MSc ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND GREEN
TECHNOLOGY School of Geography, Geology and the Environment Postgraduate Taught Course
2019-20 entry 2 | MSMScc ENVIRONMENTALENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILTYSUSTAINABILTY AND AND GREENGREEN TECHNOLOGY TECHNOLOGY 97% of research world-leading, or of international importance Research Excellence Framework, 2014 Contents
Welcome 3 The Sustainability Hub 12 Key MSc Environmental Sustainability What skills will I learn to help me and Green Technology facts 4 in my career? 15 Why choose this course? 5 Advice from Keele MSc Environmental What background do I need? 5 Sustainability and Green Technology graduates 16 What’s the structure of the course? 7 Investing in your future 17 What are the teaching methods used? 7 The MSc Environmental Sustainability How is the course assessed? 7 and Green Technology team 18 Your Research Project 8 Contacts back page Placements and Internships 9 What’s the student experience? 10
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Welcome
Welcome to Keele and welcome to the MSc in Environmental Sustainability and Green Technology. Based at Keele University Sustainability Hub at the heart of Keele’s beautiful campus this MSc can open doors to a wide range of careers including environmental management, energy development, planning and research. As a student on Keele’s MSc in Environmental Sustainability and Green Technology course you’ll study issues spanning science, social science and politics. This is key as the ability to solve problems which take into account all of these, and their impacts on society, will be crucial in securing a sustainable future for coming generations. If you haven’t studied an environmental course before this isn’t a problem - we accept a degree in any subject. And if you’re already in employment or have other commitments and would prefer to study part time over two years we’ll do our best to be as flexible as possible to make this work for you. Past students from this course with the ability to widen their skills are agents for change and many have secured researcher roles and exciting employment opportunities in industry and the public sector.
The MSc Environmental Sustainability and Green Technology Dr Sharon George course is accredited by IEMA (The Institute of Environmental Course Director Management and Assessment). Students who successfully complete the course automatically qualify for GradIEMA professional status, which is recognised in the marketplace. Students can also fast track to PIEMA (Practitioner Status) on completion of a work- based competence assessment. Follow us on Twitter @KeeleMScESGT
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Key MSc Environmental Sustainability and Green Technology facts
• An interdisciplinary course drawing on teaching and research expertise from across the university • An expert teaching team that’s enthusiastic and approachable • You can apply with any undergraduate degree discipline • You can specialise in the areas that interest you most • You’re able to access student membership of IEMA (The Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment) • You’ll gain up-to-date knowledge via case-based learning led by practitioners • We’ll help you collaborate with industry on your project, and undertake placements gaining valuable work experience • You’ll be based in the inspirational Sustainability Hub building – a centre for excellence in sustainability and environmental technologies
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Jess Hind, current student Why choose What Studying for the MSc in Environmental Sustainability and this course? background do Green Technology on a part-time If you choose to study Keele’s MSc in basis allows me to work outside the course, keeping a foot in with my Environmental Sustainability and Green I need? employer and helping to pay the Technology you’ll gain a broad scientific As an interdisciplinary course, run by the bills. The pace allows me to enjoy understanding of important environmental School of Geography, Geology and the the course to its full and balance areas and green technology, as well as Environment with input from the Schools my time well, and considered knowledge of environmental policy and of Politics, Philosophy, International timetabling has meant I am only in politics. You can join us with a degree in Relations and Environment; Life Sciences for lectures one day a week! any subject and you have the option to and Law, it attracts students from a study part time over 2 years. diverse range of backgrounds. Students have joined us with degrees ranging ” from aerospace systems engineering and computer science, through geology, Rachel Smith, 2017-18 student geography, applied environmental Despite my background being science, biology and politics, to English in a completely different field to literature and fine art and lots more this course, I’ve still found the inbetween! If you don’t have a degree transition of delving into the world but you do have relevant professional of environmental sustainability training and you think this is the course exciting and stress-free. My thoughts and ideas were welcomed for you, then come and talk to us. and accepted just as much as As an international student who may not my peers’ by supportive and have English as a first language we’ll experienced staff. need some evidence of your English language competence, and if you’re accepted on to the course then we’ll give ” you lots of support in developing your language skills. If more language training Catherine Edwards is now is needed, you’ll undertake a programme Sustainability Consultant for which will be carefully integrated with Credibly Green the content of this MSc course, so As it’s been a long time since preparation for assessments will be I’ve done any study starting the included as well as presentation skills first term was daunting and the etc. The language training is designed to first exam was scary but I have enhance the programme and ensure that surprised myself at how I have you’ll receive the maximum benefit from coped and excelled compared to the taught modules offered. my first degree. Coming back to University has highlighted the skills I have accumulated over the years which you don’t necessarily realise you have! ”
