Hi, I am Mahnoor Mansoor, a second year, BSc Financial Economics student at the University of Westminster. Recently I took part in an incredible six-day Sustainable Global Experience (SGE) programme in Amsterdam organised by Pagoda Projects, supported by the University. In this blog I will be sharing what we got up to, giving you an insight into how partaking in these types of programmes can add to your university experience beyond the classroom.
Carbon Literacy Training
The week leading up to our SGE, we completed two sessions of Carbon Literacy Training delivered by Carbon Literacy Facilitators at Pagoda Projects, including Vicki Offland who led our Amsterdam trip. As well as understanding the science behind climate change, these interactive sessions included Slido quizzes and breakout rooms to explore different ideas around sustainability. It was interesting to hear an idea of introducing Meat Free Mondays at University to reduce the University’s carbon footprint. Following the two sessions, we submitted an individual and group pledge on how we can reduce our carbon footprint and overall carbon emissions. As a meat lover, I pledged to reduce my red meat consumption and switch to lower emission alternatives like chicken or tofu.
The key takeaway from the training was that we all have a role to play in reducing carbon emissions and it is not just the responsibility of governments. Whether you are studying economics, psychology, or marketing – being aware of climate change is essential.
This gave us the foundation we needed to engage with the organisations we would later meet in Amsterdam.
A Week of Learning: SGE Highlights
Our week was packed with engaging activities and eye-opening experiences. From sustainable living to innovative business ideas here was our itinerary for the week:
On Monday, we kicked things off with a scavenger hunt, discovering iconic places around Amsterdam including seeing the Royal Palace and buying souvenirs from the flower markets. This was followed by a welcome dinner at Robinfood – a sustainable restaurant. They describe themselves as ‘a social and activist kitchen’ with a mission to provide affordable, healthy plant-based meals. It is a community space, driven by volunteer chefs who create a new menu every day based on the ingredients they have available – so they do not go to waste. It was intriguing to see a different approach on reducing food waste and how they keep sustainability at their core!
Tuesday was all about urban sustainability. We visited De Ceuvel, a creative and eco – conscious community built on a former shipyard, repurposing the derelict industrial area. They are doing an amazing job at removing pollutants from the ground by using plants that are absorbing these toxins. De Ceuvel is a notable example of how we can repurpose brownfields, turning them into an area that is valuable for the people of Amsterdam. This project promotes jobs, creativity and urban regeneration that benefits the wider community.
Later in the day, we took part in a sustainability walking tour of Amsterdam, learning how the city is adapting its infrastructure, transport systems, and energy usage to align with climate targets.
On Wednesday we met the co-founder of Boldwill – a Dutch sustainable sportswear company. This was a fantastic opportunity to gain experience about the effects the fashion industry has on the environment and how we can make better choices to reduce our own carbon footprint. The increase in fast fashion results in approximately 92 million tonnes of textile waste a year, globally. To put that into perspective that is twice the weight of the Great Wall of China! To reduce waste, we can do our part by reusing, reducing, and recycling our clothing.
We later participated in a climate simulation workshop, where we roleplayed as governments, NGOs and businesses to reach international climate targets. We each decided on an action that we think would reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions using a climate solutions simulator. Once all the actions were put in place, we used the simulator to see what effect this had on greenhouse gas emissions. During this process, we managed to decrease the temperature from 3.3 Celsius to 2 degrees Celsius by the year 2100.
On Thursday, our group presented a SWOT analysis of Microsoft, analysing the company’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. This allowed us to create recommendations for Microsoft on how they can achieve their sustainability goals. We evaluated their sustainability strategies and alignment with the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Microsoft’s main target goals are to have clean energy, responsible consumption and to show climate action. We analysed how ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) commitments influence corporate reputation, investor behaviour, and long-term profitability.
We wrapped up the programme on Friday with a relaxing canal tour, a great chance to see the city for the final time. Returning via Eurostar, a low emission alternative to flying, was the perfect way to end out sustainability focused week
Participating in this programme was the most enriching experiences I have had during my time at the University of Westminster so far. This was my second time going on a field trip with the university – the first time was a trip to Scotland, so closer to home! Travelling in an unfamiliar environment surrounded by both familiar and fresh faces gave me a chance to develop teamwork skills, cultural awareness and adaptability as well as networking with the people I meet along the way. As someone who never really thought much about sustainability before, apart from recycling and switching off lights, I found myself naturally looking for ways we can become more sustainable by the end of the trip.
Looking forward to more trips in the future, whether it is a Westminster Working Culture trip or an external one like the SGE was.
About Westminster
As one of the most diverse universities in the UK, we are a global university with London energy, with more than 19,000 students from 169 countries. To find out more about our Financial Economics course and Sustainable Business Management courses, visit our website.
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