The University’s Climate Change Governance (CCG)-cognate MA/MSc modules, delivered as part of its Climate Change programmes, have been shortlisted in the Next Generation Learning and Skills Award category. The award celebrates outstanding achievements in the development of academic courses, skills and capabilities relevant to sustainability. The shortlisted modules were developed through PEACE (Partnership for Education and Clean Energy), a collaboration between academics from the Climate Compatible Growth Programme (CCG) and Loughborough University Centre for Sustainable Transitions: Energy Environment and Resilience (STEER). Together, partners designed Master’s-level teaching that provides students with rigorous, practice-based training in the analytical tools and methods used to support the evaluation of high-consequence decision-making for clean energy transitions and sustainable development around the world.
The curriculum focuses on real-world applications, equipping students with the same modelling, evaluation, reporting and decision-making skills used to assess clean energy and transport investments in countries across the Global South. These approaches have already helped secure $11 billion in funding for sustainable development projects. As well as technical skills, the programme aims to cultivate sustainability principles in graduates, which can be applied throughout their careers and contribute meaningfully to clean energy transitions worldwide.
Graduates of the curriculum have contributed to numerous publications and policy briefs as co-authors and lead authors and have also gone on to train others in the use of Climate Compatible Growth tools through initiatives such as the Joint Summer School on Modelling Tools for Sustainable Development. Also, through a dedicated curriculum-transfer programme, partner universities across Africa are being supported to adopt the same open-source tools and teaching materials within their own courses. Elements of the teaching approach have also been adopted by colleagues at Simon Fraser University in Canada and KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden.
Commenting on the shortlisting, the Programme Leader Dr Richard Hodgkins said:
“We are hugely appreciative that this work has been shortlisted because it recognises a really special partnership between students, staff, researchers and international programmes. These Master’s-level modules deliver exactly the skills that are being used to support the delivery of clean energy transitions and sustainable development in Global South countries. Students develop the skills to make a real difference in the world, and their progress into research and sustainability-related employment shows this: they’re making a real impact.”
Similarly, the ‘BUCS to Branches’ initiative has been named as a finalist in the Nature Positive category. Launched in 2025, BUCS to Branches connects student sport with biodiversity and climate action. As Loughborough teams compete and earn points through British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) competitions, their success contributes directly to tree planting.
For every 10 BUCS points earned by the Athletic Union (AU) teams, one tree is planted in partnership with Veritree, a leading restoration platform known for its transparent, community-driven projects. With over 6,000 student athletes and 60+ AU clubs competing nationally, this project champions sustainability without asking teams to do anything differently. This makes the impact of sporting success visible and measurable, helping students see how their achievements can contribute to something bigger than competition alone.
Tree planting will take place both in the UK and in selected regions of Africa, with a focus on countries where the University already has established research partnerships or community engagement.
The project also supports employment and inclusion through planting work, with workdays created and strong female participation in planting projects.
Since its launch, the initiative has resulted in 987 trees being planted and 20 workdays being created through restoration projects. As a result of our recent BUCS performances, the University is on track to exceed 1,000 trees planted during the 2025/26 season.
The UK and Ireland Green Gown Awards, established in 2004 by the Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges (EAUC) in partnership with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), have become one of the most prestigious recognitions of leading sustainability practice within the further and higher education sector. The nomination marks a significant moment for Loughborough, being the first time the University itself, as well as the Athletic Union, has been shortlisted for a Green Gown Award.
Winners and highly commended entries will be announced at the awards ceremony on 16 November, at the New Dock Hall in Leeds.