I chose Keele University to study my Geography degree and this opened many doors and windows of opportunity.
In 2019, I was appointed as a Sustainability Intern hoping to learn new skills and apply knowledge learnt through my Geography degree and became Senior Sustainability Intern in 2020, supporting two new interns. Through the role I embraced opportunities to deepen my knowledge about embedding sustainability and engaging students; running Green:Keele social media and launching the GreenKeele Instagram account, to helping organise the Keele Schools Climate Summit which welcomed 40 students to attend workshops on climate action; Keele Green Festival which included around 30 events and stalls in 2019 and planned to host around 40 events in 2020 before covid-19. I have contributed to hidden curriculum projects like the Eat, Rinse, Repeat reusable food container service, the Great Donate Halls move out scheme, Student Eats gardening, reporting for the Weigh to Go zero waste shop. The collaborative approach of the Education for Sustainability team led to a Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence in 2020. Through my role I‘ve developed knowledge of how to apply EfS through degrees, societies and informal curriculum opportunities for students, and for subliminal curriculum campaigns and activities. I apply this knowledge beyond my role at Keele to advocate embedding sustainability in the community and to support others to share their voices on sustainability issues and action.
I was employed as a Project Assistant on the E:Mission Teaching Innovation Project run by the ESD team in recognition of my commitment to sustainability and interest in board games for education. The project created an online game to engage students with carbon emissions and sustainability challenges. I researched carbon emissions data, reports and challenges to feed into the game narrative.
Bringing together connections I made through my internship and Wildlife Society, I saw an opportunity to engage students, the SU, Grounds team and residents living on campus with the Hedgehog Friendly Campus programme run by the Hedgehog Preservation Society. Through building connections, raising awareness, working groups and training sessions, we achieved Bronze accreditation (2019/20) and Silver accreditation (2020/21) and Bronze re-accreditation.
Recognising the importance of student engagement with the curriculum, I became a Student Voice Rep throughout my degree and Lead Student Voice Rep for Geography, Geology and the Environment in 2019/20. I became a Sustainability Voice Rep, training in Education for Sustainability and encouraging sustainability at Staff Learning and Teaching committees. Throughout meetings I encouraged mapping degrees to the SDGs, and ways to incorporate sustainability into all GGE degree programmes.
Dr Anne Loweth, Pro Vice Chancellor for Students: “Alana has demonstrated her commitment, expertise, and leadership in driving Keele’s sustainability agenda through her substantial and effective contributions in several capacities. She has encouraged student participation in a wide range of activities, and has influenced University decision-making through her contributions to the University’s educational development and through our student consultative panel.”