CSFI's student training workshops delve into the intricacies of sustainability education tailored for the university community. Through our student training programme, we aim to equip participants with the essential skills and perspectives needed to address today's complex sustainability challenges.
Our approach emphasises a deep understanding of complex systems and design thinking, allowing students to grasp the interconnected nature of environmental, social, and economic issues. By fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, we encourage participants to explore diverse perspectives and develop innovative solutions that transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries.
One of the key aspects of our training is navigating difficult and vital scenarios inherent in sustainability work. Through simulated exercises and scenario-based learning, students gain practical experience in confronting real-world dilemmas and developing resilience in the face of uncertainty.
At the heart of our student training programme is the belief in empowering the next generation of sustainability leaders. By providing students with the knowledge, skills, and mindset necessary to drive positive change, we aim to cultivate a community of informed and proactive sustainability champions.
Programme Induction and Sustainability 101
Students were introduced to the GLSD programme, learned the core fundamentals of sustainability's history, institutions, and metrics, and engaged in a speed-friending exercise to meet one another. Learn more about the GLSD programme.
Campus tour
Students embark on a journey through UL's sustainable initiatives. The tour offered students a firsthand glimpse into the university's commitment to environmental stewardship, showcasing a diverse range of projects aimed at promoting sustainability on campus.
Mission-based sustainability workshop
The students are introduced to mission-based innovation and its key principles. This workshop serves as a baseline for students to understand the methods and theory that underpins UL's mission-based approach, and their subsequent project development workshops in this programme.
Critical thinking and discourse workshop
Students are brought through an interactive workshop to hear and express different worldviews on contemporary sustainability issues, in a walking debate format. The aim of this workshop is to challenge students' biases on sustainability, and to impart the importance of hearing different perspectives and constructively disagreeing with one another.
Futures design workshop
In this exercise, participants will learn to capture signals and drivers of change to understand how they are creating uncertainty about the future. The aim of this workshop is to get students aware of the mission-based approach, and then to go beyond the surface level of their Mission to uncover the different factors across past, present, and future, that may impact the Mission’s direction or progress.
Economic sustainability site visit and workshop
Students visit 51±¾É« Chamber to discuss economic sustainability. During the visit, students engaged in a dynamic discussion about the region's economic landscape. They heard firsthand accounts from Chamber representatives, exploring various aspects such as industry trends, business opportunities, and potential barriers to growth. Learn more about the visit to 51±¾É« Chamber
Scenario development workshop
In this exercise, participants will learn to create and explore possible future scenarios based on shared uncertainties. One of these plausible futures will serve as ‘the future we want’ for this Mission (Horizon Three in the next workshop), which will form the basis for the development of a Student Mission Project to help achieve this in the following workshop. The aim of this workshop is to showcase how competing issues within the Mission landscape can produce vastly different futures. It will also allow students to clearly define a plausible future that is desirable in achieving their Mission, and give students a foundation in which to develop a Student Mission Project.
Environmental sustainability workshop
Students heard from 51±¾É« Council's Environment Awareness Officer, to learn more about institutional work and challenges in the area. Learn about this session
Cloughjordan Eco Village tour and workshop
GLSD students embarked on an educational journey to Cloughjordan Eco Village. This visit, organised as part of their curriculum, aimed to provide students with practical insights into sustainable living practices. Find out more about the day
Three Horizons modelling workshop
In this exercise, participants will learn to define the horizons between a preferable vision of the future and the present-day situation. The aim of this workshop is to use the content of the previous workshops to map out the future we are heading toward, and the future we want to have. Showing the two different trajectories will make it possible to imagine and ideate on how we can make tangible and practical implementations, in the form of Student Mission Projects.
Societal sustainability site visit and workshop
Students visited UL Access Campus to learn more about and engage in a workshop around societal sustainability. Learn more about the visit
Collaboration model workshop
In this exercise, participants will learn to foster alignment and a shared understanding of the aspirations and preconditions of a chosen mission project. The aim of this workshop is to take the selected Student Mission Project from the previous session and break it down into a series of considerations. This is to bring the Project from a lofty goal, to a series of tangible considerations and steps to make the Project achievable.
Presentation skills workshop
Using all of the content developed over the previous four weeks, and creating a presentation outlining the progress and effort made by the students in mission-based approaches to innovation, followed by presenting their Student Mission Project proposal. The aim of this workshop is to piece every week together to create an overall outlook on the work done by the students over the previous weeks. This presentation will be used in the following week for the showcase.
