Sustainability orientation presentations delivered to 6,000 students
Between 11 – 13 September 2024, all incoming students at TU Dublin participated in a programme of introductory sustainability and climate action initiatives.
As part of their orientation over 6,000 first-year students participated in 25 individual interactive sustainability workshops and were invited to partake in a survey of their knowledge of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The programme has been designed to introduce students to sustainability activity at TU Dublin and to inspire students to get involved in learning opportunities, projects and events during their time at university.
Partnering with N-TUTORR Sustainability Champions and Faculties & Schools, the Sustainability Education team delivered a series of Sustainability and Climate Action Challenges across all five campus locations. Over 400 students completed these activities which were designed to engage them in some of the most challenging sustainability and climate problems facing society including - biodiversity and habitat conservation, emissions reduction, and climate adaptation and resilience.
Speaking about the delivery of sustainability engagement during orientation, Head of Sustainability Education, Dr Brian Gormley said:
At TU Dublin we aim to engage students in sustainability and climate action from their first day at university. With every programme working to embed sustainability as a learning outcome, students are supported to solve challenging global issues through their discipline, an essential skill in society and one prospective employers want to see.
Speaking of the initiative, second-year Logistics and Supply Chain Management student and N-TUTORR Sustainability Champion, Derica Barnor said:
As an N-TUTORR Sustainability Student Champion, I spoke with hundreds of students this September about how sustainability isn’t about overhauling your life but integrating it into what you already enjoy. By focusing on small, practical changes, I felt students’ eyes opened to the idea that sustainability is within their reach. This made the conversations more meaningful and helped them see that they can make a real impact in the university and within society without sacrificing what they love.
The Sustainability Orientation and programme of events was supported by the SATLE fund and the National Forum for Enhancement of Teaching and Learning.