Lancaster welcomed a presentation from Benoit Frund and Delphine Doucot from University of Lausanne in the final session of Lancaster's Professional Services Conference. Presentations and discussion was focussed on 'Sustainable University of the Future' and the responsibility of universities to act in response to the global climate crisis. The event was hosted by Professor Simon Guy, Pro-Vice-Chancellor Global (Digital, International, Sustainability & Development), and the presenters from Lausanne were joined by Lancaster presenters Andrew Burgess and Darren Axe.

Lancaster and the University of Lausanne have been formally partnered sine 2015. A particularly strong theme that runs across the teaching, research and staff collaborations is that of environmental sustainability. Another particularly unique aspect of the Lancaster-Lausanne partnership is the professional services staff exchange which takes place each year.

The event attracted over 100 attendees and discussion included the impact to the carbon footprint of staff energy usage and commuting as a consequence of working from home, and, availability of organic or vegan food options on campus. A recording of the event can be found here. Designed for Administrative, Manual, Professional and Technical staff across the University, the 2021 conference focused on ‘reimagining work for the future’, by drawing together the themes of people, wellbeing, digital, sustainability, space, and change. Over 600 people attended the Professional Services Conference over the course of the whole week

The partnership between Lancaster and Lausanne was signed in 2015. Since then, Lancaster staff and students have been able to take advantage of innovative opportunities for exchange and collaboration such as joint field trips to Paris and Croatia; our unique professional services staff exchange programme; and, collaborative teaching in the Alps exploring the literature inspired by lakes and mountains. Research partnerships include active collaborations in environmental science, history, English literature and creative writing, linguistics and more. Alongside this, Lancaster and Lausanne have shared knowledge, experiences and aspirations to become environmentally sustainable through a number of staff exchanges and events. For more information about the partnership please contact Joe Bourne.