Second year undergraduate students from Manchester Metropolitan’s Product Design and Technology BSc and Design Engineering BSc courses took part in the special training, which was embedded into their overall teaching.
CarbonLiteracy is an awareness of climate change and knowledge of the ‘green’ actionswe can take to keep the planet healthy – and the next generation of engineerswill play a significant part in determining the future of the environment.
The training was delivered by the Carbon Literacy Project, based at the University’s Innospace business hub.
The project is globally unique and no other engineering students on the planet have been previously certified as Carbon Literate.
Carbon Literacy has been embedded in a range of courses in different faculties at Manchester Metropolitan, including Science and Engineering (Environmental Science, Environmental Design), Health, Psychology and Social Care (Nutrition), Arts and Humanities (Sociology) and Business and Law (Responsible Enterprise).
Carbon Literacy training
The Product Design and Technology BSc and Design Engineering BSc students were introduced to the impacts of their carbon footprints, and discussed the ways in which they as individuals – and as a group of future engineers – can minimise that impact.
In three workshops, each lasting three hours, the students explored the wider issues around climate change, and devised ways in which they might use their training and expertise to halt it.
For example, they developed a concept design for a sustainable,green product that could be used after a natural disaster, and they came upwith ideas on how engineers can lessen the environmental impact of the rescueoperation.
The students will graduate from their Carbon Literacy training at a ceremony in January 2019.
Sarah Scholes-Lawrence is studying Product Design and Technology, and took part in the training. She said:
“I found the training to be interesting and eye-opening, showing different parts of the environmental crisis that potentially I hadn’t considered, and offering solutions of how I can reduce my carbon footprint.
“This course has equipped me with the knowledge and insight about the environment that I can directly apply to my future career, helping me to be at the forefront of environmental innovation.”
Haydn Insley, Pathway Leader for Design Engineering at Manchester Metropolitan University’s School of Engineering, said:
“Manchester Metropolitan’s School of Engineering is passionate about developing the engineers and designers of the future, who can respond to the grand engineering challenges of an ever-changing world.
“We believe we must lead and inspire future generations in developing new products which provide for a sustainable planet and a positive future for mankind. We’re very happy to be the first in the world to embed this course within our teaching, and would hope more institutions will follow our lead.
“All major engineering employers take climate change seriously,so equipping our students with a unique educational asset such as Carbon Literacywill leave them with an advantage in the world of work.
UK’s Greenest University
This global milestone is just one of many examples of why Manchester Metropolitan is a recognised leader in sustainability.
Manchester Metropolitan is currently the UK’s greenest university, according to the People and Planet University League 2017 – the only comprehensive and independent league table that ranks Universities on their environmental and ethical performance.
In November 2018, the university won a Green Gown Award for the ‘Total Reporting’ of its overall sustainability activity.
This year, the university was also one of only a handful in the UK to receive re-accreditation from the National Union of Students (NUS) in their Responsible Futures programme.
Read about more about Manchester Metropolitan’s commitment to the environment here.
Jane Mork leads on Carbon Literacy within the Sustainability team at Manchester Metropolitan, and is the world’s first Carbon Literacy employee. She said:
“This pioneering Carbon Literacy training within Engineering degree courses will instil a sense of environmental and social responsibility in tomorrow’s engineers.
“Manchester Metropolitan is ensuring that graduates from the UK’s greenest university carry that feeling of responsibility and green thinking into the world of industry.”
Carbon Literacy is an essential programme for delivering aspects of the University’s Environmental Sustainability Strategy, equipping our students with sustainability knowledge and skills for the future.
Manchester Metropolitan University is at the centre of the fourth industrial revolution – Industry 4.0. We are committed to driving the digital transformation of industry.
We do this through conducting cutting-edge research into making industry smarter, more connected and sustainable; sharing world-leading expertise and emerging technologies with small and medium-sized businesses; and training tomorrow’s industrial innovators in the digital skills that will propel the future of manufacturing.
