An Inside Look at the CUBS MSc in Sustainable Development, Agri-Food & Co-Operatives
Now more than ever, the world needs people who can lead through the lens of sustainability and ethical leadership. There is a growing number of prospective master’s students seeking sustainable business master’s programs. They want a program that will help them build meaningful, impact-driven careers.
Located in Cork, Ireland, the Cork University Business School at University College Cork (CUBS) is ideal for this type of student. CUBS aims to “shape leaders for a sustainable future for all”. The business school values compassion, integrity, respect, accountability, and sustainability.
Ethical leadership and sustainability are not last-minute add-ons but central to their business master’s programs. They integrate sustainability into their research, teaching, and campus operations.
Charlotte Norton, an Irish MSc Sustainable Development, Agri-Food & Co-Operatives alumna, recently did an interview with MASTERGRADSCHOOLS. In the interview, she shares exactly why CUBS was the right choice for her sustainable business master’s degree.
Sustainability Is at the Heart of the CUBS Philosophy
Many universities are now raving about sustainability. So what makes CUBS stand out? They walk the walk, rather than just talk the talk. Ethics, Responsibility, and Sustainability (ERS) are key pillars of the UCC community.
For instance, UCC was the first university to be awarded a Green Flag from the Foundation for Environmental Education. Impressively, they have achieved five Green Flag awards. Moreover, UCC placed fourth globally in the UI Green Metric World University Rankings 2024.
Additionally, the CUBS campus is actively working on becoming a zero-waste campus by 2030. Moreover, it aims to be a carbon-neutral campus by 2040. And this mindset is not just limited to the campus. The city of Cork is one of 100 cities in the EU’s Climate-Neutral & Smart Cities Mission. Cork is striving to become a climate-neutral smart city by 2030.
Both CUBS and Cork stand out for their sustainability ethos. The MSc Sustainable Development, Agri-Food & Co-Operatives at CUBS mirrors this mindset. There is a real-world focus, practical emphasis, and an integrated work placement opportunity.
Ireland’s Only Sustainable Business Masters in Agri-Food and Co-Operatives
The MSc Sustainable Development, Agri-Food & Co-Operatives at CUBS is a 12-month, full-time MSc (Master of Science) program. It is the only course of its kind in Ireland as it integrates co-operative approaches within the study of sustainable development and agri-food.
Charlotte explained about the curriculum, “There are two parts to it. You have the first few months, which is like your standard academic year, and that runs until March. And then in March, you go on placement until September. So there’s a huge focus on that placement side.” (00:29)
The program places a strong focus on gaining practical experience in a real-world setting.
She adds, “It covers a broad range of modules, and it’s really open to anyone who has an interest in sustainability and food.” (00:51) She notes that her classmates came from different academic backgrounds. Yet the underlying factor for each student was their passion for sustainability.
Sustainability & Ethics Are Woven Into Every Class
Sustainability is embedded into every part of the program’s curriculum. Faculty draw on their own sustainability research in class. Students need to think critically about the economy, society, and environment in a holistic way. Students actively create their own opinions and challenge our current methodologies.
Charlotte shares, “They’re really placing emphasis on that whole intersection between the economy, society, and the environment. And how to make a positive impact that overlaps in each pillar.” (01:31)
The broad range of lecturers and guest speakers offers multiple perspectives on sustainability topics. This deepens the holistic, multi-focal learning environment throughout the year.
The Best Master’s Program in Ireland
The MSc Sustainable Development, Agri-Food & Co-Operatives at CUBS was voted ‘Best Master’s Program in Ireland’ at the Education Awards 2024. The small class size and proactive teaching style make the program stand out.
Charlotte highlights, “The lecturers really took an interest in your own career path or what direction you wanted to go in, which was really, really nice… It’s really nice in the master’s to have that first-name basis and feel part of the course in that way. It definitely lived up to ‘Best Master’s [Program] in Ireland’. The lecturers really went out of their way to make sure you had the best learning experience.” (02:30)
Field trips, real-world projects, and guest speakers complement the academic curriculum. She notes, “That’s where really good learning can be applied to real life.” (03:18)
For Charlotte, the bridge between theory and industry was a major highlight of the program.
