Community Conversation

It would be great if the student practical projects are geared to address the worlds wicked problems providing potential solutions to sustainability or poverty. These projects could be co-partnered with NGO organisations who have the will and desire but lack resources to achieve scale. The projects should be co-funded by Gov/Industry as they will be aiming to solve future world issues. The use of social media to gain additional support or engagement could ensure these projects can gain input and contribution from all people. These could be great branding exercises for RMIT See less

The global competitive environment is developing SDG leadership rapidly. It is important for RMIT to continue using the SDGs, as a sustainability framework for integration and action, to maximise our influence and impact. RMIT is well placed to be a leader in progressing the SDGs globally, which will have a direct impact in attracting students and developing new partnerships and collaboration opportunities. Embedding SDGs into our strategy, relevant processes and practices, and key policies can help RMIT to create a common narrative to combine efforts, innovate and maximise our positive impact through research, teaching and learning, campus operations, sustainability governance and leadership. See less

The Library is drafting a detailed report on how it contributes to the UNSDGs and identifies steps we can take to improve. This has evolved through local coordination, but there would be room for more recognition and acknowledgement of the value of collaborative sustainability initiatives. We have had grassroots initiatives like our "green cardigans" group for some time and welcome an RMIT-wide approach to bring these enthusiastic people together across RMIT to achieve sustainability goals. The Library currently partners with the Sustainability team by providing reports and evidence of relevant RMIT research. We wish to help in any way we can to be a representative voice and influencing group for positive change alongside our colleagues RMIT-wide. See less

Through research, teaching, industry partnerships, and project collaborations. Whilst the university is already doing this and demonstrating sustainability through sourcing renewable energy in Melbourne, there is an opportunity to create further impact in the global communities where we operate. There is also greater potential for engagement, conversation, and improved operational practices at an individual staff level. See less

There is currently a huge disconnect between the RMIT colleges in regards to Sustainability. DSC is underpinned by the principles of sustainability, and there are pockets in SEH also. However, the Business College does not appear to embrace these values – yet they are producing the future leaders of industry and the private sector (both here and overseas). We need our Business College to be underpinned by an ethical approach – demonstrated by researchers, teachers and leaders. And to infuse all its curriculum with sustainability principles, to guide graduates to be thinking innovatively about the global issues facing us, and how they can help solve them. See less

50% of the world’s population live in urban areas which is expected to grow to 70% by 2050. Given Cities continue to become our primary human habitat, we need to continue to make cities sustainable and livable for all. Given RMIT’s global presence in Australia, Asia and Europe as well as strengths in relevant academic fields, RMIT could play a critical role in shaping and shifting the conversation in the global cities we serve. See less

Agree Emma, Chloe and Usha – mission-led teaching, learning, operations, investment, partnerships, leadership. In all of this, we need to not just mirror the tired, conventional, incremental approach to sustainability but use our unique intellectual skills, freedom to ask hard questions and global outlook to engage and progress cutting-edge planetary interpretations of sustainability – those about planetary boundaries, tipping points and the Anthropocene. That means recognising our planetary context in which everything we do contributes to sustainability – or not, ie unsustainability. It means recognising that sustainability is not an optional add-on or disciplinary specialisation but is a critical question for every discipline, profession and action in the Uni. This critical, integrated approach would make us world-leading. See less

I absolutely agree that our greatest contribution lies in mission-led teaching and research. RMIT is already ahead of the curve when it comes to our engagement with the SDGs, and the fact that we have largely avoided looking at them as simply a series of boxes to tick is a real testament to the Sustainability Team. Now more than ever though, I think we need to go further and embed a radical approach to sustainability across the university, much as this article by Lauren Rickards and Tamson Pietsch calls on us to do: https://theconversation.com/climate-change-is-the-most-important-mission-for-universities-of-the-21st-century-139214 See less

The central contribution RMIT can make to a sustainable world is through research and teaching that addresses the great challenges of our time. I would like to see RMIT lead Australian universities in its investment in researchers and teachers, and provide them the support they need to give students a world-class education. See less

Utilising a blend of our own amazing internal people that specialise in this field as well as connect with our industry partners in a collaborative way. Whether it be incorporate a building design concept from NAB in Docklands or globally in engineering meccas such as Germany.

In addition to the above, if we as individual staff are exposed to and given the opportunity to become more 'sustainable' then we can train the trainer in the big world. We can influence our family and friends and include in our conversations research based ideas, concepts and changes that will make a positive impact. See less

Edited:I feel like we have an incredible amount to learn from our First Nations people, culture and knowledge in terms of how we understand sustainability, our country and what it needs.  I'd like to see RMIT be part of a movement that elevates the Indigenous voice in discussions and actions related to land management and sustainability through our education, research and work with government and industry. See less

I travelled to Barcelona last year and was blown away by the fact that the Superblocks concept took 30 years to be piloted in the city. I'd love for RMIT to to help our cities learn each other, and adapt design and innovations to our different urbam contexts – my hope is that the institution can we work in away with the broader ecosystem to ensure that transformational idea's and innovation can be piloted, implemented and scaled rapidly – not least reduce the 30 year push. See less

António Guterres put it well when remarking that COVID has exposed the 'fractures in the fragile skeleton of the societies we have built'. As complex as grand challenges are, we cannot hope to transition to a sustainable world without addressing how our current economic system is fundamentally unsustainable, inequitable, wasteful, and destructive. I think its pretty clear that our the systems and how we live – increasingly in cities – needs to be redesigned to be sustainable, inclusive and circular. I think RMIT is well placed to be apart of this very necessary reshaping of the systems that support our communities. See less

With friends in industry who worked on RMIT's renewables transition – including on the Crowlands wind farm – as a student, I've felt really proud to belong to an organisation that invests in sustainability, and cares about climate change. I think its important as individuals we invest in organisations who care about the future of our environment and our communities – and so its important to me that my university is responsible, cares and takes action to secure and better the lives of our local and global communities. Investing in the protection and sustainability of our environment is investing in the future of our communities – I'd like to see RMIT be a leader in this space, and do what it can to push government to treat the climate crisis like the crisis that it is. See less

We have so many opportunities to embrace environmental sustainability at RMIT – even in this time of transition. Having a holistic view that sustainability means more than just the environment (as important as that is!!) is a huge start to shift our thinking and our actions. See less