► Society & Citizenship

This area deals with our role in the wider society. For example, ensuring that students integrate into the communities that they choose to reside in, are aware of their role as citizens in elections and our ethical and enviromental sustanability as a students' union.

We have two policies in this zone - Sustainability Education and Human Rights in a Globalized University

Human Rights in a Globalised University

Summary

This papers outlines LGoS’ Human Rights policy concerning the University’s Internationalisation agenda.
LGoS believes that Human Rights considerations should be an integral part of the university’s Global Citizenship project stream.
LGoS believes the university should adopt the same approach to civic and community responsibility in it’s global activities as it does here in the UK
LGoS believes that the university has the ability, resource and influence to invite its global partners to engage with its civic and social responsibility aims
LGoS believes that the University should engage with global partners who share its commitment to civic and community engagement
LGoS believes the university should consider the impact of its proposed activity on local communities at the earliest planning stages

Background

The University has identified ‘Global University’ as one of it’s key five priorities in the Achieving Institutional Excellence Plan. This document accompanies the Strategic Plan and sets out ways the University will implement it’s aims. In an interconnected world the student body is more socially conscious and responsible than ever before. Whether this is in the form of ethical consumerism, social activism or participation in global community projects.
As students pay increased fees and a sharper client - customer focus is developed, students will expect transparency from universities. Moreover, they will expect the university to incorporate ethical and human rights considerations in to the planning, development and implementation of it’s activities. This will include, but not be limited to; procurement, investments, environment and internationalisation.

Recommendations and Implications

That the University incorporates Human Rights and other ethical issues as a policy strand in the ‘Global Citizenship’ project stream
That the University supports LGoS activity groups such as Oxfam and Amnesty International in setting up and promoting a student led Human Rights lecture series
That the University works with partner and satellite campuses to promote and encourage Human Rights education
That the University attaches the same importance to Human Rights as it does to the other ‘Global Challenges’ in its literature and makes explicit reference to them accordingly

Conclusion

An integral part of Global Citizenship is developing and nurturing socially conscious citizens. Whilst Universities are places of technical and academic learning, they are also places where individuals should be allowed the space, freedom and opportunity to understand and find their role in addressing the global challenges which we face. Liverpool Guild of Students will continue to work with the university to ensure that human rights are incorporated in to plans and strategies at the earliest stages, and not as an afterthought.

Sustainability Education at the University of Liverpool

This paper outlines LGoS’ sustainability policy and its importance to:

Define the future corporate social responsibility of the university and its students
Embed sustainability into campus curriculum and culture
To have sustainability mentioned specifically in the Key ambitions of the university during the creation of the next strategic plan

The University has shown commitment to sustainability. These areas include but are not limited to the CHPP, Eco Residences, the 1010 campaign and the Student Switch Off. The university has as part of its strategic vision document, stated that it wants its students to ‘be distinguished by entrepreneurial and ethical awareness of a range of issues of critical relevance to the 21st century, including global citizenship and global markets; environmental sustainability; high tech communication; and intellectual property rights’

As a Global University, we believe that sustainability should be embedded at the core of the principles and practices undertaken by the university and its students as a key part of the Student Experience.

We believe

The university should host specific degree courses, whether at degree level or higher leading to a sustainable based qualification,
The university should have advertised specific funding for research in the field of sustainability
The university engrains sustainability into every course via a sustainability module or there is a fundamental course theme of sustainability in every degree.

As part of CSR, we believe the university:

Achieves university fair trade accreditation
Meets, exceeds and leads in legislative requirements surrounding the field of sustainability
Raises and promotes awareness and responsible behaviours to staff students and the wider community.
The university makes resource available for each university department to have time available for part of a staff role that is committed to sustainability. This should include monitoring the practises of the department and the engagement of students with the development of a departmental action plan.
Uses the university status to take the lead in advancing the sustainability agenda locally, nationally and internationally
The university maintains the estate and its landscape with minimal environmental impact
Advertise and develop a sustainable staff volunteering project
Adopt the student Switch of Scheme in preparation for year 2011-12

Contact Us

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The Guild

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