The University of Kent has been awarded ‘Highly Commended’ in the Benefitting Society category at this year’s International Green Gown Awards. This category showcases the powerful ways institutions are benefitting the lives of individuals and communities, and we were awarded for our commitment to becoming a Right to Food University.
After taking home the Award at the UK ceremony last November, this commendation brings international recognition to the Right to Food initiative, which has become a central mission for the University.
Working in partnership with The Food Foundation, the University has adopted measures to protect its students, staff and the wider Kent region from food insecurity. Our Canterbury and Medway campuses are places where we strive to realise the right to food in practice – in student kitchens, canteens, the university estate, the courses on offer and through research collaborations.
The judges praised the initiative for a ‘holistic, interdisciplinary approach to tackle food insecurity through research, education, community engagement, and systemic change locally and globally, delivering impacts far beyond the campus boundaries.’
Particular recognition from the judges centred on three points:
- Food unites us all and can be used to engage on a range of seemingly disparate topics.
- Maximum impact can be gained when taking a ‘whole university’ approach to civic engagement.
- The Right to Food blueprint can be easily adapted to be relevant for other institutions in areas with different civic challenges.
The awards were revealed in a very low emissions live reveal on LinkedIn. Sustainability Lead Catherine Morris said: ‘This acknowledgment reflects the hard work and collaboration of staff, students, and our partners in making the Right to Food a lived reality at Kent. The Right to Food initiative is an exemplar for our sustainability strategy, encompassing our net zero carbon commitments, promoting circular economy, supporting biodiversity, developing partnerships and using our teaching and research to find real-world solution to environmental and social challenges. Being Highly Commended internationally reinforces that our sustainability strategy is making a real difference, and it motivates us to go even further in building a more sustainable future at Kent.’