skip to main content
Close
  • Students
  • Staff
  • Applicants
  • Job Opportunities
South West College logo
  • SWC
  • Find a course
    • Courses A-Z
    • Subject Areas
    • Higher Education
    • School Leaver (16-18)
    • 14-16 Provision
    • Online Courses
    • Part-Time
    •  
    • Adult Learners (18+)
    • Multiply Programme
    • Skill Up
    •  
    • Apprenticeships
    • Skills for Life
    • Traineeships
    • Mentor Connect
    •  
    • Higher Level Apprenticeships
    • HLA Connect Portal
    • Course Help
    • How to Apply/Enrol
    • Course Fees
    • Qualifications Explained
    •  
    • Social Inclusion
    • Going Places
    • The Rural Economic Accelerator Programme
    • Step Up
    • Workhouse Connect
    • Youthscape+
    This image (Swc 061221 057) is a link that points to the Download a Prospectus page
    View All Prospectuses

    Need Help Applying for a course?

    Contact admissions@swc.ac.uk and a member of our admissions team will get back to you
    How to Apply
    • Student Support
    • Careers Guidance
    • Career Builder
    • Health, Wellbeing & Student Welfare
    • Learning Support
    • Carers
    • Student Finance
    • Student Handbooks
    • Digital Learning
    • Parents & Carers
    • SWC Commitment to Menstrual Equity
    •  
    • Student Life
    • Meet Our Students
    • Term Dates
    • Events
    • Student Blog
    • News
    •  
    • International Study
    • Turing Scheme
    • Accommodation & Transport
    • Visas & Immigration
    • Our Location
    This image (Swc 061221 057) is a link that points to the Student Handbooks page

    Student Handbook

    Download

    Funding Support for Students

    As a student there are a several funding opportunities you can apply to for help with your course related costs.
    More Info
    • Explore Our Campuses
    • Erne Campus
    • Dungannon
    • Omagh
    • Cookstown
    • Technology & Skills
    • Automotive Centre
    • Room Hire
    •  
    • Business Services
    • Employers
    • Skills Focus
    • Innovation Vouchers
    • Business Explorer
    • Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP)
    • InnovateUs
    •  
    • Sustainability
    • Sustainable Development
    • Carbon Literacy
    • Get Involved
    • Walking Routes
    • Corporate
    • Policies, Reports and Strategies
    • Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
    • Financial Statements
    • College Development Plan
    • Privacy & Data Protection
    • Governance
    • Publication Scheme
    • Principals Welcome
    • Job Opportunities
    Play video This image (Collage made up of three photos depicting students engaged in photography, art, and IT.) is a link that points to the About page
  • Contact
  • Your List
  • SWC
      • Courses A-Z
      • Subject Areas
      • Higher Education
      • School Leaver (16-18)
      • 14-16 Provision
      • Online Courses
      • Part-Time
      • Apprenticeships
      • Skills for Life
      • Traineeships
      • Mentor Connect
      • Higher Level Apprenticeships
      • HLA Connect Portal
      • Course Help
      • How to Apply/Enrol
      • Course Fees
      • Qualifications Explained
    • Adult Learners (18+)
    • Multiply Programme
    • Skill Up
      • Social Inclusion
      • Going Places
      • The Rural Economic Accelerator Programme
      • Step Up
      • Workhouse Connect
      • Youthscape+
      • Student Support
      • Careers Guidance
      • Career Builder
      • Health, Wellbeing & Student Welfare
      • Learning Support
      • Carers
      • Student Finance
      • Student Handbooks
      • Digital Learning
      • Parents & Carers
      • SWC Commitment to Menstrual Equity
      • Student Life
      • Meet Our Students
      • Term Dates
      • Events
      • Student Blog
      • News
      • International Study
      • Turing Scheme
      • Accommodation & Transport
      • Visas & Immigration
      • Our Location
      • Explore Our Campuses
      • Erne Campus
      • Dungannon
      • Omagh
      • Cookstown
      • Technology & Skills
      • Automotive Centre
      • Room Hire
      • Business Services
      • Employers
      • Skills Focus
      • Innovation Vouchers
      • Business Explorer
      • Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP)
      • InnovateUs
      • Sustainability
      • Sustainable Development
      • Carbon Literacy
      • Get Involved
      • Walking Routes
      • Corporate
      • Policies, Reports and Strategies
      • Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
      • Financial Statements
      • College Development Plan
      • Privacy & Data Protection
      • Governance
      • Publication Scheme
      • Principals Welcome
      • Job Opportunities
  • Contact
  • Students
  • Staff
  • Applicants

