THE UNIVERSITY OF WALES TRINITY SAINT DAVID (UWTSD) has retained its status as a Fairtrade University by making a strong commitment to supporting and using Fairtrade produce across its campuses.
This commitment is part of the university’s overall dedication to sustainability, including its pledge to supporting local producers.
In order to achieve this important title, universities have to ensure that as many Fairtrade products as possible, including food, drink and clothing, are available in as many places as possible in and around their campuses.
Increasing the use and sales of Fairtrade products among students, staff and visitors can have a huge impact for producers and their communities.
Increased usage also raises the awareness of Fairtrade and the benefits that it brings to workers and farmers in developing countries.
To achieve Fairtrade status, UWTSD has demonstrated that it has achieved five key goals, including instating a formal Fairtrade policy; ensuring that Fairtrade products including food and cotton are made available for sale in all campus shops; ensuring Fairtrade products are served at all meetings and events hosted by the university and the Student Union; arranging campaigns on campus to increase the understanding of Fairtrade and the establishment of a Fairtrade Steering Group.
UWTSD has surpassed these five goals and has clearly demonstrated its dedication to making its Carmarthen, Swansea and Lampeter campuses Fairtrade as part of its overall commitment to sustainable development.
“We’re delighted that UWTSD has retained its status as a Fairtrade University and that the feedback we received from the assessors was so positive,” said Dr Jane Davidson, Pro Vice Chancellor for External Engagement and Director of INSPIRE (Institute of Sustainable Practice, Innovation and Resource Effectiveness).
“Sustainable development is about making better decisions using long term values; it’s about thinking about the impacts of today’s actions on future generations and learning to live within our environmental limits. It’s also about balancing social, environmental, economic and cultural needs in a way that does not compromise future generations. Fairtrade is a great example of this and we, as a university, are pleased that we can help promote and encourage the use of Fairtrade produce.
“This is something UWTSD takes very seriously and through work carried out via our Institute of Sustainable Practice, Innovation and Resource Effectiveness (INSPIRE), we aim to place sustainability at the centre of its delivery for its curriculum, campuses, communities and culture,” added Dr Davidson.
The success of promoting Fairtrade is a partnership between the Student Union and the university. In terms of the catering offer, the university’s catering staff work with the student body to ensure a good provision of Fairtrade products.
Fairtrade tea, coffee, and sugar are available at all meetings at UWTSD and the university also sell juices and snacks in its catering outlets, with Fairtrade wine being available at all university events. Catering staff use Fairtrade ingredients in some of their home-made cakes, too.
UWTSD also arranges a range of events and initiatives for students and staff to further promote its commitment to Fairtrade. These have included Fairtrade Fortnight events; a Big Breakfast ‘Sit Down for Breakfast, Stand up for Farmers’ event, where the university worked with local producers; free bananas given away in the gym; hamper draws; Valentine biscuits; Mothering Sunday cakes and Shrove Tuesday celebrations.
As part of the INSPIRE Directorate, UWTSD also has three Fairtrade Student interns – one for each main university campus – with part of their role being to help promote the use of Fairtrade products and to engage with students to raise awareness of the reasons why staff and students should support the use of Fairtrade products.
The feedback UWTSD received from Fairtrade on each of the five goals was incredibly positive.
“Congratulations! We are delighted to renew your Fairtrade Status and thank you for your continuing hard work and support,” said Chrysi Dimaki, Campaigns Coordinator at Fairtrade.
“The University of Wales Trinity Saint David is clearly committed to Fairtrade, and this shows in your success in upholding and surpassing the five goals. Well done – we look forward to seeing how your campaign develops and what activities you have planned in the coming year,” she added.
Tom Defis, Chair of the Carmarthenshire Fairtrade Group, is also delighted that UWTSD has retained and reinforced its status as a Fairtrade University: “The Carmarthenshire Fairtrade Group is delighted to note the successful outcome of University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s recent application for renewed Fairtrade status,” he said.
“As one of the region’s leading providers of Higher Education, UWTSD plays a key role in shaping the leaders of the future and we believe that promoting Fairtrade is an important aspect of that wide-ranging transformative provision.”
Over the last few years, UWTSD has been awarded a number of accolades linked to sustainability, including winning a First Class Award and being ranked 8th out of 151 universities across the UK and first in Wales in the People and Planet University League 2015; being the first university in the UK to achieve a Food for Life Gold Catering Mark from the Soil Association for its banqueting and events services across all campuses and winning three awards in the 2015 Green Gown Awards.”
UWTSD has also been nominated in two categories in this year’s ceremony.
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