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Catalysing the sustainability transition through training and education
At UCC we believe that education and training are key levers of the transition to sustainability. UCC Sustainability Academy meets all your organisation’s sustainability training needs with accredited education offerings based on the latest research, delivered to the highest standard.
Overview
There is an unprecedented need for training and upskilling for sustainability action in our workforce and society. It estimated that up to half of the EU’s working-age population considered to be in need of upskilling and re-skilling for the green transition. Almost three-quarters of company executives believe their businesses lack the critical skills required to deliver the net zero transition.
Key training gaps for organisations include creating a circular and zero carbon organisation, making sustainability core to business strategy, creating a culture of sustainability, providing inspiration, and rooting sustainability programmes in people’s day-to-day jobs.
Many people that need to be upskilled for the transformation to sustainability are already working. There is an urgent need for new agile educational structures and approaches within our universities to meet the learner needs and training gaps. UCC is stepping up to meet this demand with the establishment of the first dedicated university Sustainability Academy in Ireland which will deliver short and bespoke courses on a broad range of sustainability topics to industry, business, local authorities, public bodies, and the general public.
About
The UCC Sustainability Academy is the first university sustainability training and education unit of its kind in Ireland which uses a unique model for sustainability education delivery. The Academy programmes draw on the deep expertise of over 100 sustainability academics in UCC across 25 Schools combined with a core team of sustainability trainers and industry practitioners to contribute to programmes. We pride ourselves on delivering educational content which is cutting-edge based on the research output of 400 research papers annually within the internationally leading UCC Environmental research Institute.
We ensure that out training programmes are relevant, timely, practical and solutions focused meeting the training needs of an audience that is pressed for time. Training and education delivered through the Sustainability Academy is focused on a learner centric, engaged model which uses a blend of traditional content delivery, personal reflection, practical exercises, real life case studies, and peer-to-peer learning. These approaches to teaching have been shown to bridge the “knowledge application” gap.
The Sustainability Academy programmes are UCC accredited and can be used for attaining professional CPD recognition. Our programmes can be delivered fully on-line, hybrid, or in-person at our award winning Environmental Research Institute buildings in Cork or UCC-IMI facilities in Dublin, or in-house within organisations.
This programme will demystify key sustainability concepts and provide participants with an in-depth understanding of why sustainability is now a critical issue for all businesses (people, planet and profit). The course will explore key issues for sustainability in business, identify which issues to prioritise, and identify sustainability KPIs for their business (scorecard) which can be used for ESG and sustainability reporting. The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will be used as lens in which to frame sustainability in the company. The programme enables students to root their learning in their jobs and companies through the use of case studies. Peer-to-peer learning from, and the development of an on-going support network, of like-minded sustainability champions and professionals is a key value-added of the course. University College Cork itself will act as a living laboratory of sustainability in action.
Course Type: Micro-credential
Delivery: Blended
Partners: Cork and Waterford Chamber Skillnets
From: September - November 2024
Unpacking Scope 1,3 and 3 Emissions for Financial Managers
Organisational GHG emissions are categorised into Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions. This course will provide the foundational knowledge and tools you need to measure, manage and reduce your organisation’s GHG emissions and setting your company on a path towards net-zero emissions by 2050. The course will cover (a) how to account for your scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions and (b) how to measure, manage and reduce your scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions. The course will include interactive, peer-to-peer learning and a case study on carbon management from University College Cork.
Course Type: 1-Day Course
Delivery: In-person (at the Environmental Institute, Lee Road Cork)
Date: Wed 23 October 2024
Sustainability for Business Success: Recognising, creating, and leveraging opportunities
How can you use sustainability to improve competitiveness and sharpen business focus? Integrating sustainability into business strategies is no longer just the right thing to do but is also a strategic necessity for long-term success. It enhances competitiveness, fosters innovation, reduces risks, enhances recruitment, and strengthens brand reputation, ultimately driving both financial and societal value. This programme will focus on how companies can leverage the opportunities being created by the transition to sustainability to drive business financial success which enhancing environmental and societal value.
Type: Digital Badge
Delivery: Online
Partners: GreenTech Skillnet
Date: Q1 2025
ConnectSus
This joint initiative being delivered by Taste4Success, FITU and the Sustainability Academy, UCC aims to support all food, agri-food, seafood, and beverage related enterprises in 4 areas in the Northwest of Ireland to overcome barriers associated with the adoption of sustainable practices. The Connectsus programme will support enterprise and communities to establish a shared understanding of the challenges and opportunities which will be presented by the societal transformation to sustainability.
Type: Digital Badge
Delivery: Blended
Partners: Taste4Success Skillnet
Date: Q1 2025
2030 SDG’s Game Workshop
The SDG Game is a thought-provoking multi-player facilitated card game that simulates what the world could look like in 2030. The 2030 SDGs Game highlights the importance of balancing the three pillars of People, Planet and Prosperity and brings sustainability to life. Participants in the simulation receive time, money and projects, and decide how to invest their resources and which projects to run in order to work towards achieving their goals. What will be the impact on the world of the projects they play? Will they create a prosperous, fair and sustainable world?
Type: 3 hour workshop
Delivery: In-person
Location: UCC or onsite at company premises
Date: On demand
Perfect for teams of 15 – 50 people
Carbon Literacy (Digital Badge)
The UCC Climate Literacy course had been designed to provide an in-depth understanding of the complexities of the climate crisis and to empower participants to identify and implement solutions in their personal life, workplaces and the local community. This course provides a foundational knowledge on a range of topics including: Climate science Climate justice Just transitions Carbon emissions Climate adaptation and resilience Climate Literacy catalyses action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and our impact on the planet. Participants will learn how to apply these learnings to act and make changes that have tangible and positive impacts. Following on from the self-paced learning and in person workshop, staff from Clare County Council will undertake a project within their local area/unit/team which will directly apply the knowledge they have gained throughout the course.
Type: Digital Badge
Delivery: Blended
Date: Q2 2025
Sustainability in Practice for Business
This one-day Sustainability in Practice for Business course at UCC will enable businesses and participants to kick-start their organisational and own sustainability journey. Participants will learn what sustainability means for their organisation, and how to respond in a way that creates value and impact for the business, environment, and society. The course will examine the key drivers, risks, and opportunities for the business transition to sustainability. It will also explore how to develop a strategic business case for sustainability, develop sustainability KPIs/metrics to measure performance, and understand the elements of a sustainability action plan. Throughout the course participants will reflect on how they can act as agents of change for sustainability within their organisation.
Type: 1-day course
Delivery: In-person
Date: Q1 2025
More information
For more information on our programmes please contact Dr Paul Bolger (p.bolger@ucc.ie), Head of UCC Sustainability Academy.
To book a place on our upcoming programmes please contact Tanya Fitzgerald (tfitzgerald@ucc.ie), Manager, UCC Sustainability Academy
Sustainability Academy
Dr Paul Bolger, Head of UCC Sustainability Academy - p.bolger@ucc.ie
