Student action
Our students are fundamental to our purpose as a centre for innovation and to create positive change.
As ambassadors for change, future leaders and members of a global society, they play a crucial role in our efforts. To effectively address sustainability challenges, we work closely with our students, co-developing impactful sustainability initiatives together.
This includes the roll-out of summer internships directly addressing sustainability challenges faced by the university, the formation of engagement groups in which students can share their concerns and aspirations and the inclusion of student feedback in the governance of sustainability workstreams across our global campuses.
Our student community continue to actively demonstrate their advocacy for sustainability through self-organised activities and efforts, including the creation of student societies addressing sustainability themes. Visit the Student Union Sustainability site to learn more about the positive approach being taken to address the challenges we face, and to keep up to date with student-led sustainability events.
Heriot-Watt Student Sustainability Fund
All Heriot-Watt students, regardless of location, are able to apply for funding* to support student-led activities addressing a sustainability theme. This can be as simple as organising a campus litter pick, or as involved as delivering large-scale events to advocate for a sustainable future. All funding applications should be associated with one of the many Heriot-Watt student societies, so whether you're wanting to demonstrate what a particular subject can do to address a sustainability challenge or showcase how a hobby can promote sustainable practices, we want to hear from you.
The Sustainability team is happy to discuss your ideas with you as part of the funding application process, just get in touch: SustainableHWU@hw.ac.uk
If you'd like a bit of inspiration in the meantime, here's some examples of ways in which the fund has been used:
- A fieldtrip to enable members of the Net Zero Society to visit an industrial facility to learn about opportunities for reducing the environmental impact of their operations.
- A conference event organised by the Muslim Society and the Net Zero Society to showcase research being carried out by society members.
- An excursion to a waste processing facility for members of the Eco Society and Net Zero Society to see where waste produced by the Edinburgh campus goes, and more importantly, what happens to it.
*Maximum funding per application is approx 500 GBP / 2450 AED / 565 MYR.
Make a funding application
If you feel ready to jump straight to making a funding application, please apply through the completion of this form.