STUDENT PROGRAMMES AND INITIATIVES
This page will keep you up to date on Student sustainability programmes, training courses and events.
Sustainability Change Makers Programme
Queen’s Sustainability Change Makers Programme aims to inspire, equip, and support students to bring about positive change for our planet and society.
Key challenges facing our planet, and society, are sustainable in nature. To ensure Queen’s graduates are equipped to be the change makers we need them to be, the Sustainability Change Makers Programme ensures graduates leave Queen’s with the necessary skills and knowledge to address these challenges.
Sustainability Change Makers Programme Highlights
22 and 29 March
The Sustainability Change Makers Programme took place over two Wednesdays in March and saw 20 students undertake tasks to help them think of solutions to sustainability challenges in a different way. Some of the techniques used include Design Thinking, Leadership for Change and Sustainability Storytelling. Well done to all our amazing students who brainstormed, discussed and debated sustainability and came up with some innovative ideas to tackle sustainability issues!
A big thank you to our facilitators Helen Keys (Entrepreneur in Residence, SU Enterprise), Neil Whiteside (The Graduate School) and Dr Jade Berman (National Trust) for helping the students engage with sustainability challenges and get them thinking in new ways, we really appreciate your time and support!
What's Involved
Through the Sustainability Change Makers Programme you will be taken through a design thinking process that will enable you to discover, idealise, prototype and reflect on solutions to key sustainability challenges. This will prepare you to undertake design thinking in your future career, enabling you to address key challenges faced by every sector of our society.
Workshops in communication and leadership will also be undertaken, to ensure you have the confidence you need to enact change.
Programme Details
The Sustainability Change Makers Programme is a structured, in-person programme which takes place over two days, Wednesday 22 and 29 March 2023. A breakdown of the programme can be seen below.
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Wednesday 22 March, 10am to 4pm |
Facilitator |
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10am to 1pm |
Design Thinking - Introduction to innovation and design thinking. Focus on the design thinking stage using key sustainability challenges. |
Helen Keys, Queen's Entrepreneur in Resident |
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1pm to 1.45pm |
Lunch |
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1.45pm - 4pm |
Design Thinking – Continue to focus on design thinking, specifically the idealisation stage. |
Helen Keys, Queen's Entrepreneur in Resident |
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Wednesday 29 March, 10am to 4pm |
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10am to 12pm |
Leadership for Change |
Neil Whiteside, Training and Development Consultant |
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12pm to 12.45pm |
Lunch |
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12.45pm to 3pm |
Communication – How to be a Sustainability Storyteller
|
Jade Berman, Coastal Advisor, National Trust |
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3pm to 4pm |
Design Thinking - Reflection |
Helen Keys, Queen's Entrepreneur in Resident |
We encourage all students who are interested in the programme to also sign up and attend Carbon Literacy Training. Certified Carbon Literacy Training is facilitated by Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful and is designed to offer individuals an awareness of climate change science, and the climate impacts of our everyday actions.
It aims to build confidence, knowledge, skills and motivation to empower individuals to play a crucial role in responding to the climate crisis. Training consists of three, two-hour sessions. Register for Carbon Literacy Training here.
Key Dates
We would recommend you are available, and able to attend, the Sustainability Change Makers all-day workshops on Wednesday 22 and 29 March.
How to Apply
The Sustainability Change Makers Programme is no longer accepting applications.
*Please note* We advise opening a Word document and copying your answers while completing your application, as applications are not guaranteed to save once you leave Microsoft Forms.
Green Fund
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