The University of Tasmania became the first Australasian STARS rated institution, achieving a Silver rating in August 2020, and Gold rating in June 2022. Over 1,000 universities worldwide use STARS to help guide and share their sustainability activities. We are on track and working hard across all Colleges and Divisions, and in partnership with our students, to achieve a Platinum rating while putting in place programs, guidelines, and approaches that will ensure these changes are here for the long term and provide the holistic base that will support our continuing sustainability journey.
The use of the STARS rating system has allowed our university to record the initiatives that are contributing to the University’s holistic approach to sustainability. There are four key areas of activity: learning, teaching and research; facilities and operations; partnerships and engagement; and community leadership and impact.
Our University of Tasmania STARS reports are publicly available and detail many of our sustainability activities.
What is STARS?
STARS is intended to engage and recognise the full spectrum of higher education institutions, from community colleges to research universities. It encompasses long-term sustainability goals for already high-achieving institutions, as well as entry points of recognition for institutions that are taking first steps toward sustainability. STARS is designed to:
- Provide a framework for understanding sustainability in all sectors of higher education.
- Enable meaningful comparisons over time and across institutions using a common set of measurements developed with broad participation from the international campus sustainability community.
- Create incentives for continual improvement toward sustainability.
- Facilitate information sharing about higher education sustainability practices and performance.
- Build a stronger, more diverse campus sustainability community.
Unlike other rating or ranking systems, this program is open to all institutions of higher education, and the criteria that determine a STARS rating are transparent and accessible to anyone. Because STARS is a program based on credits earned, it allows for both internal comparisons as well as comparisons with similar institutions.
How does STARS work?
Participation in STARS involves collecting information about your institution’s sustainability initiatives and performance, documenting that information in the online Reporting Tool, and submitting a report to earn public recognition.
The final score is based on the percentage of points it earns by pursuing relevant credits across Academics, Engagement, Operations , and Planning & Administration. In addition, institutions may earn Innovation & Leadership points for exemplary and path-breaking initiatives.