Skills you can develop Environment and Development

With qualifications in these subjects you can tackle some of the world's greatest challenges and developments and have a career that influences sustainability and human welfare.

If you’re a registered OU student, you can find further careers information tailored to your qualification at your Study Home site under the Succeed tab.

As well as the specific knowledge gained from studying for an OU degree, you'll develop many transferable and work-related skills that are highly valued by employers and which will increase your employability.

For Environment, Development and International Studies students the employability skills you will develop include:

• knowledge of the human and scientific causes and consequences of environmental change
• the ability to collect, record and analyse data
• knowledge of international and development issues relating to global poverty, conflict, health, economic and political transition, cultures, values, and technological change
• ability to work towards sustainable solutions
• the ability to carry out investigations in a responsible and safe manner
• working well within groups, either face to face or online, recognising and respecting the views of others
• analysing and planning tasks by using time effectively.

To see specific learning outcomes related to degrees in this area have a look at OU Environmental and Development Courses.

To check which skills valued by employers can be developed from studying a particular subject, look at the Student Employability Profiles on the Higher Education Academy website details many skills that employers value. You will also find information about employability skills developed through study of specific degree subjects on the Prospects website.

The OU Careers and Employability Services define student employability as 'A set of capabilities and achievements that support students in developing their careers, raising their aspirations and enhancing their contribution to society'.

Whatever your motivations for study, your goals and career aspirations, you are entitled to supported personal development planning either as an intrinsic part of your programme of study or through signposted optional activities. You can view our full Student Employability Policy Statement on our website.

Student stories

I honestly don’t think I would have had the impetus to make the On the Verge project happen if I hadn’t been studying with the OU at that time.

Leigh Biagi, Founder of On the Verge

Being able to communicate information in the right way to the right audience is a skill I have gained from OU study.

Kath Elliott, Creetown Initiative, Community Project Worker

OU qualifications

Find out more about Environment, Development and International studies for undergraduate study or postgraduate study.

You can see all undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications at OU Courses.