At the CELL Festival of Education and Lifelong Learning, fitting with the theme of Teaching for Sustainability, guest speakers received the gift of trees planted in their name as part of NCI’s work with Tree-Nation.
At National College of Ireland, as we mark one year of collaboration with Tree-Nation, we are proud to reflect on the meaningful strides made towards sustainability and environmental stewardship. This partnership exemplifies NCI’s commitment to social responsibility while empowering global and local reforestation efforts.
What is Tree-Nation?
Tree-Nation is a global platform dedicated to combating deforestation, reducing carbon emissions, and fostering biodiversity through tree-planting projects worldwide. Working in 83 locations across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Europe, Tree-Nation supports ecosystem restoration and community development. Among them, there is a Tree-Planting Project in Co. Clare, Ireland, which NCI has partnered with already.
Local NGOs play a vital role in these projects, employing community members to plant and maintain native trees that support biodiversity, combat erosion, and build climate resilience. An extensive six-month validation process ensures every project aligns with ethical and environmental standards. Learn more about Tree-Nation’s validation process.
NCI’s Contributions
As part of our strategic objective that aligns with social justice and sustainability, NCI has planted 742 trees this year (2024), through projects located in Kenya, India, and Ireland. These locations were chosen not only for their environmental significance, but also because they resonate with the values and diversity of NCI’s student community.
Developing Partnerships
To further strengthen relationships with guidance counsellors, NCI introduced a tree-gifting initiative. Trees were offered as gifts for the holiday season, reinforcing our shared commitment to sustainability and the future of education. This initiative served as a symbolic way to foster connections while contributing to global reforestation.
A Gift at Graduation
Introduced during the Spring 2024 Graduation Ceremony, we gifted graduates a tree to symbolize growth and impact. Each graduate received the gift of a tree planted in their name, which represents how they have grown during their time at NCI and celebrates their journey while contributing to global reforestation. This initiative will continue during the Winter 2024 Graduation Ceremony and beyond, hopefully becoming a cherished NCI tradition.
Irish Aid Students
NCI proudly welcomed the 2024 cohort of Irish Aid Fellows, supported by the Irish Council for International Students (ICOS). Each scholar received a tree planted in their name through the Ireland Community Tree Planting project in County Clare. These trees will serve as a symbol of our scholar’s connection to Ireland, representing their academic experience at NCI, and illustrating NCI’s broader mission of social justice and sustainability.
Irish Aid Scholars pictured with NCI President, Professor Gina Quin as they received their trees.
A Green Gift to Guest Speakers
The Marketing Department expanded NCI’s tree-gifting initiative to include faculty-led activities, offering staff the opportunity to gift trees to guest speakers. This thoughtful gesture recognizes the valuable contributions of guest speakers to the NCI community while promoting sustainability.
Dr. April Hargreaves, Vice Dean of Undergraduate Studies, expressed her support, stating “This is such an inspiring initiative, and I’m delighted to be able to avail of it."
This year’s Festival of Education and Lifelong Learning theme was Teaching for Sustainability, led by Deirdre Tinnelly. The festival is a series of events hosted annually by CELL on the latest global challenges and/or technology developments that impact our world and teaching. Every year, guest speakers can present pieces based on their own interpretation of the theme and it is fantastic to hear how passionate everyone is to share their research and ideas.
Capstone Seminar Series in MSc in Finance, led by Dr. Corina Sheerin, stimulates critical thinking among learners concerning topical issues in finance from industry guests. The guest speakers ensure that students can augment their learning in relation to a range of contemporary issues happening in the world of finance. These initiatives exemplify NCI’s commitment to embedding environmental consciousness into its academic and cultural ethos.
Dr. Corina Sheerin, Assistant Professor in Finance in NCI’s School of Business shared that "The initiative was very well received by guests. The 'plant a tree' enterprise is in line with NCI’s ethos and our commitment to environmental responsibility and stewardship".
Ethical Commitment
NCI ensures that every project supported through Tree-Nation adheres to the highest ethical standards. By focusing on planting native species and engaging local communities, these efforts contribute to social equity, education, and employment while combating environmental degradation.
NCI does not claim carbon credits against this project, we also work within our buildings and facilities to reduce our carbon footprint.
Readers can find the full breakdown of NCI's forest impact since first registering in December 2023 by visiting NCI Tree-Nation Stats.
For more information about Tree-Nation, readers can visit www.tree-nation.com.
At National College of Ireland, as we look back on our work with Tree Nation in 2024, it is highly rewarding to be able to share the progress made over the course of just one year. We look forward to continuing to take steps to ensure that we continue to reduce our carbon footprint and always strive to achieve our mission of social justice and sustainability.
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