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Opportunity to upskill in response to future demand in environmental sector

Monday 2 December 2019

The Centre for Adult Learning and Professional Development, NUI Galway, provides an innovative diploma programme in response to this demand.

As reported in the Future Jobs Ireland 2019 report, published by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation “considerations around the environment, regulation and energy costs are driving all enterprises to look at new ways of doing business that are more energy efficient and environmentally friendly” (Future Jobs Ireland, 2019, www.dbei.gov.ie ).

The Centre for Adult Learning and Professional Development, NUI Galway, provides an innovative diploma programme in response to this demand. NUI Galway has collaborated with Skillnet Ireland to develop the Diploma in Corporate Environmental Planning (Level 8, NFQ).

Environmental planning and management

This is a new practice-based course which provides an overview of the evolution of environmental planning and management and its relationship to society and industry today.

Drawing on contemporary examples, the course explores the roots and principles of environmental planning and management in practice.

It introduces students to a range of conceptual and practical approaches and prepares them with the knowledge and skills to be leaders and decision makers in developing solutions for contemporary environmental issues.

It also provides students with an understanding of waste legislation, the key issues and practical implications in relation to waste management, and focuses on lean processes and waste prevention.

This specialist diploma award is particularly suitable for students requiring medium-term upskilling for career advancement in the area of environmental policy and leadership to strengthen their capacities as efficient environmental managers and effective environmental leaders in their organisations.

Course outline

The diploma is open to applicants with a Level 7 award and full details are available on the NUI Galway website.

The programme is delivered by lecturers with extensive experience as practitioners and academics, part time over one year, by a combination of Saturday on-campus workshops, online lectures, guest speakers and learning activities, eBooks and other digital resources.

For this pilot delivery, the course includes the core modules Environmental Management for Organisations, Environmental Leadership in Organisations, Environmental Science, The Lean Organisation and Technology, Energy Management and Environmental Legislation and Compliance.

Individually assessed by assignments

Each module will be individually assessed by assignments completed throughout the semester. The major assignment for each module will be the development of a plan for the participant’s workplace.

Application closing date and fee subsidies

This course runs on a continuous entry model. Applicants can join the course in January 2020, finishing in December 2020, or they can join in September 2020, finishing in June 2021.

For January 2020 entry, fee subsidies are available to students registering for the Diploma in Corporate Environmental Planning, through membership of Next Level Skillnet (free membership of Skillnet is available to private sector companies).