Skills for the future: Community and Sustainability
Expanding your leadership skills and developing a greater understanding of key social issues is becoming increasingly important as we look to create a more sustainable future. We want to create an environment where students can learn about sustainability and community challenges, but more importantly do something about it.
There are lots of ways you can get involved at Coventry University whatever your interests, goals or passions. Whether you want to get more involved in community engagement, or launch your own sustainable social enterprise, there are plenty of opportunities for you to make it happen.
Explore key social challenges
Sustainability and social responsibility is threaded throughout the curriculum and beyond, ensuring students have lots of opportunities to learn about the world around them. We host regular speaker sessions with alumni, leading professionals and researchers to boost your skills and ignite your passion.
Embrace your inner entrepreneur
Enterprise is embedded across the university and we have our own social enterprise spin-out dedicated to helping students bring an idea to life and understand social issues within local and international communities.
Sign up to the Launch Programme, which hosts regular events tackling social issues such as food poverty, knife crime and sustainable business, or join Enactus, a student society working on innovative solutions to address the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Volunteer in the community
Volunteering provides transformative learning experiences and helps you to feel a sense of belonging on and off campus. It also boosts connection as well as develops skills for your future studies and employment.
- Check out our city-centre FabLab and talk to the team about how you could get involved with their community training or upcycling activities.
- Become a Student Warden and focus on local issues such as community relations, housing, safety and sustainability matters
- Commit to a year of change through a one year voluntary service placement, by tackling education inequalities in local schools with our CSR Partner, City Year UK.
Our Students’ Union works with over 150 organisations to connect students to volunteering opportunities to suit your interests and goals. Opportunities range from a one-off activity as part of a Make a Difference Day, through to more structured roles in a local charity.
Become a sustainability guru
Sustainability is not just about greening the campus, it’s about developing new ways of thinking, learning, working and living to shape a better future for people and planet.
Our Sustainability team work with staff, students and the community to embed sustainable thinking and create opportunities for you to make a real change in whatever way suits you. Take part in regular campaigns like Green Week, become a Sustainability Champion, or work with our FabLab Eco-Furniture Factory to develop your upcycling skills and knowledge of the circular economy.
Keep up-to-date with our Sustainability team by following them on social media and be the first to know about new initiatives and how to get involved.
Student Stories
Since I first started my degree at Coventry University, I knew that I had to utilise my time proactively whilst I have a plethora of student opportunities around me, to not only develop my skills but also increase my networks and open more doors once I graduate. I am now in my final year and can honestly say these opportunities have enabled me to go above and beyond
Adam Khan, BA History and Politics Student.
Stay Connected
Coventry University and Your Students' Union's social media platforms also offer up-to-date information on programmes, events and opportunities. Be sure to connect with Your SU's Instagram @covunistudents and check their website regularly as well: yoursu.org
You can also contact the Corporate Social Responsibility team directly if you have any questions or ideas.
