Sustainability & the Environment Summer School

We pride ourselves on being the world’s most international summer school, having seen students of over 175 nationalities represented since our foundation in 2005. This is ideal for the purposes of this programme, as it allows for rich comparisons and debates surrounding different countries’ approaches to the existential threats posed by climate change, and fosters a spirit of international collaboration. Students will make friends to last a lifetime, and will be able to draw on this unique global network for years to come as they pursue careers in sustainability and development.

We are privileged to work with expert faculty in global sustainability and leadership. Students will benefit from their years of experience, as they partake in a highly interactive and inclusive learning environment which incorporates workshops, seminars, and debates. Tackling wide-ranging issues at the intersection climate change and international government over 20+ hours of intensive tuition per week, they will:

– Critically analyse the aims and methods of different strategies and climate change campaigns, including the Sustainable Development Goals set by the UN

– Confront popular myths about climate change, and address points of global contention through diplomatic debate and dialogue among peers

– Learn how to use research and monitoring methods, including qualitative data, to build a report or proposal for climate action

– Identify different political theories and ideologies from a perspective of climate action

Many of our attendees will be contemplating a career in a variety of high impact sectors. We endeavour to provide them with a solid foundation in both theoretical and practical skills, instilling in them the confidence to pursue their life’s ambitions. Students will:

– Identify and explore roles within high impact sectors, such as climate science, law, government, diplomacy, or sustainable enterprise

– Learn about the role of the business sector in climate action through drafting a sustainable business bid

– Engage in a mock United Nations summit on climate change, and draft their own charter of ‘2024 Oxford Accords’ – a list of ideas and innovations to tackle climate change globally

– Study and implement techniques and analytical methods for application in wildlife & biodiversity conservation and management

Global leadership, whether as a politician or a diplomat, a conservationist or a conscientious executive, requires not only expertise in one’s field, but also exceptional interpersonal or ‘soft’ skills. Both inside and outside of the classroom, students will benefit from ample opportunities to hone their leadership abilities – they will: 

– Develop public speaking through regular debates, both in academic sessions and as part of our extracurricular debating society

– Practice negotiation and compromise through collaboration with students and professionals from a wide variety of international backgrounds

– Learn from the expertise of headline speakers, all of whom have achieved excellence as leaders in their respective fields

– Master time and project management abilities, whether working alone or as a member of a team towards formative deadlines

Effective learning is only possible through a harmonious balance of work and leisure time. We do our best to deliver students an enjoyable programme of extracurricular activities, so that they’ll have plenty of time to make great memories with their newfound friends. Our attendees will have the opportunity to:

– Enjoy a vibrant social calendar, including karaoke nights, talent shows, and team-building treasure hunts

– Participate in a wide range of sports suitable for all, from young athletes to total beginners

– Benefit from cultural excursions to sites around their campus and university town, including museum visits and walking tours

– Enjoy a thrilling day out to London or Bath

Responding to a need for ecological conscientiousness in politics, this programme prepares the next generation of leaders for responsible government. Students will conduct stakeholder analysis on political organisations and actors – concentrating, naturally, on climate change issues – and learn to design and measure the success of campaigns for sustainability. Our emphasis on dialogue and debate is key to preparing young people to take a fair and diplomatic approach towards global leadership matters.

Following participation in a UN Mock Summit, for which student-delegates will implement and apply the research and design methods they have studied, attendees will collaborate on formulating a charter to solve current global issues. They will analyse the issue and current actions, ideate solutions, and offer their unique recommendations, pulling together everything they have learned over the course of the two weeks.

Students will enjoy stepping back from their studies after a day’s hard work and going on culturally enriching excursions around the colleges and city of Oxford. These will include walking tours, museum trips, cinema trips, and recreational activities such as bowling. Over the mid-programme weekend, students will go on a day-trip to a nearby city such as London or Bath to imbibe quintessential British culture. In previous years, this has involved trips to the West End, and urban landmarks such as the London Eye or the Roman Baths.

Students at the world’s top universities work incredibly hard, but make no mistake: they don’t skimp on having fun to reward their efforts. Attendees of our Sustainability and the Environment Summer Programme will be able to let their air down and celebrate their hard work at two show-stopping events over the duration of the summer school: a mid-programme celebration, and a final formal graduation followed by a party at an illustrious venue.