On Fri. Nov. 6, the University of Waterloo opened a new school that will focus on environmentally sustainable business and development, building on the university’s faculty of environment.
The School of Environment, Enterprise and Development (SEED) offers two undergraduate programs: a bachelor of environmental studies in environment and business, and a bachelor of environmental studies in international development.
“Our environment business program is a unique program in the world,” said Steven Young, interim director of SEED.
“The flavour of our program is different from others. It relates immediately to the environment and tends to be more practical and applied,” Young said.
SEED also offers a graduate program in applied environmental studies.
“This program focuses on local economic development,” Young said.
In fall 2010, the school will also offer a master’s program in environment business.
“The common thread in these programs is that they create solution-focused, practical people who utilize information,” Young said.
Economic business students will complete 20 months of work experience through co-op. International development students will go overseas and complete eight months of fieldwork on a development project.
“We give these students a toolbox. That toolbox is useful in a number of sectors,” Young said. He said students graduating from the program can go on to look for jobs in corporations, governments and international agencies.
“We give these students an understanding of a toolbox. That toolbox is applicable in many ways – in the private sector, or even non-profit organizations,” Young said.