Overview
The UNC Charlotte Wildlife Conservation Virtual Career Accelerator aims to equip you with the experience and foundational skills needed to better understand the conservation sector and to kickstart your career in wildlife conservation. You could be involved in analyzing telemetry data or camera trap footage of different mammals, birds and reptiles. You will also sit in on discussions about conservation best practice and policies while getting involved with key organisations that are committed to reducing the destruction of natural habitats and conserving the earth’s wildlife species.
Complete Real Projects
Throughout your experience you’ll be completing one project each week that helps a local organization solve an actual problem. Since we work with real partners, real, valuable projects will be assigned to you. This means that the types of projects you could work on will vary. We aim to match you as closely as possible with an organization and a task that aligns with your personal career goals. See below for some of the projects you could work on during your experience.
REPORT: HOW CLIMATE CHANGE AFFECTS WILDLIFE
Collate data that has been gathered by a local organisation to clearly present changes in variables such as species density and average temperature. Calculate statistical correlations between those variables to better understand the effects of climate change on local species.
WILDLIFE POPULATION STUDY PROPOSAL
Propose a plan to sample a wildlife population residing within a portion of a larger geographical area. Identify an appropriate sampling method and ensure that all variables are accounted for so that the findings can be used to generalise the area as a whole.
MARKETING STRATEGY
Clearly communicate the accomplishments of a project in order to promote the importance of wildlife conservation. Design a plan to utilise channels such as social media to generate funding from organisations offering sponsorship to wildlife conservation organisations.
Example of a Typical Week
Career path Insight
Gain insight into your chosen career path and engage in discussions with leading academics, professionals, local experts and your fellow participants, when you take part in live chats and lectures on a range of topics.
Local
immersion
Explore the customs, languages and cuisine of another culture in order to reach a deeper understanding of the country by attending lectures about a local cultural context or environment, led by community members or an area expert.
Project
Work
Find solutions to some of the challenges faced by real organisations such as local NGOs and social enterprises. You’ll do this by conducting research, engaging in discussions and proposing a potential solution.
Career development
Learn about your potential career journey ahead from a professional in your field of interest. Take part in workshops that will assist in career development, and receive coaching from your dedicated internship supervisor.
Dates & Costs
Full Time
Cost
Part-Time
Cost
*The cost of each UNC Charlotte Virtual Career Accelerator includes two weeks of introductory online learning material which students complete before the experience. Additionally, it includes the cost of an optional, post-experience peer-reviewed final project. *There is an opportunity for students to join UNC Charlotte and complete a one-week virtual career accelerator without any pre- or post-learning. The cost of this is $1695.
3 Online Courses Included
UNC Charlotte participants will also complete our successful flagship online program; the Foundations in Sustainable Development program, which includes three online courses.
– Careers in Sustainable Development
– Leading Teams for Emerging Leaders
– Introduction to Community Development
– Introduction to Scientific Conservation Research