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Emily Jervis, went on to a PhD What’s the What are in Developing Sustainability in the Construction Industry, and is now Lecturer in Environmental structure of the teaching Technology at the University of the course? methods used? Wolverhampton Choosing the MSc in The course is run over a full 12 months You’ll be taught in many different ways - Environmental Sustainability with the main intake in September but lectures and lab classes; webinars; field and Green Technology is one of the best decisions I’ve made. It also the opportunity to join in January. trips which are valuable for practical, offers a great range of science and It comprises two semesters of taught real-life experience; discussion and social science modules enabling modules with a research project debate; group work; researching case the student to understand completed over the summer. Alternatively studies and private study. We’ll also invite environmental sustainability on you can choose to study part time over external speakers, from industry and many different levels – something two years. The interdisciplinary nature the commercial world, to come to talk to lacking in many other of the course allows you to choose your you and share their knowledge with you. environmental courses. option modules from an exciting range of Organised visits to external facilities and subjects which could include: businesses give you a chance to see how the technologies and ideas you’ve • Climate Change Science discussed in your lectures are actually put ” • Clean and Green Technologies: into practice. Peter Robinson is now teaching at Power from below and above a secondary school the earth I have studied this MSc part • Trees, Forests and Global Change time for 2 years, alongside full • Green IT employment. It has been a How is the challenge to manage the workload • International Environmental Law alongside employment, however • Economic Development and course assessed? the flexibility of tuition and Environmental Transformation lecturers’ availability has made this Modules are assessed by assignments possible. Support is available from Your dissertation project is your chance to which currently include the following: all the staff and everyone is willing pursue your own particular interests and individual or group work, poster and oral to provide further assistance. I gain experience in an area in which you presentations, reviews, reflective reports, would thoroughly recommend might want to develop your career. technical reports, media articles, business doing this course. and research proposals. Your research project is based on the submission of a 15-20,000 word report that you undertake ” in conjunction with an academic supervisor and, where appropriate, an Our external examiner wrote in industrial collaborator. his report: The course continues to provide a superb arena for teaching and learning. The university and course team provide a caring and inclusive framework. and The course continues to provide an inspirational learning environment via the Sustainability Hub. ”
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Rob Ellis, went on to a PhD Your Research in railway engineering at the University of Birmingham and is now a Research Engineer for Project Hitachi Global R&D in London Your research project is the The independent research project was the most valuable part of the time for you to focus on your MSc. I was totally undecided on own interests and to develop whether to start a PhD during my and expand your knowledge course. When I had completed my research project I was keen to in areas that will help with continue the research experience your future career. and so I felt a PhD was the best way forward into a research career. You could have the opportunity The research project was also a to collaborate with an external very good test of everything I had organisation and work with them on learned in the taught section and a real life issue, giving you valuable gave an opportunity to bring all of experience and something really those things together into one piece interesting to talk about at interview! of work. One of the most useful aspects of We encourage the students to the MSc ESGT was that it opened organise their own Masters Research opportunities in disciplines I would Conference to showcase their not have been able to go into had work and to network with potential I not taken the course. I looked employers. at PhDs in solid oxide fuel cells; ocean atmosphere contact eddy Students have written theses on covariant modelling and an EngD diverse topics from nuclear energy in future cars. In each case, it was development to community education. the strength of this Masters course that made the supervising staff interested in me. ”
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Placements and Internships Neenu Tom, Here at Keele we realise that the MSc ESGT student key to unlocking employment This is a really fantastic course potential is the nurturing of because it’s about green a three-way process during technologies. It’s the future. This is a course which can the course between you - the bring a change to the world. students - our teaching staff and employers. This ensures that employers are at the ” heart of our teaching and we listen to what they want and how they want it. You’ll have Diego Puentes-Mojica, 2015- the opportunity to develop a 6, Santander internship with Staffordshire Business and relationship with employers, Environment Network to work with them on your The experience was amazing! The dissertation project and gain that only drawback is I wish it could all-important experience. have been longer. I am a native Spanish speaker; being able to work in an English environment helped We are fortunate to have great support me to use current interpersonal at Keele to foster these links and to skills, into a new language with grow these relationships. We’re currently amazing results. I was able to linking our students with several different develop new networking skills paid internships and placements around in an unfamiliar culture, with carbon reduction, new innovation unexpected positive outcomes. development and sustainability. This is a great way to get some valuable paid work experience, enhance your CV and build your professional networks, reputation ” and confidence. Current opportunities include: Keele Research and Innovation Support Programme (KRISP) keele.ac.uk/businesssupport/ keeleresearchandinnovation supportprogramme/ Santander funded opportunities keele.ac.uk/santander/
