Review and promotion of SMG space management tools

The UK higher education (HE) Space Management Group’s (SMG) tools, the Model of the Affordable Estate (2004), and the Space Need Indicator Framework (2006), are designed to encourage more effective use of space within HE estates. But the evaluation of the project completed in November 2008 indicated that use of the tools was neither as widespread, nor as in-depth within the sector as had been hoped. The Association of University Directors of Estate (AUDE) therefore propose, during 2009-10, to explore the opportunities for improving the SMG tools. They will do this by:

• identifying what is required
• determining how issues currently preventing widespread use might be addressed
• how improvements could be promoted, to achieve greater buy-in from institutions.

The overall aim of the project is to improve the management of space in HE to foster progress towards greater financial and environmental sustainability.

Total funding : £50,000

Web-site : www.smg.ac.uk/Benchmarking%20tool.html