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Ayrshire College and the University of Strathclyde were both winners at this year’s 2020 International Green Gown Awards.

The Awards are the most prestigious recognition of sustainability best practice within the global education sector and cover all aspects of educational institutions – from their teaching and research, leadership, buildings and food, to how students can benefit the quality of life in the communities around them.

The 2020 International Green Gown Awards ceremony took place online as part of a United Nations forum.

The two Scottish winners went forward to the international finals after winning their respective categories at the UK and Ireland award ceremony which was held last November at the Glasgow Science Centre.

The Ayrshire College Project, which won the ‘benefitting society’ category, is an initiative to improve the mental health and wellbeing of college students, staff and wider community. Mental Health United uses sport and physical activity as a magnet to engage with the community to highlight mental health issues and encourage those who might be emotionally vulnerable to seek the help available to them.

The University of Strathclyde’s winning entry was for its VIP4SD programme. The programme uses a new vertically integrated project (VIP) approach to research-based learning initially developed by the Georgia Institute of Technology. This inspires students to be collaborative and constructive in helping countries across the world to meet the challenges of sustainable development.

Iain Patton, CEO of EAUC, the Alliance for Sustainability Leadership in Education, which delivers the International Green Gown Awards, said:

“As the climate crisis is increasingly recognised as the most pressing issue our world faces, the International Green Gown Awards put a spotlight on the innovative and inspiring sustainability work taking place in universities and colleges to create a brighter future for their students around the world”.

For more information on the 2020 International Green Gown Awards see the sustainability exchange website.

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