Tag Archives: Global Goals

Health and Happiness

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The impact of modern living habits is having an undeniable effect on the quality of life for people on our planet.  90% of people live in places affected by air pollution which contributes to the deaths of 7 million people every year.  Our businesses are increasingly global in their scope and our need to travel grows with each passing year.

As a university, we have an international outlook and our staff cross the globe to speak at events, further their research and promote our wider academic objectives.  However, we must be mindful that this activity comes at a cost.  The centralised travel management data we collate allows us to manage and monitor this activity and make informed decisions about the net benefit of any given journey.

Financially we are the custodians of student fees and it is of the utmost importance that the funds they choose to invest in us are not wasted on frivolous and unproductive projects.  Environmentally, those miles also contribute to a significant amount of carbon being introduced to our atmosphere each year.

Air Pollution

Air Pollution

Modern living habits also have a significant impact upon mental health, something that is a concern felt keenly by those of us who work in universities.  The majority of mental health conditions manifest themselves before the age of 24, meaning the students of our institutions are among those who are at particular risk.

Over the last decade there has been a five-fold increase in the number of students reporting mental health issues within the first year of their university lives.  A lack of mental health care has a negative effect on the quality of student’s academic performance and their general well-being as well as their ability to participate in society.  The consequences of poor mental health care are dire, from increasing evidence of substance abuse through to the number of student suicides, which have risen 80% since 2007.

On campus we employ a data driven system of Learning Analytics to collate meaningful information on student activities, in order to be able to respond promptly when the early symptoms associated with poor performance and mental health issues arise.  Identifying specific changes in behaviour such as drops in attendance and disengagement from learning can allow timely interventions to treat the early stages of stress and mental health issues.

Global Goal 3

Global Goal 3

Working like this helps us to achieve Global Goal number 3 – which encourages us to ensure that every human has the opportunity to lead a health life and to promote well-being for all.  Our objectives to help us work towards this goal include;

Working like this helps us to achieve Global Goal number 3 – which encourages us to ensure that every human has the opportunity to lead a healthy life and to promote well-being for all.  Our objectives to help us work towards this goal include;

  • Reduce contributions to illness caused by hazardous pollution
  • Help create a world that prevents avoidable deaths
  • Promote good mental health
  • Prevent substance abuse and support those affected by it
  • Improve systems that provide early warnings of health risks

As a society, the way we understand and respond to individuals who suffer from mental health issues or poor levels of well-being is not always as strong as it could be.  Research in universities has radically reduced the number of worldwide deaths from communicable diseases and it will continue to do important work in promoting good lifestyles, mental well-being and securing effective health treatment for all who need it.

If you wish to learn more about mental health, student well-being and the impact of our procurement on the activities that can influence our environment, please get in touch.

Some information on poor health, well-being and schemes that address the challenges associated with them can be found here;

https://www.yorksj.ac.uk/staff/learning-analytics-project 

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2019/feb/15/universities-and-the-nhs-must-join-forces-to-boost-student-mental-health

https://www.who.int/air-pollution/news-and-events/how-air-pollution-is-destroying-our-health

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jan/14/uk-failed-to-enforce-eu-air-quality-standards-what-will-happen-after-brexit

A Question of Ethics

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The 2018 procurement policy and strategy of York St John University have been constructed so as to give unquestionable clarity on the way we choose to do business.  The manner in which we award contracts and the way we choose who to award contracts to, will say a lot about the kind of institution we are and wish to be.

It is with this approach in mind that York St John has recently applied for and been granted the Corporate Ethical Mark of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS).

CIPS operate under a Royal Charter and are the internationally recognised professional body who provide governance, oversight and best practice guidance to purchasing and supply chain professionals across the globe.

CIPS Professional Ethics

CIPS Professional Ethics

The CIPS Code of Ethics

By adopting this code of professional ethics we are committing to maintain standards in ethical practices which cover four specific areas.  Each area contains a number of activities that will uphold the values of the code.

Understanding and commitment Ethical practice
Ensure consistent understanding of business ethics across the organisation at all levels

Continually enhance knowledge of all relevant laws and regulations in the countries in which the organisation operates, either directly or indirectly

Commit to eradicating unethical business practices including bribery, fraud, corruption and human rights abuses, such as modern slavery and child labour

 Conduct all business relationships with respect, honesty and integrity, and avoid causing harm to others as a result of business decisions

Treat all stakeholders fairly and impartially, without discrimination or favour

Actively support and promote corporate social responsibility (CSR)

Avoid any business practices which might bring the procurement profession into disrepute.
Professionalism Accountability
Use procurement strategies to drive unethical practices from the supply chain

Ensure procurement decisions minimise any negative impact on human rights and the environment whilst endeavouring to maximise value and service levels

Put ethical policies and procedures in place, regularly monitored and updated, and ensure compliance

Mandate the education and training of all staff involved in sourcing, supplier selection and supplier management to professional standards

Practise due diligence in all business undertakings.

 Accept accountability and take ownership of business ethics

Foster a culture of leadership by example

Take steps to prevent, report and remedy unethical practices

Provide a safe environment for the reporting of unethical practices.

By adopting the Corporate Ethical Mark it represents an unequivocal statement of intent, that we are living up to our requirement to be responsible custodians of student fees.

Not only does displaying the mark stand as a testament to our own convictions, but it gives the university genuine differentiation within the sector.  York St John is one of the few universities in the world to have been accredited with this standard and will now be entered onto the CIPS Corporate Ethical Register of companies.

Achieving this award puts the university alongside such diverse international organisations as John Lewis, The Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank and the UK Government’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office.  

Global Goal 16

Global Goal 16

Focusing our approach on corporate ethics will particularly help us meet Global Goal number 16 – which asks us to be responsible in our business activities in order to support peace, justice and the promotion of strong institutions.  Our targets to help us meet this goal include;

  • Seeking to eliminate corruption and bribery in our supply chains
  • Striving to develop greater accountability and transparency in our practices
  • Ensuring that our decision making is responsive, inclusive and representative
  • Ensuring that we make information accessible to the public and protect fundamental freedoms
  • Promoting and enforcing laws and policies that that are non-discriminatory
  • Protecting children from abuse, exploitation and trafficking
  • Combating organised crime and illicit financial crime

There is no silver bullet or single action that will resolve all of these challenges at once. Instead it will require our ongoing resolve and diligence in order to ensure we remain aware of our collective responsibilities.

If you wish to learn more about responsible procurement and the university’s wider activities that are being introduced in order to manage our contribution to sound corporate ethics, please get in touch.

Further information about CIPS and corporate ethics can be found here;

https://www.cips.org/en-gb/cips-for-business/performance/ethics

Further information about the UN Global Goals can be found here;

https://www.globalgoals.org