Almost 50 masters students from the University of Plymouth’s School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences have marked the successful completion of professional placements.
The students, all registered on either the MSc Environmental Consultancy or MSc Sustainable Environmental Management, presented posters detailing their experiences during an event attended by students, staff and local businesses and authorities.
The eight-week placements aim to provide students with practical experience to complement the knowledge they have acquired during their programmes.
Among the companies the students worked with this year, and who attended the celebration event, were environmental consultancies Arcadis, Atkins, Royal Haskoning DHV, Aecom, Gobe, Devon Wildlife Consultants, Pell Frischmann, WSP and Land Use Consultants. They were joined by local organisations including SUEZ, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Plymouth City Council, Totnes Renewable and Energy Society and Looe Marine Conservation Society.
As well as providing the students with workplace experience, some of the placements have also resulted in job offers. Sophie Harris has secured a graduate position at WSP in Basingstoke, Jess Playle is going to work at Aecom, Lorelei Smith at Royal Haskoning DHV, Beth Elliot at Black and Veatch, Sarah Curtin at IFCA, and Isabelle King with Land Use Consultants.
Other students undertook placements closer to home, with Kwan Lee working at the University with a view to taking his knowledge of best practice in waste management back to his native Hong Kong. He undertook a pilot study of plastics usage on campus and the feasibility of working towards a plastic free campus.
