Undergraduate Sustainability Student Placement Scheme - information for students

What is this placement all about?

Enjoy a five-week placement, playing your part in helping develop a sustainable future for the Isle of Man. Whatever degree subject your are studying, you'll undertake work placements to develop skills in consultancy, research, communication, enterprise, team work, facilitation, etc. Having an understanding of sustainable business practices is  critically important in all sectors.

During your placement you'll be helping the organisation with their sustainability goals, bringing fresh ideas and impetus. 

Benefits of getting involved

  • Build your skill set
  • Gain ‘real work’ experience and build confidence.
  • Make valuable connections with industry and potential future employers. 

How to get involved

Placements would usually commence on Monday 24th April 2023 for five weeks.

To register your interest email Gail Corrin, UCM Higher Education Manager - gail.corrin@ucm.ac.im as soon as possible so we can allocate the placement most suited to your learning and future career aspirations. 

What other students say

This scheme has been running for a number of years and students who get involved really do benefit. Here's what they have to say:

As a final-year student, I am very excited about what lies ahead! It was a pleasure to work with the Villa Gaiety. In choosing to be part of the Villa Gaiety team for 5 weeks, I was attracted to their belief in making a difference, which was aligned with mine. For me, working for an organization that implements change and sustainability in its operations is admirable and important, and that was one of the big reasons I chose to work for Villa Gaiety. Working there taught me independence in terms of my work, I appreciated the friendly work environment, and I gained a deeper understanding of teamwork. Moreover, I gained some leadership and time management skills since I had to produce a report and a solution for Villa Gaiety in order to make a change. As a result of this experience, I have gained more confidence about my future endeavours in business, became more analytical, and produced reports in a more professional manner rather than an academic one. The Villa Gaiety has been an excellent experience, and I have developed skills that will positively influence my employability once I am finished with my degree.

Angelina Dimitriou - Business Management Degree

My placement was as a Sustainability Officer for the Kensington Arts Centre, which is a Biosphere partner. It was required to investigate where the Centre was at the start of my placement in terms of sustainability and find what could be improved upon to make the Centre more sustainable in the future. At the end of my placement, I created a sustainability report for the Centre which provided facts, information and recommendations for future sustainability improvements. I honed my research skills, interacted with different people and businesses to collect information, and problem solved. The Centre allowed me to work from home and had twice weekly checks with a supervisor, giving me a sense of autonomy allowing me to manage myself and my time on my own. I feel sustainability is an important initiative necessary for all businesses, households and governments. My interest in sustainability was reciprocated in Kensington Arts, and this allowed me to flourish and learn more about business sustainability in a professional environment and the challenges businesses may face when moving to become more sustainable. I learned valuable skills that would help me within my course while having a great and memorable experience.

Lorien Russouw -  Business Management degree