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Sustainability

As an educational organization, FIE is dedicated to active engagement with, and awareness of, our environmental impacts and responsibilities. FIE is committed to fostering a sustainable future by implementing initiatives to encourage practices such as ethical consumption, fair trade and education of those within our community. We will continually research methods of improving upon current practices, policies and procedures.

SUSTAINABILITY ACTION GROUP (StAG)

This standing committee of FIE staff and faculty works to promote sustainability issues and raise awareness throughout the entire FIE community. Organizational advocacy has led to initiatives including, but not limited to, strategic policy development, comprehensive recycling programs, energy-efficient facility upgrades, and student energy-saving residential competitions.

StAG created its StAG Champion Outstanding Sustainability Awards in 2014 to recognize students, faculty, staff or institutions that make a significant contribution to FIE’s sustainable development initiatives. Recipients are announced before the end of the Spring and Fall semesters and are awarded a gift, receive an award letter, and recognized on our plaque in Foundation House.

THE ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SUSTAINABILITY IN HIGHER EDUCATION (AASHE) MEMBER

FIE is proud to be a member of AASHE, a non-profit membership organization that empowers higher education faculty, administrators, staff and students to be effective change agents and drivers of sustainability innovation.

We are humbled and honored to have received a Silver rating by AASHE through its Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS). This recognition is a significant indicator of the quality of FIE’s delivery of Sustainability, one of our core values.

FIE is the only non-university or degree-granting institution (from hundreds of participants) to be awarded this accreditation and we are only one of a handful of non-USA/Canada institutions to be recognized in this way (alongside the likes of the University of Edinburgh and University of Greenwich). We are proud to be in such esteemed company alongside many of our partner institutions. It is rewarding to share our values with so many of the colleges and universities that we work with.

NUS STUDENT SWITCH OFF

In 2014, FIE became the first and only non-university participant in the UK’s National Union of Students Student Switch Off (SSO) scheme. Student Switch Off is a nation-wide campaign that encourages students to save energy when living in university halls of residence. The program focuses on peer-to-peer communication and creating a sense of competition to provide incentives that go beyond just being more ‘environmentally friendly’. Over 300 students in all four of FIE’s residences participated, demonstrating significant energy savings. During the spring 2014 semester, energy usage in the winning residence was reduced by 20% compared to previous years. Altogether, FIE London SSO participants reduced carbon emissions by 6 tons which is equivalent to making over 377,000 cups of tea or taking 65 round-trip flights from London to Manchester!

RE-IMAGINING SUSTAINABILITY: CREATING OUR FUTURE

For 2016, FIE is proud to present Re-Imagining Sustainability: Creating Our Future, a short feature video made exclusively for FIE. Written by Dr. Brennan Jacoby, FIE faculty member in ethics, and directed by Sam Bland, FIE faculty member in photojournalism, the film explores the common views of sustainability and how we can approach this concept more holistically. Commentary from experts in the field, research, and realistic suggestions for our students present sustainability in a way that is accessible and create a framework for an assigned paper required of all FIE London students as part of their key course.

GOABROAD INNOVATION IN SUSTAINABILITY AWARD WINNER

In 2014, FIE was honored with the Innovation in Sustainability award from GoAbroad.com. AASHE highlighted our student SSO campaign and involvement, as well as the use of student and staff StAG champions. Applications are received from study abroad providers, universities, and colleges from around the globe and AASHE on criteria including overall impact, groundbreaking strategies, and integration of the message. GoAbroad Innovation awards are presented at the annual NAFSA conference.

CLIMATECARE

Since 2012, FIE has partnered with ClimateCare to tackle the impact associated with the business travel of our London, Dublin, and US-based staff and offset our CO₂ emissions. ClimateCare is an organization that offsets global greenhouse gas emissions on behalf of companies and individuals. These offsets are made through a range of projects around the world that not only make real reductions in carbon emissions but also make a difference to people’s lives in some of the world’s least developed countries.

Since 2012, FIE has offset 437.94 tonnes and contributed £3,282.28 towards sustainable projects around the world.

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATION FOR UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES (EAUC) MEMBER

FIE also holds membership to EAUC and uses member resources designed to further our endeavors in integrating sustainability across the curriculum and reducing our physical environmental impact.

OUR COMMITMENT TO THE UNITED NATIONS' SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGs)

FIE’s values of Diversity and Inclusivity, Sustainability and Social Justice have manifested themselves in many ways over the past twenty years. Our values were firmly established and laid out from the beginning of our organization. Over time, we have let them guide our big decisions as well as the small ones on a day-to-day basis. They are firmly and intrinsically woven into the fabric of our culture.

We have been exploring how to further develop our values, with the wider world. The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a universal call for action to end poverty, protect the planet, reduce inequality, and make sure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity, while being treated with inclusivity and respect. This is the perfect complement to FIE’s values and we will continue to strive to expand our commitment, and reach the same targets as other companies, governments, and individual citizens to make the world a better place for all.

ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY SCHOLARSHIP ROUTE

Scholarships are available in memory of FIE’s founder, Sharif Rahman. The Environmental Responsibility Route is one of three options. Students receiving this scholarship will execute a fundraising or awareness project of their own creation, with the full support of the Sustainability Action Group.