Overall Rating Gold
Overall Score 76.52
Liaison Maria Kirrane
Submission Date July 28, 2022

STARS v2.2

University College Cork - National University of Ireland, Cork
AC-5: Immersive Experience

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Maria Kirrane
Sustainability Officer
Office of the Director of Buildings and Estates
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution offer at least one immersive, sustainability-focused educational study program that is one week or more in length?:
Yes

A brief description of the sustainability-focused immersive program(s) offered by the institution:

IFiT Project
The IFiT (Innovative Field Trips) Project partnership brings together academic and non-academic partners to launch a new, exciting standard of field-based learning by drawing from and connecting multiple disciplines, incorporating new and essential technologies and fostering cross-border cooperation. The programme is a partnership between partnership between the University of Lisbon (Portugal), University of Osnabruck (Germany), CERES and University College Cork. The residential field courses will improve the quality of student learning in higher education to better prepare students for professional practice. The aim of this project is to develop innovative multidisciplinary field courses with a special emphasis on peer and shared learning. As part of this project, you have the opportunity to take part in an international interdisciplinary field course (with geologists, geographers, zoologists, ecologists, botanists and environmental science students from at least three different EU countries). Undergraduate and postraguate students can join field courses that facilitate interdisciplinary, international teams of students working together to research and gain insights into real world environmental/socio-ecological challenges in preparation for professional practice. Assessment design will encourage students to build integrative thinking and learning skills. The programme is available as a credit bearing course or as a Digital Badge microcredential.
https://ifit.ucc.ie/

EV6004 - Water Quality Monitoring in the Field:
The UNEP GEMS/Water Capacity Development Centre at UCC was founded in 2015 to promote and support for water quality monitoring and assessment on behalf of the United Nations Environment Programme and in co-operation with UN Water. The centre primarily focuses on global capacity development and training for SDG 6, Indicator 6.3.2. The centre provides International capacity development and training workshops for SDG 6.3.2 as well as a variety of CPD, Postgraduate Diploma and MSc Programmes, with an emphasis on capacity development in the Global South. One such course provided annually by GEMS/Water CDC is a weeklong residential field course: EV6004 Water Quality Monitoring in the Field. Over the course of the week students complete a series of practical exercises in rivers, lakes and groundwaters, covering monitoring site selection, sample collection, field-based measurements, field quality assurance, risk assessments and logistics. Water sampling for chemical and biological analysis is undertaken, and data are analysed and presented. Alongside spending time in the laboratory and the field, the students have the opportunity to interact and learn from their peers UCC staff and the Environmental Protection Agency of Ireland.
https://www.ucc.ie/en/gemscdc/pgdipfieldcourse/n

AE4012 – Landscape Conservation and Management:
The module runs annually and is delivered by the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences at UCC. The course is characterised by a high level of field work conducted during a 5 day residential fieldcourse in the heritage region of the Burren, Co. Clare, Ireland, preceded by College-based introductory lectures on the ethics and socio-economics of conservation. Environmental Impact Assessment procedures are outlined. Characterisation and mapping of land use, water, soils, archaeology and biotic assemblages is conducted while landscape evaluation, conservation and management strategies are discussed. Mapping exercises on past and present land use are undertaken while the influence of farming practice on the landscape are also discussed. Sustainable use of the natural environment and habitat fragmentation and its associated conservation problems are explained. Identification of conflict between conservation objectives and land uses, conflict management, stake holder participation and protected area zoning and recreation are a core concepts covered. Formulation of resolution strategies and overall management plan for the Burren are incorporated into assessment.


Website URL where information about the institution’s immersive education programs is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

In UCC the term 'Module' is synonymous with a credit bearing course.

Please see the UCC Book of modules ( https://www.ucc.ie/modules/ ) and select the module code from the drop down menu for a detailed description of credit bearing courses.


In UCC the term 'Module' is synonymous with a credit bearing course.

Please see the UCC Book of modules ( https://www.ucc.ie/modules/ ) and select the module code from the drop down menu for a detailed description of credit bearing courses.

The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.