On Saturday, October 14, 2023, a group of students from the Global Leadership for Sustainable Development programme embarked on an educational journey to Cloughjordan Eco Village. This visit, organised as part of their curriculum, aimed to provide students with practical insights into sustainable living practices.
Departing from UL in the early hours of the morning, the students eagerly anticipated their arrival at Cloughjordan Eco Village. Upon reaching their destination, they were greeted warmly and immediately immersed in a guided tour of the village.
Led by knowledgeable guides, the students explored various aspects of sustainable living. They learned about eco-friendly building methods, such as cob structures and hemp-lime buildings, which stood as tangible examples of the village's commitment to environmental consciousness.
Throughout the tour, students engaged in discussions with community members, gaining firsthand perspectives on the challenges and successes of sustainable living initiatives. Topics ranged from reducing ecological footprints to promoting biodiversity conservation, sparking thought-provoking conversations among the group.
As the day drew to a close, students reflected on their experiences at Cloughjordan Eco Village. Inspired by what they had learned, many expressed a desire to incorporate sustainable practices into their own lives and communities. The visit served as a reminder of the importance of collective action in addressing environmental challenges.
Global Leadership for Sustainable Development (GLSD) is a seven-week extracurricular programme designed by the UL Centre for Sustainable Futures and Innovation in collaboration with UL Global. This programme brings study abroad, Erasmus, and full degree students from across the world together, to actively learn about systemic approaches and challenges to sustainability across the economy, environment, and society. Students hear from expert guest speakers both on-campus and through site visits, engage in debates and discussions on contemporary sustainability issues, and work in interdisciplinary teams to co-create student-led sustainability projects to be implemented on campus. To find out more, please visit this link, or contact the programme coordinator jack.oconnor@ul.ie.