At the prestigious EAUC Green Gown Awards on Thursday 6th November held at the suitably iconic Library of Birmingham, Fircroft College of Adult Education, the only independent adult residential Education college in England, won its second Green Gown Award. Nestling in the “Digital Futures ” category, the college’s new and revolutionary Green Changemakers’ Virtual Green Skills Hub was co-developed by Dr Lou Mycroft, and the Metaverse Hub.
Clare Casey, Head of Environmental Sustainability and Governance at Jisc, the Digital Futures category’s official sponsors, said:
“The Green Changemakers Hub project highlighted a strong commitment to sustainability, diversity, and future skills, with these priorities embedded from the design stage. The team’s passion and depth of research were evident, and it was great to see a balance between key metrics and personal stories to show the Hub’s impact.
“The potential for international impact is clear and collaboration with partners such as Meta suggests valuable knowledge exchange and collective learning. Adopting an inherited technology was commendable, and the emphasis on innovation, inclusivity, and shared action strengthens the project’s relevance and reach across the sector. A fantastic achievement.”
Mel Lenehan, Principal and CEO, says:
“At the core of our college mission is social, climate and environmental justice. We adopt a whole college approach to delivering our mission through our curriculum offer, our culture and our operations. We believe that the social and environmental challenges of our times require a collective response and both the development of the hub and the education staff in colleges across the West Midlands and beyond, that will use it, have shown how effective this approach can be.”
Fircroft College of Adult Education were also awarded a Highly Commended award in the “Creating Impact” category.
Step into our Green Changemakers Virtual Hub and have a look around here
If you would like to contact Dr Lou Mycroft about what the Green Changemakers are up to next, email her at lou.mycroft@fircroft.ac.uk
To find out more about the college’s sustainability projects, go to www.fircroft.ac.uk.
Photograph shows l-r Clare Casey, Jisc; Dr Lou Mycroft, Fircroft College; Mel Lenehan, Fircroft College; Donna Wilson, Coventry College and Jo Allatt, UKRI
