Toril started her master's studies at SUM in the autumn of 2022. In the internship course she is enrolled in this spring, she will put her academic knowledge, skills, and competence into practice.
– I signed up for the SUM internship course because I wanted practical experience with what I usually work on theoretically. Then I found out about Green Office and thought it sounded really exciting to work with other students to make UiO more sustainable, says Toril.
Important arena for students
Toril has been an intern at Green Office since she started the course in January. In March, she took part in the official opening of the office.
– As an intern, I have had varied tasks. I have been moderating a panel discussion, and I have been able to take part in job interviews to recruit other students. But what I have spent the most time on so far is actually setting up the office, explains Toril.
From now on, she is looking forward to starting green projects aimed at student's everyday life. She hopes the office can become a common platform for organisations and groups that work with environmentally friendly initiatives at UiO.
– I think the Green Office is an important initiative because it gives the students more ownership and a real sense of influence. Environmental initiatives can often appear a bit distant when large institutions work on it, but having a physical office and student staff makes it easier for students to get involved in sustainability and gain practical experience of what it is like to work with sustainability at a big institution, she says.
An internship provides valuable experience
The elective internship course allows SUM students to gain experience from working in voluntary organisations, research institutions, private enterprises, or ministries and directorates. The host institution can be in Norway or abroad.
– The Green Office internship has so far given me experience in establishing a new working group, which I have found very interesting and fun. In addition, I think it will give me useful experience with project establishment and putting things we talk about into practice. To walk the talk, she concludes.
About the Green Office
The Green Office at UiO is a meeting place and a contact point for students and staff with ideas, inputs, or questions about how UiO as a place of study and workplace can become more sustainable.
– We welcome all students and staff to join and help in the working groups, projects, and events that will take place here at the Green Office, says Anne-Line Sandåker, Administrative head of studies at SUM and Staff member from UiO at the Green Office.
The Green Office is a member of the Green Office Movement, which in turn is part of the international organisation Students Organizing for Sustainability (SOS) International.
Read more about the Green Office and how you can contribute here