Colleges' National Green Week
Colleges' National Green Week will take place from Monday 17 to Friday 21 March 2025 to celebrate the great work that colleges do in sustainability and climate change. The aim is to bring to together the sector with industry partners and government agencies to showcase what colleges are doing.
Key messages
- Colleges lead the way in sustainable practice and supporting students to embrace sustainability and prepare them for the future green economy.
- Colleges are working hard to invest and find innovation solutions to reduce their emissions and become carbon neutral through modernising their campuses, reduce waste, embed sustainable procurement and green transport opportunities.
- Colleges play a key role in providing the skills and qualifications for the future green workforce in renewable energy, green skills, retrofit digital technologies and are key partners in local and regional strategies working towards net zero.
How to get involved
- Align your current sustainability activities to Colleges' National Green Week. This could include:
- staff activities
- student activities
- stakeholder roundtables
- fundraising or a local initiative to help the community
- launching new facilities or new provision.
- Collaborate on joint activities with local partners, agencies and employers.
- Undertake activities across the whole college, a specific campus, or possibly work with other colleges in a sub region.
- Shout about the great sustainability work your college does on social media using the #CNGW2025 hashtag. We will be providing more social media guidance and resources closer to the time.
You can download our Colleges' National Green Week graphic to use across your communications!
Examples of what colleges are doing for College National Green Week
- Sheffield College green week will feature a different theme each day focused on each SDG such as a student led workshop working with employers on fast fashion.
- North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College green week, which also supporters with British clean week in reducing waste.
- East Kent College (EKC) Group have community week whereby student participate in community actions such as working with woodland trust that provides free tree planting support to create a micro forest.
- Trafford & Stockport College Group (TSCG) green week will have a different theme each day such as biodiversity, planting and litter picking.
- Derby College have organised a wide range of activities including the Big Derby Clean Up, Green Employer Talks and Tutorial competitions. Climate Cafes will be taking place to get students talking about eco-anxiety and March Go Green Challenge, Green Reading Challenge and student trips to Woodland Trust.
What's on
We will be updating this webpage with exciting plans for Colleges' National Green Week 2025.
AoC Sustainability and Green Skills Conference 2025
Wednesday 19 and Thursday 20 March 2025
Join us for our conference where will hear from employers, government agencies and sector partners in how the skills landscape is adapting to support the growth of low-carbon energy sectors, including both supply and end-use. We will also provide space for colleges to discuss the barriers and opportunities for expanding low-carbon job competencies to create clear, inclusive training pathways into low-carbon energy jobs.
Resources for engaging students in eco-friendly education
Pre-recorded webinar
As part of the JP Morgan funded “Creating a Greener London-Sustainable Skills for the Future” project, delivery practitioners from South Thames and London Southeast College Groups will be sharing their innovative methods on how they have created sustainable learning environments via a pre recorded webinar.
The presentation will offer insights and resources on how to seamlessly incorporate green themes into any curriculum programme and how by exploring the techniques used, can inspire green consciousness and improve students’ mindsets towards Net Zero 2050. There will be an opportunity to discover cutting-edge digital and physical resources designed to facilitate the embedding of eco-friendly learning into courses.
Live Q&A - Resources for engaging students in eco-friendly education
4pm-5pm, Thursday 20 March 2025
Following on from our pre-recorded webinar on Resources for engaging students in eco-friendly education, we will be hosting a live Q&A. This is your chance to engage in an interactive session and join lively discussions with our experts. Attendees will be offered an opportunity to share experiences or receive personalised advice on implementing green teaching practices in the classroom setting.
We advise you to watch the pre recorded webinar prior to attending the Q&A session as delivery practitioners from South Thames and London Southeast College Groups shared their innovative methods on how they have created sustainable learning environments and their presentation offered insights and resources on how to seamlessly incorporate green themes into any curriculum programme and how by exploring the techniques used, can inspire green consciousness and improve students’ mindsets towards Net Zero 2050.
If you'd like to send any questions before the session, please email these to projects@aoc.co.uk
Our Expert Speakers will be:
- Matt Walker- Curriculum Manager (Multi-Skills)- South Thames College Group
- Luke Batley- Project Co-ordinator-London Southeast College Group
- Bharat Hirani-Head of STEM-London Southeast College Group
"EAUC are delighted to support the Colleges' National Green Week. Colleges are anchors within their communities and are critical to ensuring we have future fit skills and training to deliver net-zero both on campus, locally, regionally and nationally."
— Fiona Goodwin, Deputy CEO, EAUC
"National Colleges' Green Week is an excellent opportunity to highlight the outstanding sustainability initiatives across UK colleges. We’re pleased to support this important event and celebrate the impactful work colleges are doing in sustainability, climate change, and green skills development."
— Cal Innes, Digital Sustainability Specialist, Jisc
"At HI Group, we’re proud to support Colleges National Green Week and celebrate the leading role colleges play in the UK’s journey to carbon neutrality. By decarbonising their operations, fostering green skills, and strengthening local communities and economies, they are leading the way to a more sustainable tomorrow."
- Russell Burton, Co-Founder and Director, HI Group