2019-05-07 P&E Agenda - Item 3 - Attachment 1 - Noosa Sustainability Institute - Concepts and Options Report

6. Sustainability Institute – Penn State
http://www.sustainability.psu.edu/




Institute model - Physical institute within The Pennsylvania State University
Active organisation – Founded in 2013
Background - The Sustainability Institute (SI) was created to lead Penn State toward the
University’s sustainability mission: a comprehensive integration of sustainability into the University’s
research, teaching, outreach and operations that prepares students, faculty and staff to be
sustainability leaders in their professional, personal and civic lives.
Mission - The Sustainability Institute's mission is to lead and support Penn State in the pursuit of
sustainability across all functions (teaching and learning, research and discovery, outreach and
engagement, administration and operations). Their aim is to achieve this mission by developing
lifetime competencies for sustainability in their faculty, staff, and students; enabling transformation
and alignment of systems, policies, and opportunities around sustainability; inspiring others through
the communication of our successes, failures, and learning; and demonstrating the value of this
approach at the individual, institutional, and global scales.
Governance structure – The Institute is run by a Director and Associate director.
Funding – Funding is predominantly through the University, in addition, there is an internal
reinvention fund. Funds are also sought from Private investors and funding bodies.
Selection criteria – Selection was based on an example of a university-based institute undertaking
research with a positive outcome for the community. It has a Living Laboratory concept that seeks
to embrace campus grounds, regional eco-systems, and local social networks as assets for learning
and experimentation in the advancement of sustainability.




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