The University of Queensland’s first graduate from the Bachelor of Business (Sustainable Enterprise Management), Adrian Ward, is paving the path to a sustainable future.
The study program began this year, developed by UQ’s Paul Dargusch in collaboration with more than 23 industry representatives, with the objective of producing graduates that could implement processes to operate with environmental and social responsibility.
Mr Ward will join 120 other graduates from the Faculty of Natural Resources, Agriculture and Veterinary Science to receive their degrees at a graduation ceremony at UQ Gatton at 11am today.
Mr Ward said it was an easy decision to major in sustainable enterprise management when the opportunity was presented to him, given his passion for the environment and his desire to make a difference in the corporate world.
"The business is world changing for the better. There are new and exciting opportunities that don't cost the earth,” Mr Ward said.
“Being smarter about the way we engage in business makes sense and is leading to a massive growth in jobs and investment in the green sector, even in the wake of the Global Financial Crisis.
“We have only one earth, and we have almost 7 billion people living on it. Business is gaining the will to use its capacity to drive us towards greater sustainability, so our kids enjoy the future.”
Students enrolled in sustainable enterprise management program develop knowledge and skills in carbon trading, carbon footprinting, climate change strategy, renewable energy, sustainable business strategy, corporate social responsibility and certification by engaging in internships and projects with companies such Billabong International and Freedom Fuels.
Mr Ward gained valuable experience by travelling to New Zealand and implementing a sustainability management plan for Ohau Snow Fields.
The today’s graduation ceremony the end of his journey at UQ, however he has paved the way for the following students studying the program.
Now, more than 120 students from an array of disciplines are studying UQ sustainable enterprise management courses.
The demand for graduates with an in-depth knowledge of sustainability has increased exponentially in the last few months given the introduction of Australia's emissions trading scheme, dubbed by the Honourable Penny Wong (Senator for Climate Change) as Australia's "the biggest structural change to the Australian economy since the trade lineralisations of the 1980s".
Media: Erin Pearl at the Faculty of Natural Resources, Agriculture and Veterinary Science (07 5460 1229).
