| Personal details |
|---|
| Degree: | MA Sustainable Development |
|
| School(s): | School of Geography and Geosciences |
| Year of Graduation: | Jun-2011 |
| LinkedIn: | |
| National of: | United Kingdom |
| Employment details |
|---|
| Organisation: | University of St Andrews, Estates |
| Job title: | Sustainability Intern |
| Occupational Sector: | Sustainability Consultancy |
| What has been your route to getting your current position? |
|---|
| While still a student in the SD programme, I heard about the position
of Sustainability Intern through personal contacts at the University. I
happened to know my predecessor, Hanna Plant, who encouraged me to apply
for the position. After interviewing and being offered the position in
May 2011, I started the job only a week after I graduated in June! |
| What does your job involve ? |
|---|
| The Sustainability Intern post on the Environment Team is funded by
Santander and is part of the bank’s Universities Global Division. As
Sustainability Intern, I work on the outreach, communication and
awareness raising projects and report writing for the Environment Team.
Such projects include a Staff Environmental Awareness campaign, which
has so far consisted of an all staff survey and developing a CAPOD
training course for ‘Environmental Facilitators’, leading a student
campaign in favor of the Kenly Wind Turbines project, and an art
competition with a local primary school for a green illustration to go
on the side of the Grounds 100% electric vehicle. Reports have included
helping with the development of an Environmental Management System for
Estates, writing up the Green Business Tourism Award re-application for
two halls of residence and a carbon and climate change report on the
University’s practical SD actions.
There is lots of potential for working with people to engage others
in environmental actions. I am a Carbon Conversations Facilitator and
lead staff and students in the course, I have participated in several
University events such as Kaleidoscope Festival, Re/Freshers Fayre and
Green Week, and I have helped produce StudentCooking.tv and
‘Sustainability in Practice’ films on recycling at the University.
|
| What are the best bits of your job ? |
|---|
| The best bits of my job are a mix between the work that I’m doing and
the atmosphere that I’m working in. It has been so satisfying to go
straight into a job where my degree is directly relevant, and to feel
like this work is making an impact. The other best part about my job is
that I’m not stuck at a desk all day, but am able to move all about the
campus and interact with others, and all of the people in Estates are
wonderful to work with.
Being the Sustainability Intern with Estates has taught me practical
skills to support my degree and has shown me what sustainability put
into practice looks like. It has been fascinating to work
‘behind-the-scenes’ and rewarding to make a positive change here at my
University! It’s a great feeling to know I’m making a difference in a
place that I care about.
|
| Why were you successful? |
|---|
| Apart from being a graduate of the St Andrews SD programme with a good
academic record, related experience helped me to get the job. As a
student I was actively involved in environmental initiatives as a member
of the Transition Steering Group and helped to write a successful grant
to the Scottish Government for £90,000. I had also been highly involved
in other areas of student life as an active member of the Charities
Campaign, leading events and organizing fundraising projects. In
addition, I had experience in an environmentally focused summer
internship
Sound skills as a verbal and written communicator were essential for
the position as well as the ability to work in a team and motivate
others |
| What skills/ knowledge from your degree have you found particularly helpful in this role? |
|---|
As the job is the ‘Sustainability’ Intern, pretty much all aspects of
the SD have been relevant, particularly, however, ideas about behavior
change and theories of paradigm shifts. In addition, basic knowledge of
climate change, renewable energies, biodiversity and habitat change, and
waste. The skills that were very useful from my SD were working in a
group, report writing, researching and presentation practice.
|
| What advice would you give to students wishing to follow the same path? |
|---|
The advice that I’d give to students wishing to be the next
Sustainability Intern for Estates would be to get involved at the
University. For the job, it is really helpful to know people around
campus and how the student life runs.
In accepting the job, don’t be worried about finding housing.
Housing for non-undergraduate is a totally different situation and
things come up all throughout the spring and the summer. The job is
8:45- 5:00, with an hour lunch break, and hardly ever evenings and
weekends, and when these arise it is up to you whether or not to attend
events. The office at Estates is beautifully situated on East Sands.
Social life is great as you are still able to be part of everything that
goes on at the University |
