Two post-graduate students Aine Conaghan and Caroline Gildea who are currently pursuing MA in tourism research, were awarded a place on a training programme with the Research Institute for Managing Sustainability (RIMAS), in Vienna University of Economics and Business.
Admission to this programme is very competitive, with applicants having to provide a motivational letter and an essay on the ‘Twelve Approaches to Sustainability.’
Aine Conaghan, Ann Higgins ( Head of Dept. ) and Caroline Gildea
Due to their continued success on this on-line training programme, they were subsequently accepted on to a more intensive eco training programme at Lund University in Sweden. The week long intensive course starting on Arpil 14th, provides an excellent opportunity to participate in group work, evaluate relevant academic case studies and network with some of the leading academics in the field of sustainability and evaluation.
It will provide the two post-graduate students with an opportunity to update their applied skills in developing sustainable tourism business.
It will also allow them to engage in more detailed analysis, publish abstracts and hopefully, present at future conferences.
Both students are the first ever Irish participants on this programme and have been successful in gaining EU funding to cover all participation costs.
Aine’s research topic is ‘Global conformity of indicators for eco-certification programmes‘
Caroline’s research topic is ‘The development of a generic sustainable greenprint for tourism attractions in Ireland‘.
Eco- Tourism Lecturer and Supervisor James Hanrahan highlights how invaluable this opportunity is: ‘ It allows these students to exchange ideas and work on local solutions to global issues with other European from all sectors of the industry from policy to planning.’