Sustainability Annual Report 2015 Table of Contents
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RMIT Sustainability Committee Sustainability Annual Report 2015 Table of Contents 1. About this report 1 2. Highlights 1 3. Vice Chancellor’s statement 2 4. About RMIT 3 1. About this report 2. Highlights 5. Engaging our stakeholders 6 This is RMIT University’s first annual • RMIT University adopted a new Strategic Plan to 2020, Ready for Life and Work. Sustainability Report, which covers 6. Engaging students and staff in sustainability 8 the calendar year from 1 January to 31 • Over $30 million invested in sustainability staff and projects. 7. Shaping future leaders 14 December 2015. It reflects our commitment to being a sustainable organisation that • The Sustainable Urban Precincts Program (SUPP) funded five Learning and Teaching projects, six 8. Sustainable Urban Precincts Program (SUPP) 18 listens to our stakeholders and contributes to local and global social, economic and research projects and ten PhD scholarships. 9. Sustainability research and innovation 23 digital transformation. • Three academics awarded Learning and Teaching for Sustainability (LTfS) Fellowships. 10. Empowering our people 26 This report shows the impact that our teaching and • Seven Seedlings Grants funded by the RMIT learning, research and operations has on society and the Sustainability Committee 11. Scaling up our impacts 30 environment. The data presented in this report covers the • A balance of 51% female to 49% male employees at three RMIT campuses in Melbourne. We are working to RMIT. 12. Sustaining the value of our resources 33 improve data collection at our international campuses and • Over $41 million in research funding for sustainability centres in Vietnam and Barcelona. We will report on their – 26.2% of the University’s total grant income. 13. Greening our supply chain 36 performance in the coming years. • Joined United Nations Global Compact Network in This report aligns with the Core requirements of the Global 14. GRI Content Index 38 Australia in 2015, signatory to UNGC since 2003. Reporting Initiative G4 sustainability reporting framework and the United Nations Global Compact. • 44% international students enrolled in Higher 15. Material issues and aspect boundaries 46 Education. $30 44% million invested international in sustainability students enrolled in staff and projects Higher Education 51% female to 49% male employees at RMIT 1 RMIT Sustainability Annual Report “Our Sustainable Urban Precincts Program will commit $98 million over the next two years, with $28.4 million invested in 2015.” Martin Bean CBE 3. Vice Chancellor’s statement 4. About RMIT 4.1 Organisational profile information RMIT University is proud to present our first sustainability At RMIT, we champion innovation and inclusion. We work RMIT is a global university of technology, design and As a result, employers value our graduates for their report, which marks an important step following the launch with our partners in the community to drive sustainable enterprise. We make positive impacts and create life- leadership skills and work readiness. of RMIT’s new Strategic Plan to 2020. It showcases some prosperity, and embrace the diversity in our workforce and changing experiences for our students through our core The University has three campuses in Victoria, Australia, of the great work happening across the University and our student body. activities of teaching, research and engagement. RMIT two campuses in Vietnam and a centre in Spain. openly reports on our progress to advance sustainability. Our ultimate goal is to offer our students life-changing was founded in 1887 as the Working Men’s College. The City campus occupies a key location within the heart The University has a longstanding commitment to experiences that shape the world. Their voices have Our mission is to create transformative experiences for of Melbourne. RMIT also offers programs through partners sustainability. This was internationally recognised when raised issues of how the University effectively tackles our students, getting them ready for life and work, and to in Asia and Europe. We form strategic alignments with RMIT won the Green Gown award for continuous sustainability, social justice and climate change. We help shape the world. research and industry partners on every continent to inform improvement and institutional change in 2014. Our commend this energy and enthusiasm. These complex the design and delivery of our educational and research Sustainable Urban Precincts Program will commit $98 problems inform our operational decisions and inspire our The University has an international reputation for excellence programs. in professional and vocational education and outcome- million over the next two years, with $28.4 million invested research and teaching agendas. RMIT is Australia’s largest and most global tertiary oriented research. We offer doctoral, postgraduate, in 2015 to reduce the University’s carbon footprint and This report is prepared in accordance with the ‘core’ institution. Globally we educate over 83,000 students undergraduate and vocational programs that enables deliver sustainable learning and research outcomes. level of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) sustainability- (44% international) and employed over 5,000 staff. The life-changing and career defining experiences for our Our vision is to be a global university of technology, reporting framework and demonstrates our ongoing consolidated 2015 net operating result for RMIT University students. RMIT researchers work with industry partners design and enterprise. As our society faces deep and commitment to the initiative and principles of the UN Global and its subsidiaries was $67.7 million. The University is and the urban communities where we operate and their transformative change, RMIT is in a unique position to Compact. also a significant landholder in the City of Melbourne, governments to solve practical problems through applied make a positive impact on urban communities. owning approximately six percent of Melbourne’s central The RMIT Sustainability Report will be released annually research and innovation. RMIT is located in some of the most dynamic and as an open account of our social and environmental business district. RMIT’s property portfolio comprises over RMIT is recognised as an educational leader in architecture 2 creative cities in the world. We are connected to our local performance. It is an opportunity for us to continue the 130 buildings of in excess of 460,000 m gross floor area and design, creative arts, communication, information communities and industries, impacting them through conversation with our community about how we can further in Melbourne and a further nine buildings on overseas technology, business and engineering. RMIT prides itself 2 applied research and innovation. work together to support and drive sustainable outcomes. campuses with a total floor area of 54,000m . on the strong industry links it has forged in the University’s The big sustainability issues and challenges of our time We invite you all to join the conversation 128-year history. Working with industry is integral to our will shift the way we as a global community live and work. leadership in applied research and education. It’s also key As an urban university, we take a leading role to develop Martin Bean CBE to developing skilled and globally-focused graduates. solutions, reform energy systems, adapt to climate change, Vice-Chancellor and President and improve access and opportunities. Our creative-edge Prof Paul Gough comes from our close industry engagements. This ensures Pro Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President our graduates leave with the practical skills they need to Chair of the RMIT Sustainability Committee apply sustainable thinking to the jobs and industries of the future. 2 3 Figure 1. RMIT Sustainability RMIT Sustainability Annual Report Committee Structure 4.2 Strategic Plan to 2020 4.3 Governance In 2015 Ready for Life and Work, the new University University Council Strategic Plan to 2020, was developed through a series The Council is the University’s governing authority that is of open conversations with students, staff and our responsible for RMIT’s direction.The Council’s role is set Vice Chancellor’s community. out in the RMIT Act 2010. The Act defines the University’s Executive The strategy drives RMIT’s mission to create transformative objectives and the Council’s statutory responsibilities. The experiences for our students and get them ready for life Chancellor, Dr Ziggy Switkowski AO, chairs the Council. and work. Council Committees Sustainability is embedded in this strategy, which The following Council committees have specific powers harnesses RMIT’s capabilities in research, teaching and and responsibilities: innovation to create an impact on individual lives and Chair • Audit and Risk Management Committee broader society. Pro Vice Chancellor • Nominations, Remuneration and People Committee College of DSC The Strategic Plan aims to: • Infrastructure and Information Technology Committee 1. Create life-changing educational experiences. This • Trusts and Philanthropy Committee is sparked by changes in perspective and ambition in our students and the pathways and connections Academic Board opened up by these experiences. Our work is life- The Academic Board is responsible for higher and changing in its focus on designing better solutions vocational education. It establishes procedures and Deputy Chair in the wider world. This includes work like building recommends new policy, regulations and