The Best of Both Worlds: A Green City With an Urban Feel
Studying at CUBS offers students easy access to both urban life and the surrounding countryside and nature. It has everything a student could wish for: great food, vibrant nightlife, and an accessible campus in the heart of the city. The campus is green and picturesque.
Charlotte remarks, “It’s an absolutely beautiful campus. I recommend you go. Because when you’ve been there, you do really see the value in maintaining what we have.” (04:43)
For Charlotte, being able to live a sustainable lifestyle even while being on campus in a bustling city was a big plus.
Boosting Accessibility with Scholarships
Accessibility was another major reason why CUBS stood out to Charlotte. After completing her undergraduate studies, she wanted to continue her studies and further specialize in sustainability. Her UCC scholarship made a big difference when it came to choosing between starting working life or continuing with a postgraduate diploma.
She reflects, “It was a huge confidence boost… it really gave me that extra boost to show that I was grateful for it and to put the work in. And the more you put in, the more you get out.” (08:36)
CUBS offers a wide range of scholarships (pages 54-55) and bursaries to postgraduate students. Scholarships are available to both EU and non-EU students, depending on each scholarship’s criteria. Many scholarships are awarded based on academic merit.
The scholarships available for this program include:
- Carbery Group Scholarship
- FDC Group
- HEI Our Rural Future – Rural Development Master Bursary
- Ornua Scholarship
The financial support ensured she could focus wholeheartedly on her studies and make the most of her learning experience. Additionally, receiving the scholarship from a pool of talented and motivated candidates further boosted her confidence as an academic.
Real-World Research: The Practice-Based Research Project
The program further stands out through the hands-on elements integrated into the curriculum. The Practice-Based Research Project is one of the program’s most distinctive elements. Students can choose to complete it in Ireland or abroad. Students complete a practice-based research project with a partner organization to tackle real-world issues.
This connects classroom learning with industry experience. She points out, “That’s where you really get that hands-on learning, and you’re able to apply what you’ve already learned.” (05:21)
Charlotte completed hers with Ornua, a leading Irish cooperative that specializes in selling Irish dairy products worldwide. During her project, she explored how to measure social impact within their CSR strategy. One of her classes actually sparked the idea for her project. She organized focus groups with farmers and delivered her findings directly to the company to make improvements.
She underscores, “The knowledge I learned on placement I still apply in my job day-to-day here.” (07:04) She currently works as an Agri Climate Consultant at Climeaction in Cork.
From Graduation to ESG Consulting in Cork
Charlotte graduated in September 2024. After graduation, she received two excellent job offers. Ultimately, she chose to stay in Cork and work for Climeaction. She initially joined Climeaction as an ESG Graduate Consultant before moving into an Agri Climate Consultant role.
The program had thoroughly prepared her for the reality of a sustainability career, and she was able to hit the ground running from day one.
Her smooth transition into the workforce reflects the practical focus and real-world skills of this sustainable business master’s. Core skills like communication, presentation skills, report writing, project management, and critical thinking continue to serve her in her career.
CUBS Is the Right Choice for Purpose-Driven Students
CUBS combines an award-winning curriculum, a hands-on approach, and a city that genuinely lives its green values. For Charlotte, the MSc in Sustainable Development, Agri-Food & Co-Operatives shaped both her career and her sense of personal purpose.
Charlotte’s tells prospective students, “There are so many careers that touch on sustainability…there’s so much you can do to apply what you’re interested in in any sustainability-related field. I know it’s cliché, but everything really does work out at the end of the day. Time brings you back to what you’re interested in.” (14:12)
Her journey from a sustainable business master’s to a full-time consulting role in the sustainability sector shows what is possible with the right program behind you.
Discover more about Cork University Business School at University College Cork (CUBS) by exploring their profile page.
