Degrees Offered

• Foundation Degree (FD) Energy, Environment and Sustainability (FT/PT) (UCAS Code: D444)

Contact Information

For entrance requirements
E: admissions@qub.ac.uk
T: +44 (0)28 9097 3838

For course information
School Manager
School of Biological Sciences
T: +44 (0)28 9097 5786
E: e.purdy@qub.ac.uk
W: http://www.qub.ac.uk/bb
W: http://www.swc.ac.uk/omagh-campus.aspx

Entrance Requirements

• A-level
  CC + GCSE Mathematics 
  OR 
  CD including Biology, Chemistry, Geography, Mathematics or Physics + GCSE Mathematics.
   
• Irish Leaving Certificate
  BBCC + Ordinary Level grade C in Mathematics 
  OR 
  BCCC including at least one from Biology, Chemistry, Geography, Mathematics or Physics + if not offered at Higher Level then Ordinary Level grade C in Mathematics.
  Note: a minimum of 5 subjects will be required in the Irish Leaving Certificate at least 4 of which should be at Higher Level.

For students whose first language is not English
An IELTS score of 6.5 with a minimum of 5.5 in each test component or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University. Further information on other acceptable English Language qualifications is available here

If you are an international student and you do not meet the English Language requirements, you should consider a preparation course at INTO Queen's University Belfast, which will develop the language skills you need to progress. INTO Queen's University Belfast is based on the University campus and offers a range of courses. For a full list click here

The Subject

With the increasing costs associated with fossil fuel, the focus of the energy sector is moving steadily to renewable energy applications. As well as gaining an understanding of the renewable energy sector, students will also be able to develop a sound understanding of current waste management systems, their future development and the legislation surrounding changes in farming practice.

Foundation degrees (FD) are distinctive in that they integrate employer involvement, accessibility, articulation and progression, flexibility and partnership into a single award. The FD in Energy, Environment and Sustainability meets all these attributes through the provision of work placement, real-life case studies, an articulation route to the BSc Honours Land Use and Environmental Management degree within Queen's and partnership with South West College, Omagh Campus, where the programme is delivered.

This foundation degree develops and improves participants' environmental knowledge and rural sustainability practices aimed at increasing diversification of economies in rural areas. Through consideration of up-to-date environmental issues, a focus on economic and social renewal and knowledge transfer from best practice and demonstration models, graduates will be provided with a qualification to benefit rural business communities, their support workers and the public.

Course Content

The rural sector is currently undergoing rapid change with the decline in importance and profitability of traditional livestock and arable production, environmental pressures and new opportunities in diversification activities and technologies such as application of renewable energy, production of energy crops and industrial or business applications.

This foundation degree aims to provide students with the technological and business skills that will increasingly be required in the rural sector to meet these challenges and to support growth of the rural economy.

Stage 1
Biomass and Biofuel Technology
Business and Management
Engineering Principles
Environment and Sustainability
Renewable Energy Applications
Waste Management
Wind Turbine Technology

Stage 2
Business Improvement Techniques
Economics of Renewable Energy Technology
Energy Assessment
Environmental Enterprise Planning
Rural Diversification
Work-Based Learning

Click here for more information on modules

Learning and Teaching

At Queen’s, we aim to deliver a high quality learning environment that embeds intellectual curiosity, innovation and best practice in learning, teaching and student support to enable student to achieve their full academic potential.

On the Foundation Degree in Energy, Environment and Sustainability we do this by providing a range of learning experiences which enable our students to engage with subject experts, develop attributes and perspectives that will equip them for life and work in a global society and make use of innovative technologies and a world class library that enhances their development as independent, lifelong learners.  Examples of the opportunities provided for learning on this course are:

• Lectures: introduce basic information about new topics as a starting point for further self-directed private study/reading.  Lectures also provide opportunities to ask questions, gain some feedback and advice on assessments. Teaching on this foundation degree is carried out in small groups (typically 10-20 students).  These provide significant opportunity for students to engage with academic staff who have specialist knowledge of the topic, to ask questions of them and to assess their own progress and understanding with the support of peers. The opportunity to listen to and question visiting subject experts will further enhance student experience.
• Practicals:  Students will have opportunities to develop technical skills and apply theoretical principles to real-life or practical contexts.   Practical sessions in Engineering Principles and Biofuels will provide an opportunity to put theoretical knowledge in context.
• E-Learning technologies:   Information associated with lectures and assignments is often communicated via a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) called Blackboard, on the South West College website.  A range of e-learning experiences are also embedded in the degree through, for example:  interactive group  projects in a flexible learning space; podcasts and interactive web-based learning activities; opportunities to use IT programmes associated with design such as CAD, Solid Works etc. in practicals and project- based work etc.
• Seminars/tutorials:  Weekly tutorials will provide students with an opportunity to assess progress and revisit areas of study in more detail. Students will have the opportunity to develop essential study skills and contribute to group activities. They should also expect to make presentations and other contributions to these groups.  
• Self-directed study:  This is an essential part of life as a student of Queen’s, and South West College, when important private reading, engagement with e-learning resources, reflection on feedback to date and assignment research and preparation work is carried out.
• Work placements: Full-time students taking the foundation degree in Energy, Environment and Sustainability undertake a work-placement in the second semester of year 2.   This is a significant learning and employability enhancement opportunity. Students will undertake an individual work-based project and will be mentored by their course co-ordinator and an industrial supervisor. They will be expected to make a presentation of their project outcomes to classmates and a panel of lecturers and industry guests on completion of the unit.
• Work-Related learning/Field Trips/Study Tours:  As an integral part of most modules, particularly in Waste Management, Renewable Energy Applications and Sustainability and the Environment, students are taken on supervised visits to a range of industrial, academic and Government sites, including the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI).  During this time, they will be introduced to industrial applications of key topics.  These visits will form the basis of a number of group based tasks and case-study development opportunities for students.

