Environment and sustainable development

Together we are all facing a challenge, but also an opportunity, to contribute to achieving a sustainable society. Through education, research and in collaboration with other actors in society, Halmstad University plays an important role in creating conditions for and contributing to a more sustainable societal development.

Sustainable development policy

Sustainability and sustainable development are some of the greatest challenges of our time, and every decision, measure and action has a sustainability dimension. Halmstad University has adopted a policy for sustainable development. Through education, research and in collaboration with other actors in society, the University contributes to sustainable societal development.

Halmstad University is considered to be of the best universities in Sweden when it comes to environmental issues and energy efficiency. However, this does not mean that the sustainability work is complete. The University works actively with sustainability issues and the policy is part of this work.

The vision for Halmstad University is that University activities will create value, drive innovation and develop people and society for the future. Sustainable development is an important tool in the realisation of this vision.

The work towards sustainable sociatal development is well anchored in the vision and will transpire through the University’s activities, where processes and transparent communication will highlight both positive and negative impacts on a sustainable society.

The University’s commitments in sustainable development

The University supports the Climate framework for Swedish higher education institutions that the Association of Swedish Higher Education Institutions (SUHF) has developed, which sees the climate as a crucial and prioritised issue for the future. Therefore, the University undertakes to:

continue to contribute to society being able to achieve set goals through education, research and collaboration
reduce climate impact in line with society’s commitments as expressed in national and international agreements
set far-reaching goals for climate work and allocate resources to achieve these goals and carry out follow-ups
clearly communicate climate work to inspire and spread knowledge to other actors and to citizens
sustainability aspects will be integrated into the University’s regular activity planning, which means that the University will formulate goals and activities within the operations from the perspective of sustainable development
The University shall offer education and conduct research and innovation in sustainable development based on current and internationally competitive multi- and interdisciplinary knowledge in the field. Sustainable development shall be a quality mark for the University’s education and its research
The University shall contribute to lifelong learning in collaboration with other societal actors in the field of sustainable development
The University’s profiling and positioning shall have a stronger link to sustainable development. This ambition will be implemented in collaboration with the University’s two focus areas; Smart Cities and Communities and Health Innovation, by encouraging and creating good conditions for creative innovations in the field
The University will clearly communicate how the work with sustainable education is conducted and how it affects education and research
The University’s campus will be permeated by a sustainability perspective. Students and staff shall, in collaboration with other actors such as property owners and the municipality, work for a sustainable campus environment
Employees shall continuously get to develop their skills in order to be able to make good choices in line with sustainable development.

Environmental management system

Like other government agencies, Halmstad University has an obligation to work with sustainable development. Sustainable development must be promoted in order to ensure current and future generations a healthy and good environment, economic and social welfare and justice.

Through the vision and goals, the University will work for a good living environment and through knowledge and research accelerate and further develop a sustainable society. The University has joined the Climate framework for higher education institutions which has been prepared in collaboration between Swedish universities.

The University’s environmental management system aims for long-term work with sustainable development by integrating environmental considerations into ordinary activity planning and quality assurance work, both in education, research and administrative support as well as in collaboration with the surrounding society. The environmental management system provides structure for environmental work and helps the organisation to handle the various parts of planning, implementation, follow-up and improvement of University activities.

Environmental goals, sustainability goals and activities

Every year, the University Governing Board points out priority areas within, among other things, sustainability. These are supplemented with Vice-Chancellor assignments that concretise the goals.

The work with the environment and sustainable development must be based on overall goals and assignments, the University’s policy for sustainable development, environmental investigation, the climate framework and other guidelines that concern environmental aspects. The sustainability aspects must affect both direct and indirect impacts and be linked to Agenda 2030.

Sustainability goals and activities are developed further by the University’s four Schools and the administrative support in plans, quality rassurance eports and educational programme follow-ups.

Evaluation will take place in annual reports, quality assurance reports and the annual report.

Environmental audit and investigation

Environmental audits must be carried out annually. During the environmental audits, a review is made of how the University complies with the requirements that exist in the area of environment and sustainable development. This applies to requirements in laws and regulations as well as voluntary commitments that Halmstad University has chosen to adopt. Design and implementation are described in more detail in a separate audit plan.

According to the ordinance, an investigation must be made of the environmental impact that the University’s internal and external activities may lead to (environmental investigation). The environmental investigation will be kept up to date by reviewing and updating it in the event of significant changes in the University's activities or at least every fifth year. The investigation will contain information on the environmental requirements in law and other statutes that concern the University.

Communication and education

The environmental and sustainability work must be communicated to employees and students. In order for employees and students to be able to influence the environmental and sustainability work, the communication also aims to capture suggestions and opinions.

The Ministry of Education, the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and the Swedish Higher Education Authority follow up the University’s work by reviewing quality systems and through thematic evaluations.