Sustainability structure.

The Sustainability Council:

• prepares the long-term vision for sustainability: how can HOGENT as a university of applied sciences and arts contribute to a sustainable society? How can HOGENT integrate the sustainable development goals (SDGs) into all facets of the organisation? How does sustainability become part of the HOGENT corporate culture and operations?
• integrates various sustainability aspects and brings them together in transition plans and follows them up;
• formulates SMART objectives, determines priorities and draws up an action plan to this end;
• follows up on the thematic hubs, provides input and checks the admissibility of the composition, the proposed visions, objectives and action plans;
• provides advice in all areas of the current policy and to all entities and follows up on this advice. The Sustainability Council does this either on its own initiative or at the express request of a HOGENT board, advisory or consultative body;
• initiates, interprets and finalises the sustainability reporting.

In dialogue with the relevant offices, departments, curriculum centres and research centres and taking into account the applicable GDPR regulations, the Sustainability Council has access to buildings, premises, data, documents, etc. for the performance of its assignment and where relevant. All information that comes into the council's possession is confidential and will be treated with the necessary discretion.

The Sustainability Council consists of:

Independent members

Three independent members. This means that the members (in the five years) prior to the appointment had no relations or ties with the institution. Only the independent members have voting rights. The members are appointed by the Executive Board.

The independent members have sufficient affinity with the public sector, higher education in Flanders and the arts.

The independent members ensure that their membership is not incompatible with other functions and mandates and sign a declaration of independence before their appointment.

As a whole, the council has sufficient expertise on various aspects of ethical, social, environmental and circular sustainability.

The independent members appoint a chairperson among themselves.

An attendance allowance of 175 euros per meeting is paid to the independent members. The chairperson receives double. Travel expenses are reimbursed.

Permanent members

The members are assisted by 12 permanent members elected in such a way that multi­disciplinary consultation is possible. The permanent members are:

• the president, who may be replaced by the administrator
• the sustainability coordinator
• three students appointed by the HOGENT Students' Council who represent the different levels of education within HOGENT (i.e. the associate degrees, professional bachelors and academic bachelors)
• four representatives appointed by the management committee
• one representative appointed by the Research Council PWO
• one representative appointed by the Research Council Arts
• one representative appointed by the School of Arts

For each entity represented above, one alternate is appointed by the entity concerned.

The secretary is appointed by the chairperson of the Sustainability Council. The secretary does not have to be a member of the Sustainability Council.

Other invitees

In addition, persons other than the independent members and the permanent members may be invited by virtue of their position or expertise.

The secretary, the permanent members and the other invitees do not have voting rights.

In the composition of the Sustainability Council (independent and permanent members), attention is paid to a sufficiently diverse composition in terms of cultural diversity, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation and other characteristics.

The members' term of office lasts four academic years and is renewable. The first mandate period starts after the approval of the functioning and composition of the Sustainability Council by the Executive Board.

The students have a one-year mandate. The students are elected from among the members of the HOGENT Students' Council. The participation coaches will monitor the continuity and transfer of old representatives to new representatives.

The responsibilities of the thematic hubs can be divided into two parts:

1. outlining the policy around a specific sustainability theme;
   • ensure the development, implementation and follow-up of a thematic sustainability policy;
   • formulate concrete KPIs and develop a monitoring and measurement system
   • develop a communication plan to inform stakeholders and raise awareness;
   • draw up and follow up on an Annual Action Plan (AAP);
   • report to the Sustainability Council;
   • provide input for the sustainability report.
2. the roll-out and follow-up of concrete projects in combination with bottom-up initiatives, education, research and services, and practice of the arts.
   • collect and support bottom-up initiatives;
   • support and advise ad hoc project groups;
   • roll out projects themselves and follow them up in function of the AAP.

In the development of the thematic policies and concrete projects, attention is paid to:

• the HOGENT board and policy;
• the four decretal tasks (education, research, services, and practice of the arts);
• inclusive, climate-neutral+ and circular campuses;
• maximum commitment to participation and integration of internal expertise from research, services, education and practice of the arts;
• bottom-up and top-down initiatives.

The thematic hubs are multidisciplinary in such a way that they represent as many different entities directly involved as well as internal expertises, including from the research centres, but also from degree programmes and services. The chair of the thematic hubs is shared by the Sustainability Council (represented by the sustainability coordinator or delegate) and an entity with authority and resources to implement policy plans.

Three students are appointed by the HOGENT Students' Council representing the different levels of education within HOGENT (in particular the associate degrees, professional bachelors and academic bachelors). Representation in the thematic hubs is opened to all students annually.

Each hub has a chairperson, a vice-chairperson and a secretary.

Each member of the thematic hub designates one alternate.

In addition, persons other than the members may be invited by virtue of their position or expertise.

In the composition of the thematic hubs, attention is paid to a sufficiently diverse composition in terms of cultural diversity, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation and other characteristics.

The composition of each thematic hub may vary, for example depending on a specific project. The term of office is also not fixed. The composition of each thematic hub is reviewed at least every two years.

Every two years, there is a call for staff members to apply to be part of a thematic hub or to help support projects from the thematic hub.

The thematic hubs are determined by the Sustainability Council in function of the results of the materiality exercise and the chosen sustainability strategy and associated objectives and priority themes.

These thematic hubs are composed for shorter or longer periods of time.

In addition to the hubs linked to the priority themes, smaller ad hoc hubs can also be established. This can be initiated by the Sustainability Council or by a thematic hub. The aim of these projects is to tackle a concrete topic in the relatively short term. To this end, specific competences and expertise are brought together.

These are the current thematic hubs:

• Biodiversity
• Inclusion
• Integrity policy
• Mobility
• Sustainable waste management
• Sustainable travel policy