RCE Severn-2012

rce_proj_title
Submitted by RCEdaniella on Fri, 2012-08-10 00:00
1. General Information
Contact Name(s): 
Ingrid Mulà
Daniella Tilbury
Organizational Affiliation : 
University of Gloucestershire
Role in the project: 
Coordinator
Director
E-Mail Address(es): 
ingridmula@glos.ac.uk
dtilbury@glos.ac.uk
Project-relevant information: 
Degreeplus:
http://insight.glos.ac.uk/departments/ss/degplus/Pages/default.aspx

EGGS: http://insight.glos.ac.uk/departments/employability/careers/students/Pages/EmployableGloucestershireGraduate.aspx

Work-Based Learning for Sustainability Report: http://insight.glos.ac.uk/sustainability/partnerships/rce/Pages/RCESevernundertakesresearchonWork-BasedLearningforSustainability.aspx
2. Project Information
1. Project title: 
Work-Based Learning and Volunteering for Sustainability
2. Project Description: 
"Degreeplus" and "EGGS" are two UoG institutional initiatives which seek to support the long term employability of graduates through providing short, focused internships as well as volunteering opportunities in leading organisations in the region.

The RCE Severn ensures that University students have opportunities to develop sustainability skills through undertaking sustainability-focused internships and volunteering opportunities with our RCE Severn partner organisations.
3. Project Status: 
Ongoing
4. Key Words
Other: 
Work-based learning for sustainability, sustainability internships,employability, sustainability skills, student experience
5. Project categories
Project categories: 
Education
Influencing policy processes
Networking and partnership development
6. Expected outcomes:: 
Influence university structures and strategies regarding the student experience in the area of sustainability.

Extend learning for sustainability experiences in the curriculum.

Create opportunities for students to develop professional capabilities in the area of sustainability.

Enhance collaboration and engagement of RCE partners as well as to initiate dialogues on sustainability skills and competences.
7. Duration of the Project:: 
September 2011 - Ongoing
3. Project Leadership & Vision
8. Project coordination (e.g. teams): 
Degreeplus and EGGS Teams at the University of Gloucestershire coordinate the internship programmes and volunteering opportunities.

RCE Severn creates partnerships with RCE members who are interested in becoming host organisations and provide sustainability internships and volunteering opportunities to students. The RCE Severn works together with RCE partners to ensure that students will gain the appropriate sustainability skills during the internship. The RCE Severn is also responsible for the organisation of workshops for students and internship providers interested in sustainability as well as develop materials on sustainability work-based learning (eg., Work-Based Learning for Sustainability Report).

RCE Severn partners are the hosts organisations and internship providers. Each host organisation nominates a supervisor who provides guidance and training to the student during the internship programme.
9. Leadership structure
a. Administration: 
3
b. Transactional: 
4
c. Transformational: 
3
4. Project results
10. Project results : 
Degreeplus and EGGS have started to promote internships and volunteering opportunities in the area of sustainability. This means that opportunities currently exist for students who wish to develop professional capabilities in the area of sustainability.

The internship programme has also contributed to enhance collaboration and engagement of RCE partners.
11. Contribution to reforms and innovations: 
The RCE Severn has contributed to influence university structures and programmes reagarding the student experience in the area of sustainability. As previously mentioned, students have now opportunities to develop professional capabilities in the area of sustainability.
12. Unexpected / unplanned results: 
The internship programme has been exceptionally well received by RCE partners who see the value of hosting a student and engage more meaningfully in RCE activities.
13.Core Partners: 
Degreeplus and EGGS Teams at the University of Gloucestershire. RCE Severn partners. There are currently three RCE Seven partners involved in this initiative: Gloucestershire County Coucil, Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust and InterClimate Network. We are planning to involve more partners in the next academic year.
5. Partnership and networking
14. Project Network
a. Information network: 
3
b. Knowledge network: 
5
c. Innovation network: 
2
6. Participation
15. Type of involvement: 
The project is currently at an initial pilot phase. In September, we are planning to engage more partners in becoming host organisations and creating sustainability interships for students.
16. Participation opportunities
a. Informational participation: 
4
b. Consultation participation: 
3
c. Decision influencing participation : 
3
7. Education & Learning
17. Educational activities: 
The internship programme is it in its initial phases. During the academic year 2011/12, it was piloted internally at the University. Only a few external organisations, including three RCE partners, have recently proposed internship projects. In the next academic year, we are planning to organise learning workshops and forums for University staff, students and internship providers to reflect on work-focused learning and skills in the area of sustainability. We are also currently working on developing materials, eg. leaflets and website content, for University staff, students and host organisations.
18. Learning activities: 
In the next academic year, we are planning to create learning platforms and forums to discuss and reflect on the student experience in the area of sustainability. We are planning to involve University staff, students and RCE partners.
19. Educational activities
a. Theory: 
4
b. Discussion: 
2
c. Interactive and Multidimensional "action oriented education": 
4
Type: 
Project Reports
Region: 
Europe
Community: 
SCP,Livelihood and Well-being
Issue: 
Sustainable Consumption and Production
Country: 
United Kingdom