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George Ngugi, Kenya Hui Yin Chia on the Bangor Field What’s the Course now Graduate Management Trainee: Environment and Natural If you are a tree hugger, then Resources, Kenya student you will certainly enjoy being a wind turbine hugger! I bet ‘low Overall this Masters course has experience? frequency vibration’ is written all been the best thing that has The Bangor Field Course over the lecture slides and you happened to me. I think I’m a better still have no idea how low the environmentalist, I think I’m a The Bangor field course is one of the vibration is? Don’t worry, on the better environmental advocate after highlights of the course for many students Bangor Field Course you can feel it this course. I think I’ve enhanced who see the trip as a chance to reflect, for yourself! The visit to Dinorwig my knowledge and experience far think, talk and connect with their subject Power Station which I felt was beyond undergraduate level and I and what it really means. Carefully definitely the most valuable aspect think I’ll make a better professional timed, the trip allows you the space to of the trip, gave us “real world” after this course. insight into pumped storage and put what you’ve learned into perspective hydroelectric. It was the first time I and context before you embark on had ever been underground where your independent research project over actual generating turbines operate, ” the summer. and we’d learnt so much about this during the Hydropower lecture. The Green Ball In my opinion, this fieldtrip is the Friendships made on the course are long best way to really enhance your lasting and at the end of the year the understanding on what the text students celebrate their friendships and books talk about. all they’ve achieved by organising their own social event. This can be in any format you choose but ” a black tie ball always proves popular! Teaching staff and alumni can be invited and it’s an occasion when the current cohort can network with past students and learn from their experiences.
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Valerie Obasuyi based her research project around the Hub My project was titled “An examination of recycling behaviours at Keele University” examining three areas on campus: The Sustainability Hub – The Student Union, a restaurant and the Keele Sustainability Hub. I could not mention the success of Home of the MSc Environmental my project without acknowledging the kind contributions of staff and Sustainability and Green fellow colleagues at the Hub. As an international student, the staff Technology made my project less challenging as they guided me through the ethics Situated in the historic Home Farm complex at the entrance to the of conducting research. Basing my project at the university, the Keele Sustainability Hub is more than just a building. Sustainability Hub was great and It’s a mixed-use site and is home to businesses and teaching activities. fulfilling as to me, it was a way Renewable energy sources and green technologies are integrated into of giving back to the department that helped build my career and these buildings, incorporating: increase my knowledge. I will forever remain fulfilled wherever • Solar thermal I go knowing that I made great • Solar PV contribution towards achieving • Climate control and underfloor heating sustainability at the Keele • Smart lighting and air quality systems University Sustainability Hub. • Rainwater harvesting and waterless urinals • Ground source heat from six 100m boreholes • Bio-fuel woodchip burner ” • Evaporative cooling As a student on the MSc in Environmental Sustainability and Green Technology Alistair McLaren found that the programme a lot of your teaching and research will take place at the Hub, and you’ll environment at the Sustainability have direct access to these environmental developments first hand. You can use the Hub had a massive impact on him and his studies Hub and its facilities as your base - a peaceful and inspirational place to meet and to study - during your time at Keele. The Hub changed me from an immature undergrad to a well- rounded, confident adult. I spent the majority of my time at the Hub especially during the period when the thesis was being written. The benefit of the friendly atmosphere of the Hub was that there were always individuals around to talk to regarding the thesis, personal life or just a general chat which calmed any nerves and allowed for reassurances throughout difficult periods. This allowed me to build relationships with the staff and get involved in the community outreach projects with the Hub, which are not only imperative for my CV but also for my life experiences. In hindsight I wouldn’t change any part of my Masters and the way I studied for it at the Hub - in fact I may have spent even more time there.
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Rob Hutchinson, joined Thomson Ecology as an Assistant Ecologist The MSc Environmental Sustainability and Green Technology provided flexibility to pursue my environmental interest in ecology, with expert support, teaching and direction from experienced lecturers and tutors, whilst providing the core knowledge necessary to progress into the job market with confidence and ability. ”
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What skills will I learn to help me in my career? During your studies we place a strong focus on preparing you for your chosen career. Let our graduates tell you about some of the skills they learned on the MSc Environmental Sustainability and Green Technology course.
