Students on the internationally respected postgraduate Sustainable Rural Development Programme are set to benefit from a donation of £1200 towards their fieldwork costs following a recent conference on sustainable development in the oil and gas industry.
The University of Aberdeen Sustainable Rural Development Programme is one of the UK's leading inter-disciplinary postgraduate qualifications in rural development and management. The programme aims to develop a critical appreciation of the concept of sustainable development in the rural environment and an understanding of related social science theories. A large part of the course involves students taking part in fieldwork outside Aberdeen. Former students now work on the practical application of sustainable development in senior positions in the UK (including the Head of Sustainable Development Policies, UK Department for International Development) and in several developing countries.
Following the success of last year's annual conference on sustainable development in the oil and gas industry, organisers have decided to donate proceeds to causes likely to be of wider benefit in the promotion of sustainable development generally. Professor Jan Bebbington, one of the Conference Organisers will make the donation of £1200 today (Friday May 9) to a group of current students at an event at King's College. Professor Bebbington said: "On behalf of the conference organising committee, I am delighted that students at the University of Aberdeen will benefit from our donation. As we seek to move into a future where sustainable development principles will be familiar to everyone, education for sustainable development is crucially important. I believe that the students benefiting from this donation will be at the forefront of the future transition to sustainable development."
The University of Aberdeen is the ideal place to study for an environmentally-related degree. In addition to offering one of the widest portfolios of environmentally focused degrees in the UK, the Aberdeen area has probably the highest density of environmental research scientists in Britain. The University has also developed very strong research and educational links with a wide range of research Institutes in and around Aberdeen dealing with environmental issues.
The University of Aberdeen appreciates the need to manage itself so as to avoid unnecessary pressure on natural and human resources. As a consequence, the university is adopting a broad range of initiatives such as introducing green transport initiatives - involving promoting cycle use and public transport and reducing car use; purchasing renewable energy and developing plans to promote biodiversity on campus.