Further and higher education establishments across the country could save thousands of pounds – and thousands of tonnes of CO2 emissions – just by introducing simple measures, according to a report issued by JISC.
A strategic overview and briefing paper presents the findings of JISC’s Green Technology report, and outlines ways in which the intelligent use of technology can create savings of cost, energy or carbon output, and shows how Liverpool University’s self-developed ‘PC PowerDown’ software is already saving the institution £64,000 a year and over 500 tonnes of CO2 emissions.
The paper also offers guidance for ICT staff and senior managers within FE and HE to make informed decisions concerning the sustainability of their current and projected technology provision.
Commenting on the report Peter James, Professor of Environmental Management at the University of Bradford, and head of the JISC-funded SusteIT project, said,
“The sector must do more to make its ICT use more sustainable, and this report raises awareness of the issues facing ICT planners and senior institutional management. It also highlights a range of cost-effective measures that are already being taken in some institutions that could easily be introduced in others.
“These include switching off PCs, better management of cooling in data centres and the increased use of video-conferencing via the JANET network. The SusteIT project also provides a tool to prepare a footprint of ICT-related energy and carbon consumption – the first step to improvement – and inspiration in the form of over 20 case studies.”
JISC commissioned the SusteIT project to help educational institutions meet the increasingly stringent environmental demands placed upon them by government.
Tom Watson MP, Minister for Digital Engagement and Civil Service Issues believes this new research to be of extreme importance, especially considering its legislative context. “As the Minister responsible for our Greening Government ICT strategy, I believe this is exactly the kind of knowledge that IT strategists and policy makers need to have to hand. More broadly, these publications will also be relevant to directors of estates, tasked with designing educational institutions' technology-rich buildings of the future.
“The government aims to work more closely with initiatives like this, whose outputs will benefit UK education as a whole,” he said.
The Climate Change Act (2008) sets a legally binding target for reducing UK CO2 emissions by 26 per cent by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050, compared to 1990 levels. It also sets up the Carbon Reduction Commitment), requiring medium to large electricity users to monitor their consumption – with incentives for good performance, and penalties for bad.
Other directives giving legal obligations on institutions with regard to their use of ICT include:
> The ‘Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment’ directive
> The ‘Restrictions on Hazardous Substances’ directive
> The ‘Energy Using Products’ directive
> The ‘Energy Performance of Buildings’ directive.
The SusteIT website contains many case studies of greener technology in action, for example:
> The University of Edinburgh is using measures such as ‘free cooling’ to save over £500,000 per annum in energy costs at the Hector supercomputer facility
> Sheffield Hallam University’s replacement of 120 actual servers with 300 virtual ones is reducing energy consumption by 80 per cent;
> University of Gloucestershire’s ICT Managers role in the institution’s environmental improvement initiative has stimulated actions for greener procurement, print management, and virtualisation.
Green ICT in education: practical advice from JISC now available
Children's Minister: Home education 'may be cover for abuse'
Parents educating their children at home could face tighter controls under new plans.
Ministers have launched a review of standards for up to 55,000 young people taught by mothers and fathers outside school.
It will investigate current procedures for monitoring home education – as well addressing concerns over the safety and welfare of children.
Baroness Morgan, the Children's Minister, said home teaching could be a "cover for abuse" in extreme cases.
But parents' groups were infuriated by the comments.
Ann Newstead, spokesman for the charity Education Otherwise, said claims that children were safer in the hands of the state than parents was "offensive" and "not born out by an increasing number of families in the UK".
Annette Taberner, member of EO's policy group said "No other community would be expected to suffer the prejudice and discrimination which our community has to endure. Our community will be infuriated by these latest statements."
The review – being led by Graham Badman, former director of children's services at Kent Council was launched following a public consultation on the issue of children missing education.
Some local authorities and children's organisations raised concerns about their ability to properly monitor children's welfare under existing guidance.
Under current rules, parents do not have to formally register their child as "home educated".
No official statistics exist on how many children are taught at home, but it is thought the number could be as high as 55,000.
The Education and Inspections Act 2006 placed a duty on all local councils to make arrangements to identify children not receiving a proper education, but they have no power to inspect the quality of lessons for youngsters taught at home.
Baroness Morgan said: "I'm sure the vast majority do a good job. However, there are concerns that some children are not receiving the education they need.
"And in some extreme cases, home education could be used as a cover for abuse. We cannot allow this to happen and are committed to doing all we can to help ensure children are safe, wherever they are educated."
Mr Badman said: "Legislation affords every parent the right to choose to educate their child at home but with those rights go responsibilities, not least being to secure a suitable education.
"By the same token, local authorities are charged with ensuring that all children are safe, well and receiving an education that is both enjoyable and allows for the expression of all aptitudes and abilities.
By Graeme Paton, Education Editor
2 Pinoys picked for UK education grant
Two Filipino government officials have been chosen to participate in a prestigious fellowship grant in the United Kingdom.
Reynaldo Saludares and Lucita Rodriguez are the recipients of the Chevening Fellowship granted by the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO).
“Chevening Fellowships are prestigious and highly sought-after awards with stiff competition from thousands of applicants in many countries. I am delighted that yet again Filipinos are among the successful. This reinforces the growing education links between our two countries," said British Ambassador Peter Beckingham.
The award sponsors studies on short courses focusing on particular subjects aligned to the FCO’s strategic framework. The distinction of Chevening Fellow is offered only to professionals in a position of leadership and influence in their home country.
An assistant solicitor general at the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), Atty. Saludares said he is slated to participate in a short course on Democracy, the Rule of Law and Security at the University of Birmingham. The program aims to provide an insight on how to balance the need to ensure national and international security with the promotion and protection of human rights.
"I am excited to learn new and sophisticated concepts on how to promote co-operation to achieve harmony, which I believe is the key to a Global Village that is peaceful and prosperous. I believe that my course on Democracy, the Rule of Law and Security is very relevant to the pursuit of the dream for co-operation to have harmony," Atty. Saludares said.
Rodriguez, on the other hand, is a deputy commissioner for tax reform in the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR). She will be attending a short course on Reform, Regulation and Public Service Provisions at the University of Bradford. The program focuses on the role of economic institutions and policy frameworks in public sector economic reform and the promotion of sustainable growth.
Chevening Fellows undertake an intensive 12-week program that offers dynamic training and professional development opportunities in the UK.
Courses consist of high-quality content, with contributions from leading academics and experts in the field. Upon completion it offers the opportunity for successful candidates to maintain international policy dialogue with UK Embassies, High Commissions and Consulates.
Each year, there are only about 200 recipients of the Chevening Fellowship award worldwide.
