科克大学

Course Outline

Are you concerned about environmental sustainability? Are you someone who is interested in achieving real systems change across enterprise and industry? Do you want to know how business can play a part in the transition to a sustainable society? If so, then our new course Higher Diploma in Sustainability in Enterprise: Meeting the Challenges of the Future may be just right for you!

The world faces unprecedented environmental challenges. Growing public awareness and concerns over climate change and environmental sustainability are pushing businesses to place sustainability at the heart of business strategy, operations and decision-making.

The transition towards a sustainable and zero carbon business presents a tremendous opportunity for companies to drive innovation, increase competitiveness, manage risk and stimulate growth and you can play a role in it. Radical technological innovations, different business models, and new competences and skills are needed. The transition will require interdisciplinary approaches, combining and considering technological, economic, social, managerial and environmental aspects.

Through a blend of academic coursework, interdisciplinary insights, business case studies and application, peer learning and individual reflection, you will become part of a community of business leaders that will lead the transition to sustainable business practices. During this course you will also develop a deep reconsideration of skills and competences needed to deliver such a transition. The course draws on the interdisciplinary strengths and capabilities within the Environmental Research Institute. It also draws on the strength of UCC’s ongoing commitment and success in their Green Campus initiative, which embeds sustainability in all university strategies while also delivering sustainability on the ground.

Skills and Careers Information

What sort of jobs would this course prepare me for?

This programme would ideally prepare candidates for leadership roles in environmental sustainability and decarbonisation within business and enterprise. However, the skills acquired as part of this programme would also be highly applicable to other roles within enterprise.

Are there any career workshops included as part of this course?

Students will have access to the UCC career services. Main activities will include:

One-to-one career coaching to formulate individual career action plans leading to employment:

• Where they are now in their careers?
• Where they want to be?
• Strategies for gaining employment on completion of the programme.

Job readiness workshops to complement individual coaching sessions will be built into the programme as outlined below:

Positioning oneself for job readiness: Setting realistic career objectives; Understanding strengths and skills; Learning from successful role models; Developing a career management strategy.
Moving forward into a job: Taking action by developing career goals and implementing them;
Creative job-hunting both on-line and off-line; Written applications, CVS and interview preparation and implementing career plans.

Participants will be given the opportunity to meet employers by attending UCC organised recruitment fairs, jobs roadshows and other events where employers will be invited on campus to meet students.

Will I get exposure to business, industry and enterprise in this course?

This course will have direct input from a number of enterprises, via guest lectures, industrial-based projects and site tours.