Master’s students #LeadingTheWay in sustainability
A team of Management School master’s students are paving the way for a sustainable future, reaching the final round of the Association for Project Management (APM) Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire Project Management Challenge.
Sagar Datrange, Aditi Gaikwad, Rakhi Hiremath, and Shubham Kadam from the School’s APM-accredited MSc Project Management course, identified the challenge an opportunity to help make a positive societal change alongside their studies.
With the support of their Director of Studies for their course, Dr Jennifer Davies, the team worked with Dr Fotios Misopoulos, Director of Education (Operations and Supply Chain Management); Dr Jo Meehan, Professor of Responsible Procurement (Operations and Supply Chain Management), from the Management School; and Dr Rhiannon Hunt and Samuel Hay from the University's Sustainability team who sponsored their involvement in a student-related project.
Currently, the team is fully-immersed in managing a project dedicated to Student Waste Prevention, closely aligned with the goals of the Leave Liverpool Tidy initiative. Taking on the role of project managers, the students are coordinating efforts with stakeholders from various University departments. Their project activities include organising waste management workshops in the Guild of Students, social media campaigns, food waste management and litter clean-ups at Crown Street Park.
Their goal from undertaking this project is to drive tangible change in waste reduction and environmental sustainability within the University community. On behalf of the team Rakhi Hiremath said of their motivation to take part: “Ultimately, we envision this experience as a stepping stone towards our career aspirations, providing us with the necessary skills and experiences to excel in the corporate world while making meaningful contributions to societal and environmental wellbeing.”
The team has been successful in reaching the final of the Challenge and will compete against four other teams to present their project to the APM panel on 13 June 2024. Dr Jennifer Davies expressed delight at the team’s accomplishments: “I am immensely proud of our students’ initiative and dedication. Their progress to the final exemplifies the practical applications of their studies to real-world problems. This initiative not only reflects their commitment to sustainability at the University of Liverpool but also enhances their skills and employability, preparing them to be future project leaders. I look forward to seeing them present their work to APM Project Professionals on finals night.”
Through hands-on experiences like these, our students can gain essential practical applications of the theoretical knowledge they learn from their lecturers. Moreover, the chance to receive feedback from APM professionals serves as a catalyst for growth in skills and enhancement of overall job market competitiveness.
This challenge is only one example of the opportunities University of Liverpool students are exposed to alongside their studies that enhance their employability and contribute to future career success.
Find out more about the MSc Project Management course, accredited by the APM, or learn how our students are #LeadingTheWay alongside their studies.