating transferable tools as well as developing guidance and providing inspiration to the rest of the sector.
HEPS was funded by all the UK higher education funding councils. Eighteen universities and higher education colleges participated, representing all the regions. Professor Michael Driscoll, Vice Chancellor of Middlesex University, led the consortium and chaired the steering committee. As designer of HEPS, Forum for the Future managed and developed the initiative on behalf of the partnership.
The Campus Consortium for Environmental Excellence [C2E2]
The mission of the Campus Consortium for Environmental Excellence (C2E2) is to support the continued improvement of environmental performance in higher education through environmental professional networking, information exchange, the development of professional resources and tools, and the advancement of innovative regulatory models.
Environmental performance includes campus regulatory compliance, environmental management, and sustainability initiatives.
Their mission is carried out through bi-monthly meetings, active workgroups, and projects identified by the consortium's membership.