Securing financial and environmental sustainability

We believe sustainability means taking long term, values-led decisions that balance financial resilience, environmental responsibility and historical stewardship. By strengthening our institutional foundations today, we will ensure that Birkbeck is equipped to respond confidently to global challenges, while continuing to fulfil its distinctive mission.

Birkbeck’s longevity is grounded in adaptability and a sustained commitment to widening access to higher education. In a period of financial constraint, environmental urgency and societal change, sustainability must underpin every aspect of our strategy. It is essential to our ability to deliver public benefit, protect our independence, and remain relevant to future generations of learners.

What have we done?

• Adapted our learning and teaching model to meet the needs of today’s students.
• Embraced new technologies to enhance teaching, learning, research and the way Birkbeck is run.
• Developed new educational partnerships to extend our unique mission nationally and internationally.
• Invested in our estate to improve the working and learning environment, meet our environmental commitments and protect our heritage assets.
• Brought the Birkbeck community together to put environmental sustainability at the heart of everything we do through projects across estates and education.
• Remained resilient in the face of global challenges to higher education.

What will we do over the next five years?

• Secure Birkbeck’s long-term financial sustainability and autonomy through sustainable growth, diversified income and strategic investment — driven by educational excellence aligned to societal and business needs, research with social resonance and global impact, and an expanding portfolio of partnerships.
• Advance environmental sustainability and climate responsibility by embedding sustainable practices in our estates, operations, education and research, and deepening understanding of climate change and environmental justice.
• Invest in our people, infrastructure and distinctive heritage to strengthen Birkbeck as a modern, flexible and inclusive institution, celebrating our history while building the capacity to thrive in the future.

Our success measures

By 2031:

• We will have ensured our income has grown to a sustainable level through a combination of new partnerships, a larger student body and improved student retention.
• We will have made a significant advancement towards achieving net zero in all of our activities and be on target for delivery by 2050.

News highlights

'We needed to strive for a greater impact on sustainability in archaeology': Birkbeck is launching a ground-breaking new research and teaching institute - the Carena Institute of Sustainable Archaeologies - thanks to a transformative gift from alumnus Marc Carena. The Carena Institute will set a global standard for community-centred and environmentally responsible archaeological practice. Read the full news story.

Birkbeck's sustainability policy: Sustainability at Birkbeck brings together operations, research and education to build a more sustainable world. Read the full story.