Lessons from America

Posted 14/11/11

Perhaps I shouldn’t be writing about a trip I didn’t go on… but I’m going to anyway (I’m not bitter I didn’t get to go on it, think of all that carbon!)

Jamie and Charlotte from our wonderful ethical and environmental team at NUSSL went to the American version of the EAUC a few weeks ago. On their return I was mesmerised to hear about some of the stuff they get up to in the States (as well as the fact Jamie got the train and Charlotte cycled while the other delegates flew!)

Now I’m no fan of a market-based education system, or for profit universities, or even ‘private not for profit’ ones. But I have to admit that some of their student groups are innovative when it comes to action on the environmental impact of American universities and colleges. Basically, an increasing number of universities are ring fencing tuition fees to be spent on student-led environmental projects, be it from greening campuses to reducing energy waste. This may not be the most sustainable scheme in the world, as it depends entirely on the level of fee applied, but in terms of some of the power it has given to US student governments, in terms of negotiating on tuition fees, it is quite a positive step.

It’s something that locally our own unions here in the UK can lobby on, with their own university and college management, and it’s actually something we can practically win on. Don’t get me wrong, we’re headed for a privatised education system and we should do all we can to reverse it. But if there is opportunity for unions locally to divert funds into projects that not only decreases our institution’s environmental impact, but gives students opportunities to lead small groups and manage projects, than this is something NUS will certainly look into.

(Just to add, if we had a free education system funded through taxation, I would still encourage funding to universities and colleges to be diverted for such projects!)

PS If you have friends or colleagues in the US, don’t forget to tell them to do their part to reduce energy waste by Snapping it Off! And as always, for more info on our green projects, visit www.nus.org.uk/greener