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Belfast Met named finalist in prestigious Green Gown Awards
Belfast Met has been announced as a finalist in the Sustainability Institution of the Year category at the UK & Ireland Green Gown Awards 2026, one of the most respected sustainability awards programmes in the education sector.
The achievement reflects the breadth of work taking place across Belfast Met to advance sustainability, climate action and green skills, with staff, students and partners all playing an important role.
Principal and Chief Executive Damian Duffy said:
“This recognition is excellent news and a tremendous endorsement of the progress Belfast Met has made in embedding sustainability across every aspect of College life. We are up against some very strong competitors, including Queen's University Belfast and Technological University Dublin, and we now look forward to presenting our work to the judging panel in the next stage of the competition."
"Reaching the final is a significant achievement and reflects the impact of the Sustainable by Nature theme within our Strategic Plan, as well as the commitment of colleagues across the College who are helping to drive this agenda forward.”
The submission highlighted a range of College-wide achievements, including
- A 52% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions since 2016/17.
- A 27% reduction in energy consumption, delivering significant environmental and financial benefits.
- Investment in renewable energy, including 650kW of solar PV installed across College campuses.
- More than 3,000 learners participating in green and sustainability-related courses during 2025/26.
Strong partnerships with organisations including Belfast City Council, Belfast Hills Partnership, Oxfam and USEL, supporting sustainability, biodiversity and skills development across the region.
The Green Gown Awards recognise exceptional sustainability initiatives and leadership across the further and higher education sectors. Belfast Met's success in reaching the final reflects its long-term commitment to delivering meaningful environmental impact, developing green skills and supporting the transition to a more sustainable future.
Belfast Met will now progress to the next stage of the awards process, which includes a presentation to the judging panel later this year.