Adelaide’s Flinders University has become the first organisation in the world to earn a coveted gold rating under the newly released version three of the international Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System, or STARS.
STARS is a comprehensive rating system that measures sustainability achievements in higher education across environmental, social, and economic dimensions.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Colin Stirling says this significant achievement highlights Flinders University’s leadership and commitment to sustainability, particularly in the areas of energy and climate, research, and social equity.
“Achieving a Gold rating in STARS v3.0 is a milestone for Flinders University and a testament to our ongoing dedication to sustainability. We excelled in areas including energy efficiency, resource recovery, recycled water, sustainable building design, and greenhouse gas emissions reduction initiatives, as well as sustainability in research, social equity and applied learning,” Professor Stirling says.
“With a responsibility to lead the way in addressing global challenges, we are committed to continuous improvement. Our Flinders 2030 Sustainability Strategy will advance our efforts to further embed sustainability across our operations and beyond.
“We are proud to be recognised as a global leader and will continue to build on this achievement into the future,” he says.
The updated STARS v3.0 introduces a broader scope and more robust indicators, particularly in social justice and equity, making Flinders University’s Gold rating a testament to its comprehensive sustainability efforts.
Flinders University scored exceptionally high in several key areas, including:
Leadership & planning: The university is proud of its robust sustainability strategy, ongoing commitment to sustainability and its support for governance frameworks.
Operations: Flinders excelled in energy efficiency, resource recovery, recycled water, sustainable building design, and greenhouse gas emissions reduction efforts. The university’s commitment to a 100 per cent renewable electricity supply and the advancement of renewable energy projects reflects its dedication to minimising its carbon footprint.
Learning and Teaching: Flinders University promotes its diverse sustainability-related educational offerings and emphasis on applied learning.
Research and Innovation: Flinders performed exceptionally well in sustainability research, particularly through its research centres and institutes.
Engagement and Social equity: Flinders excelled in fostering community partnerships, offering continuing education opportunities, supporting co-curricular activities, and enhancing inter-campus collaboration. It also distinguished itself in affordability, access, student success, and gender equality, bolstered by the university’s Athena Swan award (Scientific Women’s Academic Network).
Information about STARS v3.0, including Flinders University’s report is publicly available online.
