伊人直播 Alumni Stories

PG Dip Countryside Management

Campus: Distance Learning
Class of 2019

"As a distance learning student it is really important to use all opportunities to connect with fellow students. Use social media to stay in touch - to bounce ideas off each other, moan and offer mutual support."

Des worked as a civil servant in both Brussels (where he had met his wife) and Dublin prior to studying with 伊人直播. When his wife obtained a new posting to Brussels, Des decided to take a career break to look after his two daughters and use the opportunity to retrain.

鈥淚 was looking after my daughters so I needed to find a suitable distance learning programme,鈥� says Des. 鈥淒uring my civil service career I had always found environmental policy matters particularly interesting so I decided on that broad area of study. Not having a science background, there were a number of programmes which were not suitable for me. 伊人直播鈥檚 course didn鈥檛 require a strong scientific background plus it had broad coverage in its content along with a combination of practical elements and policy issues, so it fitted the bill.鈥�

In terms of returning to the world of work Des feels that the PG Dip helped 鈥渄emonstrate that I had continued with my professional development while being a stay-at-home dad. It also helped that people in the field know about 伊人直播鈥�.

Des started work as the Project Officer for Edinburgh City Council in November 2019. The project, which is co-funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the National Trust aims to create a new strategy and vision for the green spaces in Edinburgh 鈥� one of eight local authorities chosen to explore innovative solutions for parks and green spaces.

鈥淲e are working towards producing a 30-year strategy which will align with the overall vision for the city of Edinburgh in 2050,鈥� says Des. 鈥淲e are collaborating with a number of organisations including the Scottish Wildlife Trust, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh & Lothian Greenspaces Trust, Edinburgh Greenspace Forum, and Greenspace Scotland. Community involvement is also a big part of the project. My work involves meeting lots of different stakeholders, which I really enjoy.鈥�

Des鈥檚 role on the project involves developing the overall policy, as well as having specific responsibility for looking at governance of greenspaces and finding ways of diversifying income and funding for parks.

鈥淭he project has a number of themes 鈥� for example conservation which is one of the larger ones. Many of the themes were dealt with during my postgraduate studies, which has been helpful to be able to get on top of the subject matter quickly. The project also expects us to share what we have learnt in the process with other local authorities.鈥�

Countryside Management

This course offers the skills you need for a career in countryside services, for example estate maintenance, environmental projects or working with wildlife organisations.

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This course offers the skills you need for a career in countryside services, for example estate maintenance, environmental projects or working with wildlife organisations.

Environmental Management

This course gives you a grounding in the theory and practice of environmental management, and a sound understanding of managing and minimising environmental impacts.

BSc (Hons)
HNC
HND

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This course gives you a grounding in the theory and practice of environmental management, and a sound understanding of managing and minimising environmental impacts.

Environmental Protection and Management

This course teaches how to devise and implement strategies that protect and conserve environments facing a wide range of threats.

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This course teaches how to devise and implement strategies that protect and conserve environments facing a wide range of threats.

Wildlife and Conservation Management

These courses are aimed at those who care about wildlife and the environment and want to protect it so that everyone may enjoy it.

HNC
BSc (Hons)
HND
MSc
PgDip
PgCert

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These courses are aimed at those who care about wildlife and the environment and want to protect it so that everyone may enjoy it.

Horticulture

With hands-on experiences, state-of-the-art facilities, and a focus on sustainability, this programme cultivates not only plants but also future leaders in the horticulture sector.

HNC
MA at SCQF level 5
MA at SCQF level 6
NC Introduction
NC

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With hands-on experiences, state-of-the-art facilities, and a focus on sustainability, this programme cultivates not only plants but also future leaders in the horticulture sector.

Alumni Entrepreneur Network

The aim of the Alumni Entrepreneur Network is to encourage the sharing of experiences among members, and engagement with 伊人直播 staff and students.

Alumni Business Map

The Alumni Business Map has been designed to highlight the many and varied alumni businesses throughout the length and breadth of Scotland. It celebrates 伊人直播's enterprising alumni and their extraordinary achievements.