Sarah Smith, Project Assistant, Ioan Parry, went to The University Jason Maddocks, Community Windpower Ltd of Central Lancashire as a PhD Online Content Manager, Researcher, and is now a Post- Eclipse Business Media The mix of modules provided me Doctoral Research associate in the with an opportunity to learn about Statistical analysis and extensive Energy Research group there sustainability and clean technology use of excel was a significant part of from a variety of perspectives. Skills developed during the MSc my thesis, which has carried over to It provided me with knowledge such as mixed-methods data my current role. IT literacy using of the technologies available as collection, data analysis, and word processors and picture/video well as the political and social academic writing, are skills that editing software are all required elements involved in environmental have helped me greatly in my in my current role. My report decision making. I have a greater current research-based role. writing skills are used on a monthly understanding of the complexities basis in my reports to the various involved in achieving sustainability companies we work with. and deploying green technologies. ” ” ”
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Advice from Keele MSc ESGT graduates
Ioan Parry, Post-Doctoral Research Elizabeth Clifton, Environmental associate, Energy and Society Consultant, Environmental research Group, University of Resource Centre, NC, USA Central Lancashire, Preston Choose classes in the program that My advice would be to utilise will assist you in the career you the high quality of resources may be interested in. You should and academic personnel at Keele also take advantage of the guest University so that your knowledge speakers that come during the and resultant research can be of Evelyne Sindani Mong’are, course, and use them to get an idea the highest quality. Recognise the Research Scientist, Kenya of where you would like to work resources that are available to you Wildlife Service after the course ends. The degree and make the most of them. can translate to so many choices in My advice to all students the environmental world, it helps considering this course would be: to narrow it down. Then choose a On this course the opportunity thesis topic that supports what part ” for application of knowledge is of the field you think you will work unlimited and you will be in a in. You can make contacts with position to utilize the knowledge companies as you write your thesis, in community awareness creation and this will help you during programmes including the works your job search. on environmental conservation. I believe the knowledge gained in the course of the study and training will be assets for your academic ” Oankar Birdi, Supply Chain and professional development, Officer, Renewable UK, London and hence the transfer of skills and knowledge to the community. This My one piece of advice would be to will further help in considerable try and apply the knowledge and reduction and alleviation of global experiences gained from the MSc environmental issues both in ESGT in a practical and real world your own country and the rest of environment, bearing in mind the the world. course is quite broad in terms of its Shanshan Wei, Assistant Engineer, content. Take any opportunities Suzhou Spring Environmental you can to demonstrate your Technology Co, China knowledge in a practical way, as ” this is what will open doors for you. The most valuable things I’ve Keeping up to date with the current learned in Keele are independence news stories is also a must to show and how to cooperate positively you are aware of what is going on with others. These skills also help in a particular field. me a lot now when I am doing my job. ” keele.ac.uk/gge ” MSc ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILTY AND GREEN TECHNOLOGY | 17
Investing in your future New opportunities at Keele Here at Keele University we’re developing the largest single, and development facility to reflect the energy requirements of a integrated electricity, gas and heat smart energy network small town. demonstrator in Europe. It’s the first facility in Europe for living We’re also participating in the £7m HyDeploy project, a laboratory research, development and demonstration of new collaboration to deliver blended hydrogen into the existing smart energy technologies and services in partnership with natural gas grid. The HyDeploy project will be the first UK business and industry. practical deployment of hydrogen to a live gas network since The Smart Energy Network Demonstrator (SEND) project has the transition from town gas. received £9,009,000 of funding from the England European As a student on our MSc in Environmental Sustainability Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Green Technology course you’ll be connected into these and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020. It uses exciting, cutting edge, commercial research developments. our 600-acre campus at Keele as a laboratory where new energy-efficient and low-carbon technologies are researched, developed and tested. We’re perfectly placed as a research
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Vanessa Odell, now working at The MSc Environmental Change Agents UK I chose Keele because of its location, Sustainability and Green the landscape itself is so beautiful, the woodlands, and being able to Technology team go out for walks. The MSc Environmental Sustainability and Green Technology course is taught by a team of ” professional, inspiring and enthusiastic staff. One of the strengths of the course is that it draws on the experience and research of staff from other disciplines across Hannah Gilmour, now a managing consultant at Ebsford, an the university. So your lectures are delivered by experts from the environmental consultancy schools of Geography, Geology and the Environment; Politics; Life Sciences and Law. The main difference between doing a Masters and an Undergraduate Recognising the importance of engaging first hand with degree is you really get to know practitioners also means that throughout the year a number of your lecturers and you get a lot guest speakers from industry and business will be invited to share more one-on-one time and you with you the most up-to-date knowledge and give you a real-life build up a relationship with them, perspective on the topics you’re studying. so you have a bigger support network there. As a student on the MSc Environmental Sustainability and Green Technology course you’ll find the whole team friendly, approachable and supportive. ”
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keele.ac.uk/gge School of Geography, Geology and the Environment The Sustainability Hub Keele University Keele Staffordshire ST5 5BG +44 (0)1782 733178 or +44 (0) 1782 733615 [email protected]
@KeeleGGE @KeeleMScESGT keele.ac.uk/pg-esgt
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