Student Sustainability Architects

If you want to get involved with sustainability at the University of Leeds, you should be a Student Sustainability Architect.

Our Student Sustainability Architects help to deliver sustainability projects and bring new ideas and a student perspective. As a Student Sustainability Architect, you will lead on delivering projects that align with the University’s strategic objectives and also develop your own ideas to increase student participation with sustainability.

Student Sustainability Architects are part-time paid positions and also provide support for student engagement activities, events, campaigns and initiatives. The Student Sustainability Architects programme was highly commended at the Green Gown Awards in 2018.

What projects will I work on?

The main duties of a Student Sustainability Architect include supporting a core project that aligns with the University’s Sustainability Strategy.

Past projects have ranged from increasing sustainability-themed dissertations and student representation in political activity to helping to spread recycling knowledge across Halls of Residence and developing a Sustainability Representatives network across faculties and schools.

Full details of the 2022/23 projects are available in the candidate brief available here and on application you can express an interest in specific projects. Activities that you can get involved with include:

Helping to drive biodiversity on campus and beyond through monitoring and living lab projects
Supporting the University Climate Plan by mapping sustainability in the curriculum, developing resources for sustainability in the curriculum and sustainable purchasing, or leading student engagement with our net zero pathway
Building communications and engagement plans around active travel and the University Bike Hub
Developing the University Catering Service food and carbon engagement programme
Promoting and supporting students into careers in sustainability
Supporting collaboration with the Leeds 2023 year of culture
Promoting circular economy initiatives within Residential Services
Coordinating volunteer initiatives for the Sustainable Garden, community gardening projects and tree planting initiatives

Benefits of being a Student Sustainability Architect

There are many benefits of being a Student Sustainability Architect – here are just a few. You will:

Gain invaluable paid work experience, working flexible hours around your studies and other commitments
Work with teams across the University to address common challenges and to create real change
Develop skills applicable in the workplace including event planning, running workshops, communication and presentation skills, teamwork and using initiative to solve problems
Help to deliver and embed the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
Contribute to the University’s commitment to addressing global challenges
Attend skills building and development sessions
Expand your understanding of sustainability