South West College explores the impact of the built environment on climate change at COP26 keynote event

12 Nov 2021

South West College today, Thursday 11th November hosted a key note presentation and panel discussion at COP26 in Glasgow examining the role the built environment plays in the fight against climate change. The event was attended by international design and construction industry delegates and policy makers.
 
Dr Jill Cush, Deputy Chief Executive of South West College delivered an opening address reflecting on the successful opening of the Erne Campus in September following a £30 million investment by the Department for the Economy. Dr Cush described the campus as an ‘international exemplar’ highlighting the very latest practices in sustainable construction and discussed the role the college plays in equipping the workforce with the skills they need currently and will need for the future development of the industry. 
 
In his keynote speech to delegates, Scott Foster, Director of Sustainable Energy at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe emphasised the need to get the built environment right. 
 
‘Everyone seems to think we have a choice to make between dealing with climate change, or not dealing with it. It’s much more complicated than that. For the western world climate change is number one on the list of priorities but for the vast portion of humanity they are also worried about putting food on their tables and a roof over their heads and we can’t say we are going to ask them to forego their quality of life ambitions while we deal with the climate change problem that the richer part of the universe has created. 
 
We need to come up with integrated solutions that deal with the climate issue and that deliver quality of life that meet those aspirations at a global level.’
 
Chairing the panel discussion, internationally renowned sustainability champion, Professor Alan Strong questioned the experts on how attitudes and behaviours towards the built environment can be changed and what impact that could make. 
 
In his questioning Professor Strong reflected on the close links between Northern Ireland and Glasgow and teased out the importance of data in the construction industry for the improvement in standards and regulations. 
 
Representing the Passive House institute on the panel, Ed Lowes commented:
 
‘The most sustainable buildings are those that are already standing and this is something that we really need to focus on in the coming decades.’
 
By 2050, 80% of the buildings that will be in existence are already standing and we need to retrofit those building to reduce their operational energy. 
 
Supporting this, Dr Danielle McKelvey, Deputy Head of School, Natural and Built Environment at South West College added that further promotion on extending the life of buildings is needed and that demolition should be resisted where possible. 
 
Reflecting upon the requirements to support both current and future generations of structural engineers and construction practitioners Dr McKelvey spoke of the increased need to put low carbon materials, technologies and processes at the heart of the curriculum.
 
Concluding the panel session Professor Strong stressed the importance of collaboration between academia and the construction industry and re-iterated the words of US Special Envoy to COP26, John Kerry, saying that we need to ‘co-operate together.’
 
Further information on South West College’s sustainability strategy and details about our natural and built environment curriculum can be found at www.swc.ac.uk
 
A recording of the event is available to watch now on the COP26 YouTube channel at YouTube.com/watch?v=80hm1EgifvE
 
 
 

Share

Sign up.
Get Qualified.
Succeed.

Subscribe now for hand-picked courses, inspiration and the latest news and offers, straight to your inbox. The details provided will be used to send you relevant information about SWC.

Subscribe now for hand-picked courses, inspiration and the latest news and offers, straight to your inbox. The details provided will be used to send you relevant information about SWC.

graphics-top-left-blue
graphics-top-right-yellow

Footer

Quick Links
  • Track Your Application
  • Vacancies
  • Download a Prospectus
  • Download Our App
  • Contact Us
  • Policies, Reports and Strategies
  • Term Dates
  • Privacy & Data Protection
  • SWC YouTube
  • SWC LinkedIn
  • SWC Instagram
  • SWC Facebook
  • SWC Twitter
Tel: 028 8225 0109
AccessAble Department for the Economy Advance HE
Payments powered by WorldPay
Payments powered by WorldPay
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Privacy & Data Protection
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
South West College © 2025
Green17 - Web design Belfast, Northern Ireland
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Privacy & Data Protection
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
South West College © 2025 Green17 - Web design Belfast, Northern Ireland