Engagement Fund 25/26

The Sustainability Engagement Fund supports engagement activities on key sustainability issues thereby supporting the implementation of the University of Galway Sustainability Strategy 2021-2025 and our role as a Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Ambassador. The fund is available to staff and students with grants normally ranging from €1,000-€2,000.

This year, the Sustainability Engagement Fund is a partnership between the Sustainability Office, Office of the Vice President of Equality, Diversity & Inclusion and the Green Labs initiative. The Sustainability Engagement Fund 25/26 has two streams:

• Green Labs (SDG12)
• Peace (SDG16)

Green Labs (SDG12)

University of Galway is committed to achieving green lab certification for all labs on campus. This funding stream will provide €1,000 to each of five labs to support My Green Lab certifications. Proposals could include lab engagement activities or other projects that support the lab's progress towards My Green Lab certification. Proposals may be made by a principal investigator, technical officer, postgraduate student or by a group of staff and/or students. Projects funded under this stream will support our work on SDG12 Responsible Consumption and Production by promoting more sustainable and efficient resource use in lab environments. More information on My Green Lab certification is available here.

Peace (SDG16)

University of Galway is committed to SDG16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. This goal aims to promote peaceful and inclusive societies, provide access to justice for all, and build effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels. This funding stream will provide funding of €1,000-€2,000 to successful proposals for engagement on the topics related to SDG 16. Proposals may be made by an individual staff member, an individual student or by a group of staff and/or students and collaboration with community groups and/or policymakers is greatly encouraged. Engagement activities could include a workshop, seminar, training, educational resource, field trip, living lab etc. The activity must be free for participants to attend.

Applications

Applications must be submitted using this application form. The deadline for applications is 17:00 Friday, 5th December. Applications which are late, incomplete or do not display sufficient planning / attention to detail will not be considered.

Eligibility

Proposals may be made by an individual staff member, an individual student or by a group of staff and/or students. A Project Organiser must be appointed as the point of contact and responsible party. Proposals from individual students/student groups must be linked with an appropriate staff member/Unit/School to provide mentorship. Joint staff and student initiatives are particularly welcome.

Selection process

The Sustainability Engagement Fund is overseen by a subcommittee of the Community University Sustainability Partnership. The subcommittee will consider the applications received by the published deadline and will award funds to selected proposals following the selection process outlined below.

The Sustainability Engagement Fund will be awarded as several grants, across a variety of initiatives, based on the information provided in the application form. 

The Sustainability Engagement Fund will support activities which will support engagement activities on key sustainability issues thereby supporting the implementation of the University of Galway Sustainability Strategy 2021-2025 and our role as a Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Ambassador.

Proposals will be judged according to the following criteria:

• Relevance to the stream call (30%)
• Quality of engagement (30%)
• Originality and creative approach (20%)
• Value for money (20%)

The Sustainability Engagement Fund subcommittee will reserve the right to only award funds to those proposals which achieve an overall score of 70 or higher, noting that this could result in the full fund not being awarded at any particular time. Depending on the number and quality of the received proposals, not all projects scoring 70 or higher may receive funding, and the subcommittee reserves the right to award any particular project an amount of funding which is lower than the sum requested in the application.

Conditions of the offer

Successful project recipients are required to sign an acceptance letter which will include but is not limited to:

• Start date and completion date for project;
• A named “Project Organiser” who will liaise with the Sustainability Office in all matters relating to the project;
• A statement of activities and actions to be delivered;
• Funding amount and funding draw down arrangements;
• A ‘D’ cost centre is provided to transfer the funds
• Agreement that all payments must comply with the university’s Procurement, Payroll, Invoice and Reimbursement guidelines;
• Project review, reporting and financial requirements.

Projects funded under the Sustainability Engagement Fund 2025/26 must be completed by August 2026, except in exceptional circumstances where an extension has been granted by the subcommittee.

Each project proposal must name a “Project Organiser” who will liaise with the Sustainability Office in all matters relating to the project. The Project Organiser is responsible for:

• the project's budget
• implementing the project
• ensuring that the project is completed in accordance with the Sustainability Engagement Fund Terms of Reference and relevant University policies
• submitting a final project report

In case of any query or difficulty arising with a project, the Project Organiser must contact the Sustainability Office immediately. The Sustainability Office will assist project organisers with:

• Transferring funds to nominated cost centre
• publicising projects
• general advice and guidance

Payment of the grant

The awarded fund will be transferred to a ‘D’ cost centre nominated by the project organiser. All expenditure must be receipted and accounted for, and a final financial report provided as part of the Sustainability Engagement Fund Report. 

Project report

All recipients must complete the Sustainability Engagement Fund Report provided upon completion of the project and submit it, together with any other specified documentation, to the Sustainability Office. Project Organisers may also be requested to provide updates on their progress throughout the timeline of the project.