Tutor Support:  Students on this foundation degree will have the opportunity to regularly meet with their tutors and course co-ordinator to discuss their academic progress. Small class sizes mean that all students will have ample opportunity for dedicated tutor support, should this be required.  Student support information and further advice are highlighted in the Student Handbook provided to all students.

Assessment and Feedback

Assessment:  The way in which students are assessed will vary according to the Learning objectives of each module.  Some modules are assessed solely through project work or written assignments.  Others are assessed through a combination of coursework and end of semester examinations.  There are also oral examinations which enable students to demonstrate their ability to analyse and present material in Irish and pursue high-level discussion in the target language. Details of how each module is assessed are shown in the Student Handbook which is provided to all students during their first year induction.

Feedback (general):  As students progress through their course at Queen’s they will receive general and specific feedback about their work from a variety of sources including lecturers, module co-ordinators, placement supervisors, personal tutors, advisers of study and peers.  University students are expected to engage with reflective practice and to use this approach to improve the quality of their work. Feedback may be provided in a variety of forms including:

·         Feedback provided via formal written comments and marks relating to work that students, as individuals or as part of a group, have submitted. 

·         Face to face comment.  This may include occasions when students make use of the lecturers’ advertised “office hours” to help you to address a specific query.

·         Placement employer comments or references.

·         Online or emailed comment.

·         General comments or question and answer opportunities at the end of a lecture, seminar or tutorial.

·         Pre-submission advice regarding the standards students should aim for and common pitfalls to avoid.  In some instances, this may be provided in the form of model answers or exemplars which students can review in their own time. 

·         Feedback and outcomes from practical classes.

·         Comment and guidance provided by staff from specialist support services such as, Careers, Employability and Skills or the Learning Development Service.

Once students have reviewed their feedback, they will be encouraged to identify and implement further improvements to the quality of their work.

Careers

Studying for an Energy, Environment and Sustainability foundationdegree at Queen’s and South West College will assist students in developing the core skills and employment-related experiences that are valued by employers, professional organisations and academic institutions.  Graduates from this degree are well regarded by many employers (local, national and international) and over half of all graduate jobs are now open to graduates of any discipline, including Energy, Environment and Sustainability.

Although the majority of our graduates are interested in pursuing careers in renewable energy applications and environmental management significant numbers develop careers in a wide range of other sectors.  The following is a list of the major career sectors that have attracted our graduates in recent years:

·         Management consultancy

·         Evironmental consultancies

·         Education sector

·         Civil Service

Employer Links – Consultations: We regularly consult and develop links with a large number of employers including, for example, Camphill Communities NI, Rural Generation Ltd, ReCyCo Ltd, Omagh and Fermanagh District Councils who are members of the employer liaison panel for the course. 

Placement Employers: Our past students have also gained work placement with organisations such as:

Other Employer Links: The Technology Department has unique employer interface through the South West College InnoTech Centre and Centre for Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technologies.

Students should take a look at www.prospects.ac.uk for further information concerning the types of jobs that attract FdSc Energy Environment and Sustainability Graduates.

Further study is also an option open to FdSc Energy Environment and Sustainability graduates. Students may articulate to the pre-honours year of the Land Use and Environment Management programme at Queen’s University.

Other Career-related information: Queen’s is a member of the Russell Group and, therefore, one of the 20 universities most-targeted by leading graduate employers.  Queen’s students will be advised and guided about career choice and, through the Degree Plus initiative, will have an opportunity to seek accreditation for skills development and experience gained through the wide range of extra-curricular activities on offer.  See Queen’s University Belfast full Employability Statement for further information.

Degree Plus and other related initiatives:  Recognising student diversity, as well as promoting employability enhancements and other interests, is part of the developmental experience at Queen’s.  Students are encouraged to plan and build their own, personal skill and experiential profile through a range of activities including; recognised Queen’s Certificates, placements and other work experiences (at home or overseas), Erasmus study options elsewhere in Europe, learning development opportunities and involvement in wider university life through activities, such as clubs, societies, and sports. 

Queen’s actively encourages this type of activity by offering students an additional qualification, the Degree Plus Award (and the related Researcher Plus Award for PhD and MPhil students).  Degree Plus accredits wider experiential and skill development gained through extra-curricular activities that promote the enhancement of academic, career management, personal and employability skills in a variety of contexts.  As part of the Award, students are also trained on how to reflect on the experience(s) and make the link between academic achievement, extracurricular activities, transferable skills and graduate employment. Participating students will also be trained in how to reflect on their skills and experiences and can gain an understanding of how to articulate the significance of these to others, e.g. employers.

Overall, these initiatives, and Degree Plus in particular, reward the energy, drive, determination and enthusiasm shown by students engaging in activities over-and-above the requirements of their academic studies.  These qualities are amongst those valued highly by graduate employers.

Special Features

Placement: this degree is suitable for all those interested in increasing their knowledge of renewable energies, diversification or rural business development and the integral work placement ensures that students are able to fully apply their knowledge gained on the programme.