UNIC Sustainability Week 2025: UNIC student board explore sustainability leadership at UCC

16 Apr 2025

UNIC student reps, Ella Barrett and Maddalena Fortune-Brandi, recently welcomed the UNIC student board to University College Cork for a vibrant programme focused on student sustainability leadership across UNIC campuses: UNIC sustainability week 2025. The programme ran parallel to activities in UCC for the student-led Green Week 2025, marking 15 years of UCC's green campus. Pictured, L-R are the UCC Green Week organising panel: Cian Walsh,  Sumaya Mohammed, Ella Barrett and Maddalena Fortune-Brandi.

We had the pleasure of welcoming the UNIC (European University of Cities in Post-Industrial Transition) Student Board to University College Cork for Green Week 2025, 31st March to 2nd April. Green week was a collaboration between UCC Green Campus, UCC EnviroSoc, and UCC Students' Union.   
 
We had a fantastic time organising a three-day programme, full of engaging workshops, panels, and discussions around sustainability, both on campus and across the consortium.   
 
Monday kicked off with a panel discussion on the challenges of travelling while being mindful of our carbon footprint. This panel was moderated by Jean van Sinderen-Law, who kept the conversation thoroughly engaging. Thank you to Irene Ní Shúilleabháin for your guidance in putting together this event! We then heard from our partner representatives, as they presented some of the green initiatives on their campus. Marta Martín-Fortuny was an incredible host for this!   
 
On Tuesday, we welcomed Dr. Deirdre Parker from UCC Career Services for a workshop on careers strengthens. Reflecting on a sustainable career path was super important. We then had the pleasure of participating in the SDG Game, hosted by David Nyaluke from Centre for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning (CIRTL). Definitely a highlight this week!   
 
On the final day, we took a moment to be outside and participate in a nature trail, hosted by Dr. Dara Fitzpatrick. We couldn’t have ended on a better note, appreciating our surroundings and tuning into the biodiversity on campus.   
 
The focus of the week was on sharing and developing student-led sustainability initiatives across our university. Before our visitors left Cork, we engaged in a brainstorm of ideas for our campuses based on our learning. Ideas for potential development include: a ‘green challenges app’, leftovers vending machines to reduce food waste, incentivising meat-free meal choices in campus cafeterias, and incorporating spaces on campus for nature such as ponds or beehives. 

We look forward to following up on these points and taking further actions alongside the UNIC student board. 

Ella Barrett and Maddalena Fortune-Brandi, UNIC UCC student representatives