Letter to the Editorial Board: Sustainable Development Viewed Through Student Fieldwork, Focusing on Environmental and Socio-economic Issues: A Case Study from Scotland

Kevin R. Butt

School of Built and Natural Environment, University of Central Lancashire (United Kingdom)

Joanna Kostecka

Faculty of Biology and Agriculture, University of Rzeszów (Poland)

Abstract

During the final (3rd) year of their undergraduate programmes, students studying at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) on BSc (Honours) degrees in Ecology and Conservation Management, Environmental Management, Environmental Hazards or Geography are required to undertake a period of residential fieldwork and this forms one sixth (a module) of their final year.

The island environment of Rum provides a microcosm of life. Focal points relating to resource availability, use and disposal make this location an extremely good example of sustainable living and thinking. For Polish students it was not only a great “on the ground” experience in searching for the signs of sustainability, it was also an opportunity for English education.

Keywords:

Rum island, sustainability, education