Presentation showcase
After six weeks of immersive learning and collaborative project development, the 51±¾É« Student Sustainability Global Leadership for Sustainable Development (GLSD) programme concluded with a triumphant showcase of student-led initiatives. The final presentations and graduation ceremony, held on Thursday, 26 October, marked the culmination of Cohort One's transformative journey towards sustainability. Read the full story
Programme Induction and Sustainability 101
Students were introduced to the GLSD programme, learned the core fundamentals of sustainability's history, institutions, and metrics, and engaged in a speed-friending exercise to meet one another. Learn more Programme Induction and Sustainability 101
Campus tour
Students embark on a journey through UL's sustainable initiatives. The tour offered students a firsthand glimpse into the university's commitment to environmental stewardship, showcasing a diverse range of projects aimed at promoting sustainability on campus. To learn more, click this link.
Critical thinking and discourse workshop
Students are brought through an interactive workshop to hear and express different worldviews on contemporary sustainability issues, in a walking debate format. The aim of this workshop is to challenge students' biases on sustainability, and to impart the importance of hearing different perspectives and constructively disagreeing with one another.
Economic sustainability site visit and workshop
Students were visited by Chris Kelly, CEO of Tracworx, to engage in a workshop discussion on economic sustainability in the startup world. Learn more about the visit here.
Environmental sustainability workshop
As part of GLSD’s Environment Week on Tuesday, 05 March 2024, students had the opportunity to engage in a dialogue with Niamh Schmidtke, an artist and advocate renowned for her exploration of environmental consciousness. Find out more
Cloughjordan Eco Village tour and workshop
GLSD students embarked on an educational journey to Cloughjordan Eco Village. This visit, organised as part of their curriculum, aimed to provide students with practical insights into sustainable living practices. Find out more about the day
Societal sustainability site visit and workshop
UL Access Campus paid a visit to GLSD students to discuss and engage in a workshop around societal sustainability. Learn more about the visit
Presentation showcase
After seven weeks of immersive learning and collaborative project development, GLSD students presented their final projects through the Mission Innovation Bootcamp.
Programme Induction and Sustainability 101
Students were introduced to the Mission Innovation Bootcamp, learned the core fundamentals of sustainability's history, institutions, and metrics, and engaged in a speed-friending exercise to meet one another. Learn more here.
Mission-based sustainability workshop
The students are introduced to mission-based innovation and its key principles. This workshop serves as a baseline for students to understand the methods and theory that underpins UL's mission-based approach, and their subsequent project development workshops in this programme.
Futures design workshop
In this exercise, participants will learn to capture signals and drivers of change to understand how they are creating uncertainty about the future. The aim of this workshop is to get students aware of the mission-based approach, and then to go beyond the surface level of their Mission to uncover the different factors across past, present, and future, that may impact the Mission’s direction or progress.
Scenario development workshop
In this exercise, participants will learn to create and explore possible future scenarios based on shared uncertainties. One of these plausible futures will serve as ‘the future we want’ for this Mission (Horizon Three in the next workshop), which will form the basis for the development of a Student Mission Project to help achieve this in the following workshop. The aim of this workshop is to showcase how competing issues within the Mission landscape can produce vastly different futures. It will also allow students to clearly define a plausible future that is desirable in achieving their Mission, and give students a foundation in which to develop a Student Mission Project.
Collaboration model workshop
In this exercise, participants will learn to foster alignment and a shared understanding of the aspirations and preconditions of a chosen mission project. The aim of this workshop is to take the selected Student Mission Project from the previous session and break it down into a series of considerations. This is to bring the Project from a lofty goal, to a series of tangible considerations and steps to make the Project achievable.
Presentation skills workshop
Using all of the content developed over the previous weeks, and creating a presentation outlining the progress and effort made by the students in mission-based approaches to innovation, followed by presenting their Student Mission Project proposal. This session was facilitated by CSFI Director Andrea Deverell. The aim of this workshop is to piece every week together to create an overall outlook on the work done by the students over the previous weeks. This presentation will be used in the following week for the showcase.
Presentation showcase
After six weeks of immersive learning and collaborative project development, Mission Innovation Bootcamp students presented their mission projects to UL staff and faculty, finishing up Cohort I of the programme.
Weaving Sustainability: Exploring Traditional Crafts
Harmony of Mind and Nature: Biodiversity and Meditation Workshop at UL
Stitching Sustainability: Textile Repair Workshop at UL Library Makerspace
Journeying Responsibly: Exploring Sustainable Travel
Navigating Eco-Anxiety: Mapping Climate Concerns
Student Brainstorming: Sustaining Campus Life
Student Brainstorming: Nurturing Environmental Consciousness
Student Brainstorming: Feminist Perspectives on Sustainability
Student Brainstorming: Enacting Change Through Enactus
Student Brainstorming: Empowering Entrepreneurs for Sustainability
Empowering Youth: Co-Creating Sustainable Solutions
Empowering Students to Tackle Sustainability Challenges through Upskilling Workshop