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Green at Queen’s Environmental Leadership Programme

What is it?

The Environmental Leadership programme is a Route ADegree Plus option for Environmental Volunteers at Queen’s University. The programme provides a structured environment where students can learn and develop new skills whilst also helping to achieve the University’s low carbon vision.

Degree Plus is a method for accrediting work- related learning and skills that current Queen’s students develop through extracurricular activities that are relevant to graduate job markets. The award is open to all full-time and part-time undergraduate and postgraduate taught students. If you complete Degree Plus you will receive the award alongside your degree when you graduate. Students who engage in Degree Plus have the opportunity to demonstrate to employers and others that they have gained valuable work-related skills and experiences that are needed for workplace success.

What does the Environmental Leadership programme include?

Students completing the Environmental Leadership Programme will be required to take on the role of a Green Impact Project Assistant (GIPA), and will also be asked to attend training workshops, skills development sessions and assist in the promotion and facilitation of Queen’s University’s Environmental initiatives including; Recycling Week (November) and Green Week (February).

Green Impact Project Assistant Role:

Green Impact is an environmental accreditation scheme that encourages teams of Queen’s staff to undertake environmental improvements across the University. Students can engage with Green Impact by taking on the role of a Green Impact Project Assistants (GIPA). GIPAs, who receive training from the National Union of Students, are assigned to a staff team and play a vital role in helping their team achieve their goals.

As a GIPA students will be required to attend and participate in the following:

  • Provide around 15 hours of support between November and March to their Green Impact teams.
  • Green Impact Environmental audits - Training is provided by a certified auditor from the National Union of Students and is recognised by the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA).

Training and Skills Workshops:

Throughout the programme students will have the opportunity to attend several skill building and training sessions. These include;

  • An Influencing Positive Behavioural Change Workshop – which aims to inform students on the importance of small changes in promoting sustainability and helps develop the skills required to promote positive behavioural change within a professional environment.
  • A Project Creativity and Implementation Workshop – This workshop takes students through the stages of developing an understanding of key project management techniques and the skills required to implement their own project / event ideas.

Environmental Initiatives:

Students have a key role to play in helping reduce theUniversity’s Environmental Impact.Throughout the programme they will have the opportunity to get involved in several University environmental initiatives, including the University’s Green Week and Recycling Week. In doing so students will be required to;

  • Attend a training workshop prior to each week - At these workshops students will receive tips and training geared towards the theme of the week in question.
  • Come up with an event idea for the week in question - These events will be aimed at raising environmental awareness amongst students at the University.
  • Implement their event with support from the University’s Environmental Team.

Employability Skills Development:

After completing the programme students will be asked to complete an ‘Environmental Leadership’ application form to help boost their employability skills.

  • The application form will require the student to discuss their experiences within the programme and reflect upon the knowledge and skills they have gained.
  • The application will be structured to reflect a common job application and will encourage students to frame their experiences in a way that clearly demonstrates their skills to a prospective employer.
  • Students will also be required to attend a casual interview reflecting upon their experiences within the Environmental Leadership programme.

A schedule of the Environmental Leadership Programme can be seen in table 1.

Table 1: Environmental leadership 2017-18 Schedule

Event / Date / Time / Hours
Green Impact Project Assistant
Green Impact Project Assistant Training / 25-Oct-17 / TBC / 4
Green Impact Project Assistant work / Oct 17- March 17 / - / 15
Recycling Week
Recycling Week Workshop / 15-Nov-17 / 2-4.30pm / 3
Participation in Recycling Week / 20 - 24 Nov 17 / - / Approx. 2
Environmental Leadership Training
Project Creativity and Implementation Workshop / 8-Nov-17 / 10-4pm / 6
Behavioural Changes Workshop / 29-Nov-17 / - / 3
Green Week
Green week Workshop / 01-Feb-18 / 2-3.30pm / 3
Participation in Green Week / 12 -16 Feb 18 / - / Approx. 2
Environmental Events
Sustainable Travel Surveying / Feb – March 2018 / - / 3
Green Impact Audit Training / 20/21 Mar 18 / 9- 5pm / 4
Green Impact Audits / 20/21 Mar 18 / - / 3
Big Spring Clean Litter Pick-Up / April 18 / - / 3
Employability Skills
Environmental Leadership Application / TBC / - / Approx. 4
Environmental Leadership Interview / TBC / - / Approx. 6
Insight into Environmental Management / TBC / - / Approx. 4
C.V Skills Development / - / - / 2

What will you gain from the programme?

Through participation in the Environmental Leadership Programme students will have the opportunity to develop the following skills:

Cognitive/intellectual skills:

•Ability to evaluate and interpret evidence that actions taken by a department or Green Impact team meet the criteria completed in the Green Impact Workbook.

•Apply subject knowledge and understanding of environmental issues and the actions required to reduce environmental impacts.

Professional attributes:

•Ability to work with others in a team, to communicate (both orally and in writing), influence, negotiate and resolve conflict.

•Ability to lead groups through a series of actions to achieve the goals set out in the Green Impact programme. Students will also gain experience in developing and delivering activates during the University’s Recycling week and Green week.

•Experience of working within a professional environment.

•Development of project management skills, including event planning, promotion and delivery.

Technical skills:

•Development of auditing skills through training in environmental auditing. Auditing ability is a highly transferrable skill and plays a key role in many organisations. The environmental auditing course is IEMA recognised.

•Working as a team to develop and deliver student focused activities to raise awareness of important sustainability issues across the University.

Business and organisational skills:

•Be aware of differing organisational cultures, policies and processes within a professional organisation.

•Develop an understanding of event marketing, including the use of various promotional strategies.

•Develop an understanding of working relationships within a professional organisation. Including supporting and working with staff of different grades, skill levels and authority.

•Develop the skills required to be a leader in environmental management, including influencing behavioural change within the workplace.

How can I take part in the programme?

If you would like to take part in the Environmental Leadership programme, or you would like more information on any of the events within the programme, please contact the Environmental Team at or Jamie at .

More information on Degree Plus can be found here.

More information on Green Impact at Queen’s University can be found here.