Harnessing apprenticeships for sustainability

 NUS National Conference 2017 passed a motion resolving to push for work placements and apprenticeships incorporating sustainability. The motion – entitled Placements, Apprenticeships and Education for Good, submitted by the Society and Citizenship Zone committee – passed with widespread support from student delegates. Many universities now offer paid placements for recent graduates, but the motion stated that many of these seem ‘tokenistic’. Similarly, the Government’s drive to train three million new apprentices by 2020 doesn’t prioritise environmental or social sustainability.

NUS will work with the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the National Society of Apprentices (NSOA) on sustainable career and placement opportunities. In addition, NUS has resolved to use its collective lobbying power to support NSOA in their work with the Institute for Apprenticeships (IfA) to include sustainability as a functional skill alongside literacy and numeracy, and to ensure fair funding for sustainable apprenticeships.

Alongside this, NUS is to establish a Placements for Good scheme to complement its Dissertations for Good scheme.

Finally, as a result of this motion, NUS will work with Apprentice Extra, NSOA and trade unions to facilitate ease of access and promote the benefits of union membership for apprentices and students, and ensure all of the above work is carried out in the most appropriate way in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.